Usb 2.0 & 3.0?
- Thread starter jjonsalt
- Start date
Because until you install the USB 3.0 drivers, they're useless. You need at least one or two USB2.0 ports to plug a mouse and keyboard into.
It will. But when you install a fresh copy of Windows, they don't work until you install the drivers.
The only things that take advantage of 3.0 anyway are external hard drives. Don't bother wasting money on more of them.
Is it custom built or pre-built?
Not for everything, no.
Is it custom built or pre-built?
"are external hard drives" Didn't know that, thanks. I do have one external HD (WD My Book) I use for back up, don't know if it's able to use 3.0 or not. Guess I'll plug it in there, can't hurt.
Custom built. I couldn't find a pre-built (I tried working with Dell) that I would be comfortable with.
Yeah unless it's a USB3.0 external drive then it will operate as 2.0.
jamesd1981
Active Member
I thought intel haswell had native usb 3.0 support ?
MisterEd
Member
Some Intel chipsets have native USB 3.0 support. Some motherboards with these Intel chipsets may also add separate chips to increase the number of USB 3.0 ports.
AMD chipsets do not have native USB 3.0 support. Separate chips are needed to add USB 3.0 support.
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For an Intel example I will use your Gigabyte GA-Z87X-OC motherboard. It uses both integrated and seperate chips for USB 3.0 support.
With only the Intel Z87 chipset driver loaded all the USB 2.0 ports are available. Only two USB 3.0 ports are available via one of the internal USB 3.0 headers. Note the manual does not indicate which of the two USB 3.0 headers goes with the Intel Z87 chipset.
When the Renesas driver is installed all the other USB 3.0 ports are available.
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For an AMD example I will use my Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 motherboard. It has no USB 3.0 support. It uses seperate chips for USB 3.0 support.
When only the AMD 990FX chipset driver is loaded only the USB 2.0 ports are available.
When the Etron driver is loaded the USB 3.0 ports are available
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Gigabyte GA-Z87X-OC motherboard
USB 2.0 - 8 ports (integrated in Intel Z87 chipset)
USB 3.0 - 2 ports (integrated in Intel Z87 chipset)
USB 3.0 - 8 ports (2 Renesas uPD720210 chips)
Rear panel - 2 USB 2.0 ports, 6 USB 3.0 ports
Internal F_USB1: header for 2 USB 2.0 ports
Internal F_USB2: header for 2 USB 2.0 ports
Internal F_USB3: 1 USB 2.0 ports
Internal F_USB4: 1 USB 2.0 ports
Internal F_USB30_1: header for 2 USB 3.0 ports
Internal F_USB30_2: header for 2 USB 3.0 ports
Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 motherboard
USB 2.0 - 14 ports (integrated in AMD 990FX chipset)
USB 3.0 - 4 (ports (2 Etron EJ168 chips)
Rear panel - 8 USB 2.0 ports, 2 USB 3.0 ports
Internal F_USB1: header for 2 USB 2.0 ports
Internal F_USB2: header for 2 USB 2.0 ports
Internal F_USB3: header for 2 USB 2.0 ports
Internal F_USB30: header for 2 USB 3.0 ports
Intel Z87 chipset
USB 2.0 - up to 14 ports
USB 3.0 - up to 6 ports
AMD 990FX chipset
USB 2.0 - up to 14 ports
Etron EJ168 USB 3.0 Host Controller
USB 3.0 - 2 ports
Renesas uPD720210 USB 3.0 Host Controller
USB 3.0 - 4 ports
Yes they do. AMD A85 and A88 both do.
The 900 series Northbridge has nothing to do with it. USB in on the southbridge
MisterEd
Member
You are right. I found this "AMD will brand USB 3.0′d APUs as “Superspeed USB” chipsets. The first APUs to be christened thus will be the A75 and A70M. Current information about this is hard to come by. So far I have found that the AMD fusion controller hubs that natively support USB 3.0 are:
A68M - 2 ports
A70M - 4 ports
A75 - 4 ports
A85X - 4 ports
A88X - 4 ports
Picky picky but true. Drivers for the 990FX and its companion SB950 southbridge are both included in the chipset drivers. The point I was making is that support for USB 3.0 is not natively supported.
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