USB 3.0 Issues

I've been having problems with my Vostro 3450 concerning the Renesas USB 3.0 (formerly NEC) controller and what seems to be Jmicron chip JMS551 in a Vantec Superspeed USB3.0 HDD Dock. After reading multiple threads like this one on the Dell forums, this one on the NBR forums, and this one on the Newegg product page, I've been trying different approaches to fix the issue. As much as I would like to blame Dell, it seems to be a wider spanning issue involving USB 3.0 in notebooks.
[Edit: or a wider spanning issue involving cheap peripherals.. haha]
[Edit 2: or just an issue with the Dell Vostro 3450 bought on sale from RedFlagDeals >>> check the bottom of the post]

Symptoms:
When a peripheral that utilizes USB 3.0 is attached to a Renesas daughter board port, the connection is interrupted and is no longer recognized by a fully updated version of Windows 7.

Potentially Affected Notebooks:

Spoiler

Dell

• Vostro 3x50
• XPS 15 (?), 17 L701X

Previous Attempted Fixes (2011):

Spoiler

To test the fixes, I copied ~25GB from E:/ to F:/, both located in the dock. Please note, this would explain the speed; normally it is ~90MB/s, from E:/ external to C:/ internal.

1. Dell Renesas 2.0.34.0
   Device Manager > USB Controllers > Uninstall Renesas Host Controller > Reinstall Dell Renesas 2.0.34.0 > Test > No improvement (speed ~35 MB/s, 25% completion)
2. Downloaded NEC Driver 1.0.20.0
   Device Manager > USB Controllers > Uninstall Renesas Host Controller > Install NEC driver > Test > Slight improvement (speed ~45 MB/s, 30% completion)
3. Downloaded Renesas Host Controller 2.1.16.0
   - From the included USB Host Controller, selected "Disable USB 3.0 Power management"
   - I couldn't install the firmware update from the above link
   Device Manager > USB Controllers > Uninstall NEC Host Controller > Install Renesas driver > Test > Slight improvement (speed ~45 MB/s, 40% completion), firmware version 4012
4. Downloaded Vantec Firmware update for NST-D400S3
   Test > Results > Significant improvement (speed ~60 MB/s, 60% completion)
   
5. I tried it, but it didn't work for me... Which gives me more reason to think it's the Vantec that's at fault.

​

Solution and Results (2015): Fixed!

It turns out that the daughterboard came in two versions: the DAV02PI16E0, and DAV02PI16E1. Below is a picture of where to find the model number (it's easy to see once you remove keyboard/trackpad cover).

View attachment 120369

I'm 99.999% sure the DAV02PI16E0 is buggy/garbage, and was why the ports weren't working properly (not to mention probably why the laptop was on sale at RedFlagDeals hahaha ). I finally got around to ordering the DAV02PI16E1 part ($20), and replaced it tonight. I ran the tests again, and got stable results of ~100 MB/s without needing to change the drivers.


Conclusion:
If your USB3.0 ports aren't working properly (even after trying updated drivers), or you lose networking capabilities when you plug in a USB peripheral to the back right USB ports, check to see if your daughterboard is DAV02PI16E0. If that's the case, replace it with DAV02PI16E1. Hopefully this helps someone down the road!

 

When I had some usb 3 issues with my desktop the fix was to find newer updated drivers for the usb host.

Other than that not sure what you can do.


The other thing to note is that there is a difference between a usb 3 cable and usb 2 cable. I myself made this mistake when I first got my usb 3.0 card installed in my desktop I had a in-desk usb port that I ran from the back of the computer with an extension cable and wondered why I didnt get usb 3.0 speed. It was simply because my cable was not usb 3.0 it actually has more pins/wires on the 3.0 version.

 

I think the fault lies with the fact that you're trying to use a Vantec peripheral. My old MSI notebook had USB 3.0 by way of an Expresscard adapter that used the same NEC/Renesas chipset. A Vantec enclosure I bought at the time would not work on the USB 3.0 card but would be fine connected to the notebook's built-in USB 2.0 ports. I swapped out the enclosure for one from a different brand (don't have the name off the top of my head), and it worked perfectly with the Expresscard adapter.

I would try exchanging your Vantec dock for a Thermaltake and see if you get the same results. Otherwise, you could very well have a defective USB 3.0 port, in which case you'll need to call Dell.

 

@Vicious
I wish it was that... but I'm using a USB 3 cable.

@saturn
I'm pretty sure it's the Vantec... I bought it half a year ago before I had this computer or usb 3, so I had no idea it would be such a headache. The reason why I'm whining about it is in case anyone's searching for the issue down the road... I have a feeling there'll be an influx of people looking after the standard takes off. I know there was already a topic about it before, but at least this way it's directly linked to relevant info and possible fixes. I can't say how many times this forum has saved me because of these things.

Anyway, I'm going to try another usb 3 device as soon as I get a chance to buy one... I don't think it's a faulty board, seeing as usb 2 is still working. But that might not mean anything.
blahblahblah -_- so frustrating

 

A USB 2.0 device works correctly on your USB 3.0 ports then? If that's the case, then I would most definitely blame the Vantec dock. But if you're talking about all your stuff working on your USB 2.0 ports, then you might have a fault with the notebook itself because USB 2.0 is built into the chipset. USB 3.0, at least for now, is a separate entity.

 

I should've been more specific - yeah, the USB 2 still works on the USB 3 ports. So, I guess it is the Vantec

 

first generation hardware and first generation software/drivers..........

 

I have the same issue with Akasa duodock S. Chipset is Fresco Logic (ASUS G53), It keep disconnecting when plug the device. Sometimes it'll keep the connection until i try to copy large files.

 

I would blame the USB chipset on that one. Lots of issues with Fresco Logic versus NEC/Renesas.

 

okay, i was having a similar problem, but the usb 3.0 ports just shutdown and wont turn on for any device 2.0 or 3.0

I bought the vostro 3450 in 08/2011 and it cames with this Renessas eletronics usb 3.0 host;hub etc etc.

After a lot of time using the dell support and they just reinstalling the godamn driver, I googled to see what i could do besides dell noob support.

Okay if you got the same adaptor as mine this should solve your problem like i solved mine, download the driver from intel webpage directly cause dells driver just suck

here's the link:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Det...g=eng&wapkw=(USB3_allOS_2.1.19.0_PV.exe)#help

now I'm using a windows 7 ultimate x64, and my usb 3.0 ports are working like a charm now.

Let me know if that solves your problem too

 

Dont have any USB 3.0 worries myself.
Getting around 100 mb/s write speed according to Windows 7.
Thats roughly the same speed i get writing to my second internal hdd.

Im using a Clevo P170HMx with updated USB 3.0 firmware and drivers.

 

Another vote for these drivers on an XPS 15.

 

Unless the symptom is greater than that, the problem is not limited to those listed notebooks. I had that issue with my express card superspeed USB.

Anyway, my issues was solved when I plugged in the power port to an additional USB 2.0. I'm not sure if their any relationship, but the symptoms were identical.

 

thanks for the link! it was much more stable + had higher speeds, but again the same problem came up. i'll add the info to the main post with result confirmation from you and Risco.

i'm still assuming it's the vantec that's the issue.

never said they were, they just came up when i was searching for answers.

 

I have an interesting problem with USB 3.0 (Fresco). I have 2 different Kingston Datatraveler drives, the brand is Kingston, yes same, but capacities are different, 512 MB and 8 GB and BOTH of are USB 2.0 drives.. The problem is, after insert 8 GB Kingston to USB 3.0 port, it's mass storage driver was installed just fine and had a valid driver letter. Then i inserted 512 MB Kingston to the same USB 3.0 port, it's driver was installed as well.

The problem starts here, after each reboot, whenever i try to insert 512 MB Kingston to the same USB 3.0 port, the mass storage driver is being installed again and again on each next reboots. There's glitch or misunderstanding that the USB 3.0 port have seemed to be allocated by first-inserted 8 GB Kingston flash drive and works fine with it, but not 512 MB, it's constantly installing mass storage driver for it.

What the hell about it?

USBDevView from Nirsoft easily proves multiple device driver installations:

 

Sorry to necro a really old thread, but just over three and a half years later, I've found the fix to the USB3.0 problem. It turns out that the USB3.0 + networking + audio daughterboard came in two versions: the DAV02PI16E0, and DAV02PI16E1. Below is a picture of where to find the model number (it's easy to see once you remove keyboard/trackpad cover).

View attachment 120369

The DAV02PI16E0 is buggy/garbage, and was why the ports weren't working properly (not to mention probably why the laptop was on sale at RedFlagDeals hahaha ). I finally got around to ordering the DAV02PI16E1 part ($20), and replaced it tonight. I ran the tests again, and got stable results of ~100 MB/s without needing to change the drivers.

Hopefully this helps someone down the road, and I'll update the main post with the new information.

 

Dear friend Rapidfish you gives the ONLY ONE SOLUTION ON THE NET FOR THE USB3.0 PROBLEM OF Dell Vostro 3450...Today i've replace the buggy/garbage daughterboard DAV02PI16E0 with DAV02PI16E1 and the usb3.0 problem is finally FIXED !!!! God bless you always !!!