The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    USB 3.0 ports

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by fred2028, Jun 5, 2011.

  1. fred2028

    fred2028 Sexy member

    Reputations:
    196
    Messages:
    2,205
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    When I connect a USB device into my USB 3 ports, the computer does not recognize that a device has been inserted but the device will receive power. However, the USB 2 port recognizes devices connected to it. Is there a driver that I am missing? My laptop is in my signature and I have BIOS A03
     
    fred2028, Jun 5, 2011
    #1
  2. Ixel

    Ixel Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    162
    Messages:
    102
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    There's a separate driver for USB 3 as I recall, because Windows 7 doesn't currently have it as a standard driver like USB 2, I'll see if I can find more information on this before someone else might.
     
    Ixel, Jun 5, 2011
    #2
  3. fred2028

    fred2028 Sexy member

    Reputations:
    196
    Messages:
    2,205
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Oh OK, what is the driver called from the Dell downloads page do you know?
     
    fred2028, Jun 5, 2011
    #3
  4. Ixel

    Ixel Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    162
    Messages:
    102
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Unfortunately going over the Dell drivers page reveals not a peep, but I can tell you what the USB root hub is called. Googling if all else fails will probably yield results.

    It's called 'Renesas Electronics USB 3.0 Host Controller'. Good luck from there, hopefully you can find a working driver. I doubt the chipset drivers have it, but maybe I am wrong.
     
    Ixel, Jun 5, 2011
    #4
  5. jeremyshaw

    jeremyshaw Big time Idiot

    Reputations:
    791
    Messages:
    3,210
    Likes Received:
    231
    Trophy Points:
    131
    jeremyshaw, Jun 5, 2011
    #5
  6. Ixel

    Ixel Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    162
    Messages:
    102
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    How unobvious is that, you would've thought that Dell would've put that under a different category that's more obvious, not Keyboard/Mouse stuff. Oh well, that should be the one the OP is requiring.
     
    Ixel, Jun 5, 2011
    #6
  7. takeabyte

    takeabyte Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    58
    Messages:
    459
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Yes, that is the driver. I have been able to get about 100mb/s with those ports and a 3.0 enclosure :) <3
     
    takeabyte, Jun 5, 2011
    #7
  8. fred2028

    fred2028 Sexy member

    Reputations:
    196
    Messages:
    2,205
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Oh OK thanks, installed it and it works now! Just to confirm, with a USB 3 port, a USB 3 external hard drive (that also has USB 3), you got 100 MB/s? Can a hard drive spinning at 7200 RPM even deliver 100 MB/s?
     
    fred2028, Jun 5, 2011
    #8
  9. jeremyshaw

    jeremyshaw Big time Idiot

    Reputations:
    791
    Messages:
    3,210
    Likes Received:
    231
    Trophy Points:
    131
    a 2 or 3TB drive might be able to. Sheer platter density would make that happen :)
     
    jeremyshaw, Jun 5, 2011
    #9
  10. takeabyte

    takeabyte Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    58
    Messages:
    459
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    i got to that speed once or twice using a 750gb drive. lately i've only gotten to about 20-50mb/s though :(
     
    takeabyte, Jun 5, 2011
    #10