How to replace Intel USB3.0 controller?

Hi. It is well recorded across various forums (including Saitek's own) that Saitek gaming hardware (eg X52) has a big issue (leading to BSODs) with Intel USB 3.0. Another here:

Saitek X52 Pro on USB3.0 (Intel Z97 chipset)

For almost two years I disabled USB3.0 on my PC so as to be able to use the X52, but I now need USB3.0 and so re-enabled it in the BIOS.

Several weeks have gone by and I just got my first BSOD, BAD_POOL_HEADER 0x00000019. Not sure now if this is what I was getting before, but I would like to replace the Intel controllers if possible. Problem is, I am not really sure how to go about this. Could someone please help here? My M/B is an Asus H971-PLUS. In the Asus manual, under USB I can only see mention of 'Intel H97 Express Chipset'. Can't see any mention of a native controller. Is it possible for me to download, say, an ASMedia USB3.0 controller (with which, it is said, the Saitek devices work fine) and use it to replace the Intel controller. How exactly would I go about that? I run Windows 7 x64.

Thanks for any help.

the only way to "replace" that controller is to buy an add on usb controller. The Intel H97 chipset supports both usb 3.0 and 2.0.
The 3.0 ports are blue and 2.0 are black(in the rear of board). try using the 2.0 ports instead. Installing other brand drivers will NOT work, as the hardware these drivers are for is not on your board.

It doesn't matter whether the hardware is plugged into a USB2 or USB3 port, it's having the Intel USB3 controller active that causes the problem.

So you are saying that this Asus board will not be able to use any other controller other than the Intel one? Not the impression I got from other threads on this subject, I must admit. In that case, how would 'buying an addon USB controller' work then?

Thanks...

Hi Martin,

As USB3 is not standard for W7, then from your device manager,
you also have 2 options,
(note if the problem is a BIOS enabled problem this will not work)

Update the driver directly from intel
or
dissable it


Roy

Yes, I am afraid this has to be done in the BIOS...

As mentioned, the hardware of the USB is built inside the chipset (H97). The USB 2.0 and 3.0 use the same driver.
You must disable all USB on BIOS and buy an add on card. As most USB devices can't even get close to USB 2.0 limit (480 Mb/s or 60 MB/s) I would buy a USB 2.0.

OK, thanks. I have a suspicion (that I will try to test out at some stage) that my USB 3.0 speeds are not all that much better than those for my USB2.0. In which case, if I do get BSODs again (the one yesterday may have been a coincidence, nothing to do with the Saitek - I hope!), I'll just disable USB3.0 again.

The device for which I re-enabled USB3.0 is actually USB-C - but I am not sure if it's worth buying a USB-C card?