Question UPDATED - SOLVED - USB 3.0 ports work differently

[Dekade]

Windows 10 Pro (up to date), Z97 MB, i7-4790K CPU, 32MB Ram. Non-gaming environment.

I have a strange USB port issue. When using a USB microphone and an audio editing/recording app I get different gain signals when the microphone is plugged into different USB 3.0 ports. The case is a Rosewill CHALLENGER Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case. On the front panel of the case, at the top, is a USB 3.0 ports and 2 USB 2.0 ports. When I plug the mic into the USB3.0 / 2.0 ports the gain signal is very strong and shows up nicely on the recording app recording screen. However, the 2.0 ports are very loose and won't stay connected, so I only use the 3.0 port.

I also have a Rosewill USB 3.0 / 4 port / pcie card. When plugging the mic into those 4 ports OR into the motherboard 3.0 ports the recording app gain signal drops to nearly indistinguishable.

What could be causing this? Can this be remedied? If so, how?

Thanks for helping,
Dekade

 

[VirtualLarry]

Try a powered Usb hub.

 

[Dekade]

Hmm. Thanks for the idea. Hadn't thought about that. Will look on internet for reviews for a good one.

So, what you are saying is that the pcie slot housing the 4 port USB 3.0 card and the 4 motherboard rear USB 3.0 ports are [not powered] whereas the front panel USB 3.0 port that is plugged into the motherboard EATXPWR terminal [is] powered?

 

[VirtualLarry]

So, what you are saying is that the pcie slot housing the 4 port USB 3.0 card and the 4 motherboard rear USB 3.0 ports are [not powered] whereas the front panel USB 3.0 port that is plugged into the motherboard EATXPWR terminal [is] powered?

Not exactly. USB hubs are either "bus powered" or "self-powered" (with a wall-wart).

 

[Dekade]

Not exactly. USB hubs are either "bus powered" or "self-powered"

Not really understanding why the card wouldn't be powered since it is plugged into the motherboard; and other rear ports aren't powered either. But I guess it is what it is. Will be left with trying a powered hub I guess.

 

[Steltek]

It could be a very subtle indication that your PSU is beginning to fail. What make and model do you have, and how old is it?

 

[mindless1]

^ Yeah something is odd. Does the microphone have a spec for how much current it uses, or maybe something somewhere in windows it reports this right?

Your PCIe USB3 card does not have a power connector? Separate from the PCIe slot? Most do, IIRC. I mean I know "some" don't but that is a desirable feature and if not, that may be a problem with the card working on higher current peripherals, and yet, a mic really shouldn't need much current but if the load is causing voltage droop, that could account for low signal levels.

If your motherboard is running the rear ports off the PSU 5VSB rail and that's weak, again a voltage droop could account for low signal levels.

As far as your loose case USB2 ports, you might want to pull the PCB out that they're mounted on, often there are little spring tabs on the socket and you can bend them in a little to increase tension. Just make sure they aren't shorting out on the contacts after bent.

If it's instead a case that the USB port solder joints are cracked, you can reflow that or add some solder. "Sometimes" I also like to lay a bead of epoxy on the sides of connectors to fortify them, but in the case of USB sockets, you have to be more careful not to let any get inside as they usually have more gaps than some other connector/socket types.

 

[Dekade]

It could be a very subtle indication that your PSU is beginning to fail. What make and model do you have, and how old is it?

Will check out the exact brand and model number in a little bit but I am pretty certain it is about 4 years old.

 

[Dekade]

^ Yeah something is odd. Does the microphone have a spec for how much current it uses, or maybe something somewhere in windows it reports this right?

Your PCIe USB3 card does not have a power connector? Separate from the PCe slot? Most do, IIRC. I mean I know "some" don't but that is a desirable feature and if not, that may be a problem with the card working on higher current peripherals, and yet, a mic really shouldn't need much current but if the load is causing voltage droop, that could account for low signal levels.

If your motherboard is running the rear ports off the PSU 5VSB rail and that's weak, again a voltage droop could account for low signal levels.

As far as your loose case USB2 ports, you might want to pull the PCB out that they're mounted on, often there are little spring tabs on the socket and you can bend them in a little to increase tension. Just make sure they aren't shorting out on the contacts after bent.

I will check on the power connector. I'll reply in a little bit. Have to run an errand. Much thanks to this forum for helping me zero in on the issue. Be back shortly.

 

[SaifCho1]

Hey virtual Larry you look like you know a lot about PCs. Do you think you can help me with my issue?

 

[Steltek]

Hey virtual Larry you look like you know a lot about PCs. Do you think you can help me with my issue?

Create your own thread describing the issue you are having.

 

[chrisjames61]

Hey virtual Larry you look like you know a lot about PCs. Do you think you can help me with my issue?

One message and you are thread crapping? Come on dude.

 

[RLGL]

One message and you are thread crapping? Come on dude.

Like it or not, it is bad form to hijack a thread!

 

[Dekade]

Apologies for taking so long to get back to this thread. Below, and attached, is the power supply. It is 5 years old.

Now for the admission of error. I evidently hurried while putting in the USB pcie express card and overlooked the power supply jack. Now the card is responding well. I went ahead and ordered a new microphone anyway. I was not pleased with the one that returned bad readings anyway on both the USB card and the motherboard rear panel USB 3.0 ports. Went with a Marantz MPM-1000u USB microphone.

Everything is now working great including the motherboard USB 3.0 ports.

So, with that said if it were not for the thoughts and input of Virtual Larry, Steltek, and mindless1 I certainly would have been fumbling around for quite a while. Thanks again for all the help. I will certainly be visiting this forum more often. Much better than the one I have been using for the past 8 years.

Dekade

P.S. - How do I mark this thread resolved???

 

[mindless1]

^ Edit title in first post with SOLVED or similar at the end.

 

[Dekade]

UPDATED: The USB 2.0 ports are now working great after cleaning. Here's how -

1. Turn off and unplug PC
2. Cut a piece of 3M P400 grit Wet/Dry sandpaper into 7/16" wide x 3-3/4"long strip (port01.jpg)
3. Fold multiple times until puffy. Do not crease.
4. Use DRY (NOT WET). Run in and out of port multiple times (port02.jpg)
5. Blow out port with air to clean any dust from sandpaper
6. Done. Works Great! Ports now have clean contacts (port03.jpg shows dirt sanded off)
7. See attached pics

 

[mindless1]

^ I hate to break it to you, but you may have ruined them, or at least made them a recurring maintenance issue.

USB ports have gold plated contacts, that under any normal condition (besides parking the PC outside in a sand storm) will not accumulate any corrosion (since gold doesn't corrode), but that gold plating is very thin and surely sandpaper will damage it, so now you have exposed copper under where the gold plating was, which will corrode (oxidize to a surface layer that is non-conductive) even with nothing but air exposure.

I thought the problem was they were loose? Anyway, the way to clean them out is to first try a spray, no-residue electrical/electronic contact cleaner, or MAF cleaner from an auto parts store, or rubbing alcohol or even soap and water with a brush if you remove the ports for these latter two options, just making sure they're completely dry before reconnecting to the motherboard. I mean if you use water or rubbing alcohol. The contact cleaner is non-conductive so they don't need disconnected and removed to use that.

If the spray cleaner alone doesn't work, then use the least abrasive thing you have that is durable enough, like a folded up piece of plain paper while the cleaner you sprayed in is still wet (it evaporates very quickly).

 

[Dekade]

Hmm. Didn't know that. Well, my backup is that I have contacted the manufacturer for front panel replacement ports. Yes, I did originally say that they were loose. Breathing on them would lose the connection. Thus the idea of being loose. So it is without argument that my original observation had permission to change to another theory. I do have contact / electronics terminal spray but never considered the ports being gold plated. So, another lesson learned which I thank you for. In the event that I have ruined them and the manufacturer never sends what they say they will then I'll just get a 3rd party front panel port setup. Anyway, you are justified in correcting me and alerting others. Thank you. Anyway, for now, I have connection.