Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Condor on February 13, 2017, 02:24:21 PM

Title: USB Device Connection
Post by: Condor on February 13, 2017, 02:24:21 PM
This is something I used to know but have forgotten. If controllers are being moved to different USB ports is it best done with the computer running or off. I have recently been experiencing intermittent dropouts of my CH controllers and have decided to move them from the motherboard USB ports to a D-Link powered USB hub. I seem to recall that they are fussy about how this is done. 
Title: Re: USB Device Connection
Post by: Skuzzy on February 13, 2017, 02:26:53 PM
I do not trust Windows to re-assign everything correctly, so I always shut off the computer before moving a device from one port to another.
Title: Re: USB Device Connection
Post by: Condor on February 13, 2017, 04:05:11 PM
I do not trust Windows to re-assign everything correctly, so I always shut off the computer before moving a device from one port to another.

Based on many of your other posts I suspect you could have said " I do not trust Windows, and left off the rest. Thanks for the response. I think that is what I knew before my dementia kicked in.
Title: Re: USB Device Connection
Post by: Skuzzy on February 13, 2017, 04:18:55 PM
Now that is not fair.  Windows does some things well.  Some things it does not do so well.  However, never trust Microsoft, under any circumstances. :)

Besides, the only time you guys ask questions is when you are having problems, or think you may have problems.  Then I have to drag out the bug list and make you aware of it.  So, sure, I am going to sound like I am not a happy Windows user.
Title: Re: USB Device Connection
Post by: AKIron on February 13, 2017, 05:06:30 PM
I think that normally it's okay to connect and disconnect USB devices with the machine on. I know it was designed to operate that way. With that said, I have seen machines lock up if there is any static discharge when connecting a device.
Title: Re: USB Device Connection
Post by: Bizman on February 14, 2017, 01:52:09 AM
I think that normally it's okay to connect and disconnect USB devices with the machine on. I know it was designed to operate that way. With that said, I have seen machines lock up if there is any static discharge when connecting a device.

My computer sometimes shuts down when I pull a memory stick out. Not like "poof", it does it in the civilized Windows way. Just as if I pressed the start button on the case.
Title: Re: USB Device Connection
Post by: Greebo on February 14, 2017, 04:45:22 AM
I used to have an issue where my computer would lock up for a minute or so when I plugged/unplugged a USB device. This continued over several years through a CPU/motherboard upgrade and a couple of OS reinstalls. I eventually traced it to a USB 2.0 extension lead running to my USB 2.0 backup HDD. When I changed the lead to a USB 3.0 one in preparation for a new USB 3.0 HDD I had ordered the issue went away.
Title: Re: USB Device Connection
Post by: OldNitro on February 14, 2017, 06:31:48 AM
Being as much of this up to date hardware is still kinda new to me.
Have a question about USB and priorities?

I'm guessing USB ports with blue tab are 3.0? With a higher data transfer rate?
May seem obvious, but just makin sure! "Guessing" often doesn't end well.
(USB 3.0 didn't even exist during my last gaming adventures)

My Machine's USB ports:
Rear plate, 2 blue and 4 black.
Front panel, 2 blue.

My connections now:
X52pro stick, Blue USB on rear plate.
X55 throttle, Blue USB on rear plate.
TrackIR5, Black USB on rear plate.
USB headset, Black USB on rear plate.
Keyboard, Black USB on rear plate.
Mouse, Black USB on rear plate.

Logitech F310 USB gamepad, (for GV's) Blue USB on front panel.

Everything seems to be working fine, but was just wondering if there
is a better prioritization?







Title: Re: USB Device Connection
Post by: Bizman on February 14, 2017, 09:07:39 AM
Yes, blue tab indicates USB 3. Some other colours may also be used, but basically blue for 3 and black for 2 if your system has both of them.
Title: Re: USB Device Connection
Post by: OldNitro on February 14, 2017, 10:05:25 AM
Thanks Biz.  :salute
I have been fooled before by things I thought were obvious, but weren't!
Title: Re: USB Device Connection
Post by: Condor on February 14, 2017, 11:44:43 AM
Yes, blue tab indicates USB 3. Some other colours may also be used, but basically blue for 3 and black for 2 if your system has both of them.

On my Gigabyte MB its blue for 3 and red for 2.  Is there any advantage to using 3 for game controllers?
Title: Re: USB Device Connection
Post by: Bizman on February 14, 2017, 12:22:25 PM
Thanks for the colouring info, Condor. Seems the manufacturers have found a bunch of coloured tabs and use them wildly. I'd say that can add confusion.

Any USB device can only work at the maximum speed it has been designed even in faster connectors. The other way around, a fast device can't run at full speed in a slower port. The ports and devices are interchangeable for the most part, but the speed always goes by the slower.
Title: Re: USB Device Connection
Post by: TequilaChaser on February 14, 2017, 12:36:45 PM
For 3.1 USB Port, the color code is Teal (seafoam green), if I'm not mistaken...

My eSata non-powered port is Red and 2 Red USB ports on the same row

My powered eSata port is Green

2.0 USB ports are black and Fire wire port is black

3.0 USB ports are Blue

This is for my ASUS motherboards.... Intel and AMD builds


TC
Title: Re: USB Device Connection
Post by: zack1234 on February 15, 2017, 01:56:40 AM
3.0 blue?

I have not noticed any difference between 3.0 or 2.0 :old:

I get a message telling me to use 3.0 even when it's in the blue USB port.

Title: Re: USB Device Connection
Post by: Bizman on February 15, 2017, 01:59:24 AM
Zack, do you have the appropriate USB 3 drivers installed for your motherboard? If not, they may run at the speed of 2.
Title: Re: USB Device Connection
Post by: zack1234 on February 15, 2017, 12:04:55 PM
I have not updated my motherboard drivers in 4 years :old:
Title: Re: USB Device Connection
Post by: Bizman on February 15, 2017, 01:00:35 PM
 :old: Now listen, you rascal! Check them out. If there's nothing new, good. If there's something that looks worth updating, do it.  :cheers:
Title: Re: USB Device Connection
Post by: zack1234 on February 18, 2017, 02:18:28 AM
Whats the benefits of updating motherboard drivers?

And what happens if update causes problems?
Title: Re: USB Device Connection
Post by: Skuzzy on February 18, 2017, 06:07:06 AM
Just like any software, new updates fix things.  Sometimes they can break things, but if you wait a reasonable period of time, those get sorted out as well.

Drivers are usually a go or no-go situation, unlike application software.