Is it possible for USB slots to be saturated?

runevirage · Jan 16, 2012, 11:36 PM

I've recently had trouble with my external hard drives, where you could not write onto them. I tried pretty much every software solution I could find to no avail. I even bought another external hard drive, but the same problem occurred. Then, I disconnected the USB attached to my printer, and lo and behold, everything started working perfectly again. As a reverse test, I attached the USB of another USB device, and the drives failed again. Is there such a thing as USB saturation? If so, could someone explain it to me? You'd think if a mobo gave you 8 USB slots, you should be able to use all 8.

FordGT90Concept · Jan 16, 2012, 11:46 PM

Yes. USB is a shared bus. If you are using USB 2.0, it has 480 Mbit/s (60 MB/s) maximum bandwidth. It should prioritize activity so everything has at least some bandwidth.

It sounds to me like the USB controller might be failing.

runevirage · Jan 16, 2012, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FordGT90Concept

Yes. USB is a shared bus. If you are using USB 2.0, it has 480 Mbit/s (60 MB/s) maximum bandwidth. It should prioritize activity so everything has at least some bandwidth.

It sounds to me like the USB controller might be failing.

I'm aware USB bandwidth, but from my situation it seems the mere presence of the USB in the ports caused the malfunction. The HDD transferred at 20MB/s, all of the rest of the devices (such as the printer) were inactive.

My devices seem to work fine now, but if my USB controller is really failing, is there an external solution I can get for it? Or do I have to get a new motherboard? Thanks.

FordGT90Concept · Jan 17, 2012, 12:03 AM

You could considering buying a USB expansion card (PCI or PCI Express). Maybe even USB 3.0 if you're looking to upgrade.

USB cards @ Newegg

TRWOV · Jan 17, 2012, 12:13 AM

There are some boards that have shared internal headers. Meaning that two or more of the back USB ports are replicated from the internal headers, so you can only use the back USB ports if there's nothing using the header's connection.

Example attached

scaminatrix · Jan 17, 2012, 01:46 PM

Aren't USB ports collectively limited to 500mA?

I used to have problems with my mate's old rig where he had wireless keyboard and mouse, external HDD, TASCAM US-122 (USB-powered audio interface), USB Wi-Fi adapter and USB Bluetooth adapter.

I got him a PCI Wi-Fi card, wired ps/2 keyboard and mouse and removed the HDD from his external and made it internal. Only USB running then was TASCAM and Bluetooth, and all of his problems went away.

Not saying it will solve all your problems but it's something to look at.

Kreij · Jan 17, 2012, 02:13 PM

^^ This is quite likely the problem.

Some USB HDDs come with cables that allow you to plug them into multiple USB ports because they require more than the 500mA supplied on a single port.
If I'm not mistaken, any USB ports connected to a single USB header on the Mobo share the 500mA output, so you want to connect devices to USB ports on different headers if possible.
If that is not possible (for whatever reason), you can get a self-powered USB hub which will supply 500mA on each port in the hub.

scaminatrix · Jan 17, 2012, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kreij

^^ This is quite likely the problem.

Some USB HDDs come with cables that allow you to plug them into multiple USB ports because they require more than the 500mA supplied on a single port.
If I'm not mistaken, any USB ports connected to a single USB header on the Mobo share the 500mA output, so you want to connect devices to USB ports on different headers if possible.
If that is not possible (for whatever reason), you can get a self-powered USB hub which will supply 500mA on each port in the hub.

Aah so the 500mA isn't shared over all USB's? I thought it was all USB devices, not just per header. So I could have probably fixed my mate's rig without making him buy new parts?

Oh well, keeps me in business

Jan 16, 2012, 11:36 PM	#1
runevirage Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 80 (0.07/day) Thanks: 44 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Is it possible for USB slots to be saturated? I've recently had trouble with my external hard drives, where you could not write onto them. I tried pretty much every software solution I could find to no avail. I even bought another external hard drive, but the same problem occurred. Then, I disconnected the USB attached to my printer, and lo and behold, everything started working perfectly again. As a reverse test, I attached the USB of another USB device, and the drives failed again. Is there such a thing as USB saturation? If so, could someone explain it to me? You'd think if a mobo gave you 8 USB slots, you should be able to use all 8.

Jan 16, 2012, 11:46 PM	#2
FordGT90Concept "I go fast!1!11!1!" Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: IA, USA Posts: 10,567 (6.29/day) Thanks: 1,752 Thanked 2,594 Times in 1,959 Posts System Specs	Yes. USB is a shared bus. If you are using USB 2.0, it has 480 Mbit/s (60 MB/s) maximum bandwidth. It should prioritize activity so everything has at least some bandwidth. It sounds to me like the USB controller might be failing. __________________ Golden Rule of Programming: Never assume. try { SteamDownload(); } catch (Steamception ex) { RageQuit(); }

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Jan 17, 2012, 12:03 AM	#4
FordGT90Concept "I go fast!1!11!1!" Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: IA, USA Posts: 10,567 (6.29/day) Thanks: 1,752 Thanked 2,594 Times in 1,959 Posts System Specs	You could considering buying a USB expansion card (PCI or PCI Express). Maybe even USB 3.0 if you're looking to upgrade. USB cards @ Newegg __________________ Golden Rule of Programming: Never assume. try { SteamDownload(); } catch (Steamception ex) { RageQuit(); }

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Jan 17, 2012, 12:13 AM	#5
TRWOV Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Mexico Posts: 2,047 (3.16/day) Thanks: 789 Thanked 1,048 Times in 546 Posts System Specs	There are some boards that have shared internal headers. Meaning that two or more of the back USB ports are replicated from the internal headers, so you can only use the back USB ports if there's nothing using the header's connection. Example attached Attached Thumbnails __________________ My other rigs: OCTANUX - Conroe865PE - QX6800 - 4GB OCZ Platinum EL - HIS HD4670 AGP - SB Audigy 2 ZS - BFG PPU phenomenal - AM2NF3-VSTA - 965BE - 8GB OCZ Platinum LV - HIS HD3850 AGP - SB X-Fi - Asus PPU - WIP Green Tea - 939A8X-M - FX60 - 4GB OCZ Platinum EL - 7950GT AGP Re-build - CT-6VTA2 - PIII 600E - 384MB PC133 - Voodoo 5500 AGP - SB16 ISA BLUELINE - H61M-GE - PDC G645 - 8GB DDR3-1333 - Powercolor HD7750 - 2xTV Wonder 650

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Jan 17, 2012, 01:46 PM	#6
scaminatrix Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: By the Channel Tunnel, Kent, England Posts: 2,432 (2.07/day) Thanks: 1,834 Thanked 802 Times in 672 Posts System Specs	Aren't USB ports collectively limited to 500mA? I used to have problems with my mate's old rig where he had wireless keyboard and mouse, external HDD, TASCAM US-122 (USB-powered audio interface), USB Wi-Fi adapter and USB Bluetooth adapter. I got him a PCI Wi-Fi card, wired ps/2 keyboard and mouse and removed the HDD from his external and made it internal. Only USB running then was TASCAM and Bluetooth, and all of his problems went away. Not saying it will solve all your problems but it's something to look at. __________________ MKMods Tribute Rig - the Power of the Community HeatWare Did I make the 2,000,000th post? If an 8 Core can hit 6Ghz with an H100 i'll post pictures of my hot fiance - Pestilence Every day I come to this site, I am reminded why I come to this site every day!!! - Iggster

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Jan 17, 2012, 02:13 PM	#7
Kreij Hardcore Monkey Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheeseland (Wisconsin, USA) Posts: 12,110 (5.28/day) Thanks: 591 Thanked 5,488 Times in 2,932 Posts System Specs	^^ This is quite likely the problem. Some USB HDDs come with cables that allow you to plug them into multiple USB ports because they require more than the 500mA supplied on a single port. If I'm not mistaken, any USB ports connected to a single USB header on the Mobo share the 500mA output, so you want to connect devices to USB ports on different headers if possible. If that is not possible (for whatever reason), you can get a self-powered USB hub which will supply 500mA on each port in the hub. __________________ Cloud (noun, singular): A dynamic arrangement of multiple potential single points of failure, with a user at one end and their data at the other. Get more tech news on a wide variety of topics at NextPowerUp

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