[HARDWARE ISSUE]USB ports work intermittently, or not at all

[Traumaturge]

I have this motherboard. It has 6 USB2.0 ports, 2 USB3.0 ports, and PS/2 mouse and keyboard. The 3.0's are the only ones that work reliably, so they're reserved for the keyboard and mouse. But they only detect when Mageia itself starts, so no keyboard in POST or GRUB. This isn't a problem 99% of the time, but now I have to go into BIOS for a different issue. I never use the 2.0 or PS/2 ports because they don't work often enough to be useful.

Here's dmesg output

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[sks@localhost ~]$ dmesg | grep hci
[    0.635670] ahci 0000:00:11.0: version 3.0
[    0.635842] ahci 0000:00:11.0: AHCI 0001.0200 32 slots 4 ports 6 Gbps 0xf impl SATA mode
[    0.635845] ahci 0000:00:11.0: flags: 64bit ncq sntf ilck pm led clo pmp pio slum part
[    0.636368] scsi0 : ahci
[    0.636480] scsi1 : ahci
[    0.636573] scsi2 : ahci
[    0.636665] scsi3 : ahci
[    3.090559] xhci_hcd 0000:02:00.0: xHCI Host Controller
[    3.090566] xhci_hcd 0000:02:00.0: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 1
[    3.090661] xhci_hcd 0000:02:00.0: irq 72 for MSI/MSI-X
[    3.090736] usb usb1: Manufacturer: Linux 3.14.43-desktop-1.mga4 xhci_hcd
[    3.091025] xhci_hcd 0000:02:00.0: xHCI Host Controller
[    3.091031] xhci_hcd 0000:02:00.0: new USB bus registered, assigned bus number 2
[    3.091101] usb usb2: Manufacturer: Linux 3.14.43-desktop-1.mga4 xhci_hcd
[    3.392444] usb 1-1: new low-speed USB device number 2 using xhci_hcd
[    3.662464] usb 1-2: new full-speed USB device number 3 using xhci_hcd


And lspcidrake

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[sks@localhost ~]$ lspcidrake -v
ath9k           : Qualcomm Atheros|AR9485 Wireless Network Adapter [NETWORK_OTHER] (vendor:168c device:0032 subv:168c subd:3118) (rev: 01)
tg3             : Broadcom Corporation|NetLink BCM57781 Gigabit Ethernet PCIe [NETWORK_ETHERNET] (vendor:14e4 device:16b1 subv:1849 subd:96b1) (rev: 10)
xhci_hcd        : Etron Technology, Inc.|EJ168 USB 3.0 Host Controller [SERIAL_USB] (vendor:1b6f device:7023 subv:1849 subd:7023) (rev: 01)
snd_hda_intel   : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]|Cape Verde/Pitcairn HDMI Audio [Radeon HD 7700/7800 Series] [MULTIMEDIA_AUDIO_DEV] (vendor:1002 device:aab0 subv:1092 subd:aab0)
Card:ATI Radeon HD 5000 to HD 6300 (radeon/fglrx): Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]|Cape Verde XT [Radeon HD 7770/8760 / R7 250X] [DISPLAY_VGA] (vendor:1002 device:683d subv:1092 subd:e244)
shpchp          : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]|RD890 PCI to PCI bridge (external gfx1 port A) [BRIDGE_PCI] (vendor:1002 device:5a1d)
unknown         : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]|Family 15h Processor Function 5 [BRIDGE_HOST] (vendor:1022 device:1605)
fam15h_power    : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]|Family 15h Processor Function 4 [BRIDGE_HOST] (vendor:1022 device:1604)
k10temp         : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]|Family 15h Processor Function 3 [BRIDGE_HOST] (vendor:1022 device:1603)
amd64_edac_mod  : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]|Family 15h Processor Function 2 [BRIDGE_HOST] (vendor:1022 device:1602)
unknown         : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]|Family 15h Processor Function 1 [BRIDGE_HOST] (vendor:1022 device:1601)
unknown         : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]|Family 15h Processor Function 0 [BRIDGE_HOST] (vendor:1022 device:1600)
shpchp          : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]|SB700/SB800/SB900 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 0) [BRIDGE_PCI] (vendor:1002 device:43a0)
unknown         : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]|SBx00 PCI to PCI Bridge [BRIDGE_PCI] (vendor:1002 device:4384) (rev: 40)
unknown         : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]|SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 LPC host controller [BRIDGE_ISA] (vendor:1002 device:439d subv:1849 subd:439d) (rev: 40)
snd_hda_intel   : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]|SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) [MULTIMEDIA_AUDIO_DEV] (vendor:1002 device:4383 subv:1849 subd:7892) (rev: 40)
pata_atiixp     : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]|SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 IDE Controller [STORAGE_IDE] (vendor:1002 device:439c subv:1849 subd:439c) (rev: 40)
i2c_piix4       : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]|SBx00 SMBus Controller [SERIAL_SMBUS] (vendor:1002 device:4385 subv:1849 subd:4385) (rev: 42)
unknown         : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]|SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 SATA Controller [IDE mode] [STORAGE_SATA] (vendor:1002 device:4390 subv:1849 subd:4390) (rev: 40)
shpchp          : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]|RD890 PCI to PCI bridge (PCI express gpp port E) [BRIDGE_PCI] (vendor:1002 device:5a19)
shpchp          : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]|RD890 PCI to PCI bridge (PCI express gpp port B) [BRIDGE_PCI] (vendor:1002 device:5a16)
unknown         : Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]|RD890 PCI to PCI bridge (external gfx0 port B) [BRIDGE_HOST] (vendor:1002 device:5a14 subv:1849 subd:5a14) (rev: 02)
hub             : Linux 3.14.43-desktop-1.mga4 xhci_hcd|xHCI Host Controller [Hub|Unused|Full speed (or root) hub] (vendor:1d6b device:0003)
hub             : Linux 3.14.43-desktop-1.mga4 xhci_hcd|xHCI Host Controller [Hub|Unused|Full speed (or root) hub] (vendor:1d6b device:0002)
usbhid          : Logitech|USB Keyboard [Human Interface Device|Boot Interface Subclass|Keyboard] (vendor:046d device:c31c)
usbhid          : Logitech|USB Receiver [Human Interface Device|Boot Interface Subclass|Keyboard] (vendor:046d device:c52b)
hid_generic     : Logitech USB Keyboard
hid_generic     : Logitech USB Keyboard
hid_logitech_dj : Logitech USB Receiver
hid_logitech_dj : Logitech USB Receiver
hid_logitech_dj : Logitech USB Receiver
hid_logitech_dj : Logitech Unifying Device. Wireless PID:400a


I'm currently using Mageia 4, and holding off on the upgrade until I can work out this and a few other issues. Since it's a UEFI board, is there a chance upgrading would help?

Edit: terminology

[wintpe]

I have a motherboard , that is not the same make, but same chipset.

this has experienced similar issues with the usb ports.

these issues described in

viewtopic.php?f=41&t=6936&p=44501&hilit=gigabyte#p44501

are usually to do with the lower end version of the 990FX ie the 970

and especially the gigabyte GA-970A-DS3P

your problem almost exactly describes the issues i was having with the 970 and some of the problems i had with my 990FX. (asus Crosshair V Formula)

So try disabling iommu in the bios and see if that suddenly and radically changes your experience.

sometimes the usb3 ports stop working after disabling the iommu, because its a nasty chipset, but having the on board usb2 ports is a must, just for keyboard/mouse.

the reason it has a nasty chipset, is that the 990FX and 970 dont support usb3 out of there chip, so some manufacturers add a custom usb3 chipset.

yours has a Etron Technology, Inc.|EJ168 USB 3.0 Host Controller (see this thread, http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2115522 might be relevant about that usb3 chipset, looks like its crap also)

then get an aftermarket usb3 plug in board to get you usb3, again be careful which one you choose, they could come with the above chipset on them.

try some of the other options i have suggested like

if you get errors at the very start of the boot on AMD 990 based boards, about disabling iommu try adding the ivrs_io* entries to your kernel line,

then follow the last item in that link.

also make sure your bios is upto date, that problem with ivrs, is a workaround to bad bios's so a bios update might actually avoid that

Hope that helps

regards peter

[Traumaturge]

Thank you for that- would explain the nagging issues I've had since I got this system.

Is there a way to access the BIOS when I can't use the keyboard on startup?

EDIT: I fould a few PCIe to USB adapters like this one- is this what you were talking about? What are the chances that the PCIe controller will work on POST, and the faulty USB controller won't take over?

[jiml8]

This is the first I have heard about problems with this chipset. I have built several machines that use this chipset (including my current workstation) and I have never had problems of any sorts with the USB ports, using either Linux or Windows.

I have insufficient information (other than my personal experience) to go by, but I must say that it certainly is possible to build a motherboard around that chipset that works reliably. My workstation contains an Asus Sabertooth 990FX R2 mobo, populated with 32 GB RAM, and this system has been hands-down the most solid system I have ever had. I have built other computers using the same mobo, as well as other Asus mobos and the 990/950 chipset and have had no trouble at all.

I used to buy gigabyte mobos, but stopped after encountering a rash of bad ones years ago. I have never thought much of Asrock, hence have never purchased any of them.

The problem descriptions here, if indeed the chipset is behind them, would indicate to me that the boards are not designed properly for the chipset. Logically, this would not be the fault of the chipset, although the distinction for the unfortunate buyer would be moot.

[wintpe]

the sabertooth R2 may well have the good bios, but the first gen sabertooth, and crosshair vformula
have got the bad bios, that need the ivrs mod to stop the kernel complaining just after the grub line.

I still need this under mga5, the error you get is like this. (this one i grabbed from a forum)

[ 0.297481] [Firmware Bug]: AMD-Vi: IOAPIC[7] not in IVRS table
[ 0.297485] [Firmware Bug]: AMD-Vi: IOAPIC[8] not in IVRS table
[ 0.297487] [Firmware Bug]: AMD-Vi: No southbridge IOAPIC found in IVRS table
[ 0.297490] AMD-Vi: Disabling interrupt remapping due to BIOS Bug(s)

But disabling iommu in the first gen 990FX, just causes the onboard usb3 ports to fail,

it uses

03:00.0 USB controller: ASMedia Technology Inc. ASM1042 SuperSpeed USB Host Controller
04:00.0 USB controller: ASMedia Technology Inc. ASM1042 SuperSpeed USB Host Controller
05:00.0 USB controller: ASMedia Technology Inc. ASM1042 SuperSpeed USB Host Controller


but enabling it gives the error above, and needs the ivrs entry.

the gigabyte 970 has exactly the symptom i describe, but so do many other amd 9xx based boards.

so im sharing that the issue that Traumaturge has looks like a another iteration of the problem.

trying what I have suggested will confirm or rule out that.

Im aware Jim you have a similar board, as ive commented before, but asus continued to provide ongoing iterations to both the crosshair v formula Z and the sabertooth R2
well beyond the first gen of those boards, of which i have one, and the bios issue remains.

all four boards are essentialy the same thing, with the exception of the power regulator circuit of which the second gen support upto 220Watts.

regards peter

[Traumaturge]

I got the Rosewill card I linked to earlier. It has the same issue: doesn't detect until after Mageia starts. Still can't access BIOS.

EDIT/UPDATE: I'm not sure the Etron controller is the problem. Everything I've read says it affects performance in the 3.0 ports. My problem is with all the ports, but moreso the 2.0's. The 3.0 ports work fine once Mageia starts so I don't think it's a driver problem, although it could be.

The add-on card I installed uses a Renesas controller which, by all accounts, is far superior. It has the same problems.

EDIT #2: Given other issues I'm having, I believe it's a hardware problem. New motherboard is on the way. Thanks for the time everyone.