Abit Ab9 USB help please

[scottyman]

Gidday,
Having a bit of an oddity with my new AB9 and shiny new core2duo
All built fine, without issue - just when I try to use my external USB2 hdd through any of the headers - it won't power and sits there and beeps
when I run it through the four ports on the backpanel it runs fine.

In the post-POST info screen it shows that I've got 3 1.0/1.1 usb headers, and the usb 2.0 headers also
does this sound like a bug in the firmware or a fault with the supplied usb bracket (considering my old mobo ran this drive perfectly happily through the front usb ports)

My usb2 thumbdrive runs, just very very slowly through the usb ports at the front of my case

Many thanks,

Scott

[scottyman]

followup
yeah only the 4 ports on the backplane operate at usb2, all others are usb 1.1!

[scottyman]

Also any recommendations of PSU that I should be using?
I've emailled the nice chaps and chapesses at Scan looking for their advice - but realistically what should I be looking for PSU wise?
I'm seeing voltage fluctuations on the core - but not sure if this is accurate or not - between 1.17 and 1.34V on the CPU in uGuru and between 1.92 and 1.97 for memory - so it's a bit concerning

[d3fiant]

followup
yeah only the 4 ports on the backplane operate at usb2, all others are usb 1.1!

can anyone confirm that, seems very odd that the headers are only USB1 especially with a recent mobo

[ABIT Sean]

The cable that comes with the motherboard is USB2. But if you are using a front panel USB supplied with the case then it maybe USB 1.1.

You can normally tell by looking at the cable. The cable should be double insulated, which is a good sign that it is USB2

[scottyman]

Hi Sean,
The supplied bracket is also operating at usb 1.1, and the front panel connector is usb 2 - previous motherboard Gigabyte GA-K8NF9's USB headers worked successfully as USB 2.0

[ABIT Sean]

So both the front panel & the cable provided by abit are USB2 but the ports are running at usb1.1. But the rear I/O ports are running at USB2.

[scottyman]

that's correct
I've got an external usb2 hdd, but it will not run off either the front or rear usb headers, but will run fine through the rear i/o panel
couldn't be psu related could it?
i'd originally thought that the ports aren't delivering enough current to run the notebook hdd

[ABIT Sean]

Can you try the following:

Disconnect the front panel USB. Then connect a USB2 device to the abit USB cable and see if there is any change.

[scottyman]

can do - will do that this evening and post back the results

Cheers,

Scott

[BUFF]

I'm seeing voltage fluctuations on the core - but not sure if this is accurate or not - between 1.17 and 1.34V on the CPU in uGuru

EIST enabled?

[scottyman]

indeed it is -= never considered that - I suppose that would explain it

[scottyman]

I is confused.
Disabled EIST but still getting voltage fluctuations, can't see anything immediately obvious in device mgr that would also provide a level of control (mind u not checked power properties)
External USB 2 HDD will not bus power from supplied bracket connected to USB headers, but USB 2 thumbdrive will work successfully at USB 2
Might have to use a powered external hub
Any more ideas of things to check?

Ta

Scott

[BUFF]

Disabled EIST but still getting voltage fluctuations, Scott

you'll still get some fluctuation but imo a few.01Vs isn't anything to be worried about

[Johnny Bravo]

I'm taking it that the external HDD has been tested as working on other machines? I guess if you have the USB thumb drive and can use it to test the ports (front and rear) then you'll know that either the ports don't work or the HDD caddy doesn't work (with the board)

[nickaal]

Sounds weird to me.
I have an ab9 Pro and never experienced that problem.
I plugged the extra 2 usb connectors provided which work fine in usb2.
I also plugged another 4 usb connectors that I had from previous cases and modified the cable arangements (I had to open the motherboard manual and move the little in the connector so that they would match the ones on the motherboard).
All is usb2, external hdd, printer, scanner, digital camera and thumb drive.
I suggest you check the manual and make sure the cables match the pins on the mobo.
Otherwise they could be damaged...
I don't see another explaination.