USB3 Problem

[Kuro Neko]

I recently purchased a new computer (Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit, Intel i5 2.8 @ 3.8, 8GB RAM) with the Gigabyte P55-USB3 motherboard, which has two USB3 ports to the rear of the machine. I've tried a number of different USB3 external HDDs on the ports (Seagate, WD and Iomega) and all of them generate the little "this drive can perform faster if you connect it to a superspeed port" message.

All the drives are USB3. I've checked both the cables and the ports to make sure I'm using the ones with the 'blue tabs'. I've checked in BIOS (I have version F10g) and USB3 is enabled. I've also updated both the NEC/Renesas firmware and drivers to the latest versions (Driver: 2.1.16.0 - Firmware: 3028).

I notice under device manager>properties>driver that the drives are showing what I assume is an old USB2 driver (it's dated 2006) - see picture below.

I'm guessing this is why my USB3 drive wont work correctly. Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can fix this?

All help gratefully received.

 

[stormy13]

Kuro, welcome to the Seven Forums.

Seeing as the USB3 controller is independent of the chipset, did you remember to install the driver for it? If not use what is on the driver disk, or if newer the one from the download page for your motherboard,

GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket 1156 - GA-P55-USB3 (rev. 2.0)

 

[Hopalong X]

Try Stormy 13 advice.

NEC USB 3.0 Driver Version 2.0.30.0

This may work better as it is designed for the Gigabyte mother board.

It is still a new driver dated December 2010.

I have had a problem using the newest Renesas branded drivers on my ASUS board.
NEC's and ASUS seem to work fine.

 

[pooch]

All the drives are USB3. I've checked both the cables and the ports to make sure I'm using the ones with the 'blue tabs'. I've checked in BIOS (I have version F10g) and USB3 is enabled. I've also updated both the NEC/Renesas firmware and drivers to the latest versions (Driver: 2.1.16.0 - Firmware: 3028).

Yes you can see that these drivers are correctly installed.

I notice under device manager>properties>driver that the drives are showing what I assume is an old USB2 driver (it's dated 2006)

This is the driver for the Seagate device (see my snip) it is also correct.


I am a little confused at your Device Manager placing. My external HDD shows up under drives and my USB 3 drivers show up under USB controllers. but this maybe nothing.

I think this is a case of Windows reporting the right thing but doing the wrong thing. Your USB3 ports are shared with USB2 hence the backward compatibility. this is quite new to me but I have first hand experience where windows recognised a USB wireless device correctly but still called it a CD drive

I think it may help to go through this tutorial; http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/165554-usb-driver-general-fix-problems.html?filter[2]=Hardware%20and%20Drivers
Take your time and go through it step for step.
At the end where it says to insert a USB device use first time a USB2 device in a USB2 port. If this does not work go through it again and this time try a USB3 device in a USB3 port.
It is important to follow this in order!!

Have all USB drivers handy for devices that were not installed by windows the first time around eg, Renesas drivers as you may have to reinstall them when you are finished.

 

[Kuro Neko]

Thanks for the swift replies.

Unfortunately reverting back to version 2.0.30.0 of the driver didn't help.

I'll try the USB General Fix detailed above tomorrow, but before I do could some one tell me if the fact that both my mouse and keyboard are USB will cause a problem. It's probably a stupid question, but presumably once I delete all USB devices they will no longer work.

 

[pooch]

Thanks for the swift replies.

Unfortunately reverting back to version 2.0.30.0 of the driver didn't help.

I'll try the USB General Fix detailed above tomorrow, but before I do could some one tell me if the fact that both my mouse and keyboard are USB will cause a problem. It's probably a stupid question, but presumably once I delete all USB devices they will no longer work.

You uninstall the drivers yes, but a copy remains on the PC. When you insert the first USB Device, for example your mouse, it should automatically install the driver as usual. After the new start everything should be back to normal except the drivers that windows cannot install.

 

[Kuro Neko]

Sorry, another quick question before I commit myself. Do I need to uninstall the Intel Chipset USB Enhanced Host entries too?

 

[pooch]

Yes

 

[Kuro Neko]

I'm going to need a non USB mouse. As I uninstalled the USB devices in Device Manager eventually I uninstalled the one relating to the mouse, which of course meant that I could no longer continue as the mouse no longer worked and I therefore had no way of interacting with Windows.

 

[pooch]

As the mouse is not a part of the problem try going through the tutorial and delete all but the mouse.

 

[Kuro Neko]

Sadly, no luck. I've tried three time without success. Any other ideas?

 

[pooch]

Yeah maybe we are going about this wrong have you tried checking your transfer speeds? to see if it is running at USB 3 standard.

HD Tune website
Download ATTO Disk Benchmark v2.34 | techPowerUp

 

[Kuro Neko]

The transfer speeds I get are usually around 30MBps, same as USB2.

 

[pooch]

Hopefully I got the right manual for your mobo. For USB3 in the BIOS is a turbo switch. I won't pretend to understand what is written there But I do believe it could play an important role in your problem. What I do understand from my last mobo which had a similar setup is that the USB3 speed and The PCI speed are available but at a trade off, In other words only one will work with full speed and that is controlled I believe by the turbo switch see my snip,
Depending on the setting off this switch in your BIOS you should just need to change it, from Disabled to Enabled or vice-verse to get your USB3 to work.

 

[Kuro Neko]

Thanks for all your help so far. It is really appreciated.

In my BIOS the USB3 Turbo was set to 'Enable' so I switched it to 'disable' but no luck I'm afraid.

I have also tried running Ubuntu from a CD as that natively supports USB3. However, the transfer speeds were the same as those that I get with Windows 7. This would seem to indicate that the problem lies somewhere in the BIOS. I'm beginning to wonder if the problem is caused by the fact that my machine is overclocked - I hasten to add that it wasn't something I did, it was purchased that way.

Any other thoughts? In the meantime I'm going to try running Ubuntu from a USB pen drive just to make sure that running it from a CD didn't cause it to run slowly (although I can't see why that would be the case).

 

[pooch]

when you say your transfer speed is 30MBps have you tried moving larger files?
Did you try those benchmark programs on a USB3 drive it would be interesting to see what they make of it, especially ATTO
This is a snip of ATTO on my USB3 drive as you can see the bigger the file the more speed.

 

[Britton30]

Silly question...is USB 3.0 enabled in BIOS? I had the same problem until I did that.
If you delete your USB devices and reboot, Windows should pick up the drivers again.


EDIT: Sorry I was on the wrong page.

 

[Kuro Neko]

I've done the benchmark test on my Iomega External 3TB HDD and my Transcend 16GB Flash Drive (both USB3 drives) and have attached copies. As you can see they quickly hit the proverbial ceiling at around 40MBps.

 

[pooch]

Not looking good
The USB turbo should be set to disabled I am sure now that is correct.
I think you should turn off any overclocking to see if that makes a difference.
I am wondering if it is maybe a MB fault.

 

[jassim]

hi man i can help you here

1-delete usb 3.0 driver if it has been installd properly
2-restart ur machin
3-insrete mobo driver disk
4-install usb 3.0 driver sepretly dont do express installtions
5-enjoyyyyyyyy and tell me the news