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MSI Z87 G45 Gaming USB 3 Problem

Tags:
  • Gaming
  • MSI
  • USB3
  • Motherboards
Last response: in Motherboards
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September 29, 2013 9:28:21 PM

I recently purchased an MSI Z87 G45 Gaming, an I5 4670K and 2x 4GB GSkill Trident X 2400mhz. I got everything assembled, copied my previous Win7 environment using Acronis Universal Restore, and was up and running in no time. I briefly played the OC game, and settled at 4.2GHZ (42 multi, 1.110 VCore and auto else) and stock everything else. Everything is tested and stable.

I am not getting the expected performance from any of the onboard USB 3 connectors. I have a USB 3 WD passport that HD Tune reports a peak transfer of ~31MB with. This was tested with all ports, including the USB 2 ones with similar results. I borrowed another external USB 3 drive from a friend and tested on all ports with the same results. I have concluded that my USB 3 ports are operating as USB 2 only. The latest BIOS has been flashed for my board, as have all MSI drivers and the latest Intel INF Chipset software. The USB3 specific drivers from the MSI website fail at the end of install (PCI section) but the proper devices and drivers specific to USB seem to have installed with success. In Device Manager I have 2 USB3 devices, as well as a few USB root and generic hubs. All hubs report that they are running in high (not super) speed. The USB3 specific hubs do not report any speed. When I plug a USB 3 device into either my front USB connectors (USB 2 only) or any of the rear USB connectors (including the USB 2s) I do not receive any "this device could perform faster..." message as one would expect. My Win7 is fully up to date.

There are only a few USB options in BIOS, but all have been toggled with no effect. I even reset the BIOS to defaults (effectively disabling any OC) to no avail. I uninstalled my USB devices in device manager and rebooted, but nothing has changed.

I have a lot of Windows services set to manual or disabled altogether, but I don't think anything critical is off. Strangely both the MSI Command Center, and the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility load indefinitely as well. I do not plan to ever use these software solutions, but maybe their inability to load indicates an underlying problem.

Did I get a lemon of a board? Can anyone think of anything further I can do? I am at my wits end trying to solve this. I will perform a new Windows installation only as a final resort.

More about : msi z87 g45 gaming usb problem

a c 678 4 Gaming
a c 1789 V Motherboard
September 29, 2013 9:31:10 PM

May be a lemon, MSI isn't known for quality control, but before jumping the gun, check their website to see if you have the lates BIOS and their latest mobo drivers
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September 29, 2013 9:35:57 PM

Yea, I most definitely have latest everything, unless something was released this past hour. I even used the M-Flash instead of Windows-based BIOS flash to make sure the ME was updated. Are the USBs controlled by the CPU itself in Haswell or chipset? I suspect something left over from my former Win7 system. Maybe the new USB drivers aren't overwriting the old ones??
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September 29, 2013 9:46:18 PM

smorizio said:
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang...

link to the newest intel usb 3.0 drivers.


It is this same installer that fails at the end (PCI bus) "The setup program failed to install one or more device drivers. Setup will exit." Extracting the files and manually updating USB3 Root Hub and USB 3 eXtensible Host Controller doesn't work either. Why aren't the damn drivers installing?
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a c 678 4 Gaming
a c 1789 V Motherboard
September 29, 2013 9:53:23 PM

The Z87 chipset controls the USB ports
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September 29, 2013 10:01:47 PM

Uninstalling the USB 3 from control panel and reinstalling still results in failed install. Though the USB3 hub and eXstensible Host appear to install fine. If the chipset were faulty/buggy I would expect problems elsewhere. I bought these components Sept 19. Should I just exchange the damn thing? I think the retailer offers 15 day exchange. I appreciate the quick responses, but I will have to check back in the morning.
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Best solution

a c 678 4 Gaming
a c 1789 V Motherboard
September 29, 2013 10:16:53 PM

I think I prob would, and see if it can be exchanged maybe for an Asus - their Plus model is a good one, the Gryphon run a bit more. Think issues with the USB ports have popped up for others also
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September 29, 2013 10:24:29 PM

I chose this MSI over the Asus plus because of a greater feature set. The G65 is currently on sale, as is the Asus z87 Pro...

I kinda want to stick with the same board, TBH. Everything is setup the way I like, and I'm done messing around with this machine, I want to start using it for a change.
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a c 205 4 Gaming
a c 486 V Motherboard
September 29, 2013 10:26:16 PM

did you try the newest intel chipset update??
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a c 678 4 Gaming
a c 1789 V Motherboard
September 29, 2013 10:28:53 PM

Don't blame you, hope you get a good one this time ;) 
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October 3, 2013 9:10:13 AM

Well, I gave up and zeroed my SSD and performed a fresh Win7-64 install. Drivers installed without a hitch this time. I guess a format was just due... Thanks so much for all the help, everything seems resolved now. Sooooo glad I didn't have to disassemble and return/RMA!
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a c 678 4 Gaming
a c 1789 V Motherboard
October 3, 2013 11:11:44 AM

Glad to hear all is well, have fun !
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!