Ver. 3.0.2.5 Firmware Update to NEC(Renesas) USB 3.0 controller-unloading fix

[95Viper]

Problem: NEC ( now Renesas ) USB 3.0 controller dropping\un-loading it self from device manager.

My ASUS U3S6 card had this problem, since the firmware update the hub controller has not dropped\un-loaded at all. As of 8/2/2010, ASUS did not have the update on their support site.

Solution: Firmware update to Version 3.0.2.5.x.x

From Readme.txt file:
CHANGES IN THIS RELEASE
Version 3.0.2.5
[New functions or enhancements]
- Mass Storage Class UAS (USB Attached SCSI) is supported.
[Problem fixes]
-Added the workaround of xHCI Driver Unload Problem.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DETERMINING WHICH VERSION IS INSTALLED
[Windows Vista and Windows 7 and Windows XP]
1. On the Start menu, click All Programs, NEC Electronics,
USB3.0 Host Controller Driver, and then USB3.0 Hsot Controller Utility.
2. Show USB3.0 Host Controller Information. If "Firmware Version" is 3025,
you succeed in updating FW.

You can find the updates at various sites on the web, but here are a couple:
Lenovo support
Station-drivers < The one I used (Windows version)

Disclaimer: You flash your hardware at your own risk.


EDIT:
There is a new driver version for the NEC/Renesas USB 3.0 and it can be downloaded here @ Intel's download center: USB 3.0: Renesas Electronics* USB 3.0 Driver (Version 2..1.28.0)
or
you can get the latest driver( version 2.1.36.0 ) here, @ Stationdrivers

The latest firmware is still version 3.0.2.8.0.8, as of, July 4, 2011. Can be had at Station-drivers here:NEC/RENESAS USB3

All this info has been for the NEC/RENESAS USB3 uPD720200 & uPD720200a Controllers... Station Drivers ,also, has updates for the uPD720201 & uPD720202 chipsets on the same linked page.

[cool_recep]

New NEC USB 3.0 Firmware 3.0.2.8.0.8

April 2011 Update!

Download Source and release notes

New Update for µPD720200A chip!

NEC/Renesas USB 3.0 Firmware 4.0.1.5.0.2 - Only for µPD720200A

[530xd]

Hi.
I have this motherboard with usb3 controller on it: M4A89GTD PRO/USB3

I have updated the firmware to latest. 3027

but I am unsure what drivers to use, currently I use 1.0.19.0

Should I use the v2.0 drivers on it?

thanx.

[robn]

Yeah go for the newest drivers, the V2 are much tidier (and Renesas branded instead of NEC btw) - no longer have a USB3mon process (I think it was called) that runs in the background.

Latest driver is 2.1.16.0 ...not available thru Renesas as they only deal with OEMs, however Station Drivers is a trustworthy site (and good for Broadcom Wi-Fi drivers too).

[530xd]

yes, installed latest driver and now my usb devices seems stable.
Have used it for 5 hours now playing and editing music.
thanx.

[Mussels]

hmmm, it never occured to me to updated my USB 3 drivers after NEC became renesas, or whatever it was that went on there.

[Red_Machine]

We have a USB controller with a NEC chip made by SOHOUSB in our workshop PC. Will it be safe to use these with it? If it was my personal card, I wouldn't mind, but as it belongs to my boss I want to make sure.

[95Viper]

Originally Posted by Mussels

hmmm, it never occured to me to updated my USB 3 drivers after NEC became renesas, or whatever it was that went on there.

One of them drivers you sorta never think about, until you think about it.

Originally Posted by Red_Machine

We have a USB controller with a NEC chip made by SOHOUSB in our workshop PC. Will it be safe to use these with it? If it was my personal card, I wouldn't mind, but as it belongs to my boss I want to make sure.

Sorta hard to say... IMO, should be no problem, as long as you get the firmware and driver for the chip that is used.

They actually make a few different ones now and there are a couple of other companies making USB 3.0 controllers. So, you need to check and be sure of the chip you are updating before proceeding.

I, personally, have updated the NEC/RENESAS USB3 Controller (uPD720200 & uPD720200a) Driver Version 2.1.16.0 (latest version) and the firmware Version 3.0.2.7.0.8 (uPD720200), on my Gigabyte x58a-UDR3 MB and the add-in card (ASUS U3S6) in my second system, with the firmware and drivers from Station-drivers.

Have had no problems; and, I have a slight improvement in stability with certain USB devices.

Dis-claimer: As you know though, anytime you update firmware you take the chance of a bad flash. And, do this at your own risk.

[jsfitz54]

With my ASUS R3F mobo, I had upgraded to the Renesas v2.0.4.0 with good results. Original was not so good. ***This was not on Asus mobo site for R3F mobo but for Sabertooth mobo and R3Extreme .***

Would you all agree that the newer version is better yet?

[AsRock]

Firmware and update worked fine on my AMD setup although there was not a issue in the 1st place hehe.

[530xd]

Originally Posted by jsfitz54

With my ASUS R3F mobo, I had upgraded to the Renesas v2.0.4.0 with good results. Original was not so good. ***This was not on Asus mobo site for R3F mobo but for Sabertooth mobo and R3Extreme .***

Would you all agree that the newer version is better yet?

http://img.techpowerup.org/110607/Capture.jpg

Original it was useless, the usb discs I had connected disappeared just after some minutes use.

[Cypherdude]

Originally Posted by robn

Yeah go for the newest drivers, the V2 are much tidier (and Renesas branded instead of NEC btw) - no longer have a USB3mon process (I think it was called) that runs in the background.

Latest driver is 2.1.16.0 ...not available thru Renesas as they only deal with OEMs, however Station Drivers is a trustworthy site (and good for Broadcom Wi-Fi drivers too).

I am using Renesas driver version 2.0.4.0 in Win7-64. The name of the process is nusb3mon.exe*32 and it is their "USB 3.0 Monitor".

Thanks to everyone for posting on this thread. When I saw the RENESAS USB3 2.1.16.0 version, I was worried it had a virus or would give all their windows in french. Most of the information, the pop-up windows, the example graphics are in french on this www.station-drivers.com page.

Renesas should really have their drivers and BIOS updates available for download on their own website so we don't have to worry about these things.

[Red_Machine]

Both the firmware and newer driver worked fine on our SOHOUSB card.

[Solaris17]

thank god i got one of these as a review and it was all F@#$ up. thank you

[mark09]

Hi people.

I have a little problem with my USB3 renesas controller.

I have two usb3 controllers on my ASRock 890FX deluxe4 and I would like to update the firmware of both, but the firmware updater says: "Plural host controller detected"

This is what I tried: disabled USB3 controller from BIOS (it disables both), disabled one controller from Device Management in Windows 7 x64 and the PCI-TO-PCI bridge where it's attached. Nothing, same error. Any advice?

Plese help, if you can. Thanks a lot.

[Mussels]

i updated the firmware on my board with these and updated the drivers, no problems at all.

[95Viper]

Originally Posted by mark09

Hi people.

I have a little problem with my USB3 renesas controller.

I have two usb3 controllers on my ASRock 890FX deluxe4 and I would like to update the firmware of both, but the firmware updater says: "Plural host controller detected"

This is what I tried: disabled USB3 controller from BIOS (it disables both), disabled one controller from Device Management in Windows 7 x64 and the PCI-TO-PCI bridge where it's attached. Nothing, same error. Any advice?

Please help, if you can. Thanks a lot.

Quoted from the release notes for the firmware update:

"Note3 : If multiple uPD720200s are detected on the PC, F302708FWUP1.EXE does not
start to update."

And, your board does have two uPD720200 controller chips, of which, only both can be enabled or disabled.
Seems ASRock needs to update the bios to seperate the two to allow individual control.

Here is a thread at TweakTown forums where they have a little discussion about the firmware updating and a beta bios for the 890FX and 890 GX boards that have the USB device boot problem.

890FX Deluxe4 BIOS L1.51 and 890GX Extreme4 BIOS L1.03

Goodluck

[mark09]

Thanks for your answer, I will ask there.

[95Viper]

Originally Posted by mark09

Thanks for your answer, I will ask there.

If you get a fix or answer and/or you get some results or resolve the matter, please post back here to share the experience.

Thank you!

[jsfitz54]

Just to show that the update does work:

Flash Firmware first...then reboot.
Next update driver.
Notice the new field regarding power management.

[mark09]

Originally Posted by jsfitz54

Just to show that the update does work: http://img.techpowerup.org/110614/Capture.jpg

Flash Firmware first...then reboot.
Next update driver.
Notice the new field regarding power management.

Yes, it indeed works. The problem is that on my board I have more than one controller, so the updater complains.

[AsRock]

Originally Posted by mark09

Yes, it indeed works. The problem is that on my board I have more than one controller, so the updater complains.

can you disable one or the other ?.

[mark09]

I have these choices to disable one controller at a time, but neither of these works:
- From device manager (the USB3 Utility from renesas/nec sees just one controller but the updater sees two)
- From bios (both controller disabled, the installer sees none)

[jsfitz54]

Re-read your first post.
Try contacting Renesas and ASRock and see what they have to say, maybe ASRock will update Bios like 95Viper said.

Keep posting here because I see a lot of new boards have two controllers and this issue is going to come up.

It may be a matter of how the updater software is written and Renesas may have the answer.

BTW.... what version are you trying to update from?

Does ASROCK have another similar board that they do have an update for... see my earlier post about ASUS not having their site updated. Perhaps another vendors update package would work; like ASUS.

[mark09]

I am updating from 3.0.2.1

AS Rock does not support updating firmwares I think.