USB 3.0 Extension Cable Not Loading Larger Capacity Drives

[Over-Dose]

Hi there, I am having a bit of an unexplainable glitch with some USB 3.0 cables I bought.

I recently bought 2 x 1,8m USB 3.0 Type A Male to Female extension cables (VCOM brand), which I wanted to use with my desktop PC that uses a AsRock H97 motherboard.

The main reason why I bought these was due to the fact that my PC case is from a previous build, and only has USB 2.0 ports on the top, and I always had 2 x USB 2.0 extensions from the back of the PC case anyway. But I found that with more and more USB 3.0 devices that I'm now using, I am still being throttled to USB 2.0 speeds by the USB 2.0 extension cables.

At first all worked fine when plugging in all sorts of USB 2.0 & 3.0 compatible flash drives and portable external hard drives, all which are up to 500GB in size. These all worked at speeds that are fitting either USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 for the respective devices.

The problem started when I connected a Toshiba 1TB USB 3.0 2.5" external hard drive, and the drive wouldn't get recognised by my Windows 8.1 desktop machine. So I figured that that might be the PC running out of juice (with 700w Coolermaster PSU? ).

But my suspicions changed when I tried to plug in one of my 2TB USB 3.0 3.5" powered hard drives and the same issue happened with a powered drive. The machine tries to load the larger drives, by connecting and disconnecting over and over, but fails to bring up the Autoplay window in Windows Explorer, and it eventually stops trying.

However, when any of the same larger (1TB - 2TB) USB 3.0 storage devices are plugged directly to the back of the PC, or plugged in via a USB 2.0 port or extension cable, they work just fine (but at reduced speeds with USB 2.0 obviously). So to me, the problem pointed to a possibly bad quality USB 3.0 extension cable made by VCOM (if there even is such a thing).

I have since returned the 2 VCOM 1.8m cables, and was wondering if anyone has ever had a similar experience like this on any USB 3.0 cables?

At this point I want to believe that the quality of the cable is what caused what seemed to be insufficient power to load these devices via those USB 3.0 extensions.

Thanks.

 

[AstroTurf]

I tend to agree with you about cable quality.

Perhaps it is time to get yourself a powered USB hub though?

 

[Over-Dose]

I tend to agree with you about cable quality.

Perhaps it is time to get yourself a powered USB hub though?

Hi Astro, I do have one already, that is USB 2.0, and also purchased a USB 3.0 one as well, which is still in the box. However, if you do think about it, if any particular brand of cable is rather suspect, then I would have to know now, before I even connect the USB 3.0 hub, so that I have less issues with that device when plugging in any drives onto it.

Hence this post. But thanks all the same.

 

[sajunky]

Fact that problem started after connecting high power device (hard drive) suggests triggering internal (resettable) fuse on the motherboard. To reset the fuse you need to power off computer and unplug power cord for couple seconds. If you didn't do it, power is cut (but leaking voltage at no load is still present) and you will have other problems because 3.0 hub driver might be hanging. I think is is a case and explanation that USB 3.0 devices are using 2.0 hub driver.

What happen after cycling power. Do everything come to normal?
I wouldn't afraid to connect a new hub.

 

[SoTrue]

From the description of your problem it seems that your computer only has USB 2.0 ports. If so, USB 3.0 cables or ports will not give you USB 3.0 speeds and could lead to power problems as sajunky suggests?

 

[Over-Dose]

Fact that problem started after connecting high power device (hard drive) suggests triggering internal (resettable) fuse on the motherboard. To reset the fuse you need to power off computer and unplug power cord for couple seconds. If you didn't do it, power is cut (but leaking voltage at no load is still present) and you will have other problems because 3.0 hub driver might be hanging. I think is is a case and explanation that USB 3.0 devices are using 2.0 hub driver.

What happen after cycling power. Do everything come to normal?
I wouldn't afraid to connect a new hub.

I'm not quite sure I understand what you're saying. Because as my original post mentioned, the issue is specifically happening with USB 3.0 extension cables that are plugged into the back of my motherboard, and not a USB 3.0 hub.

And as my OP stated, the issue of hard drives not loading up, happens only on larger drives capacities (1TB & upwards), but does not happen with drives / devices less than 1TB. So the cables work, and at the devices that are USB 3.0 that work, are at USB 3.0 speeds. Just not larger capacity drives.

I hope that clarifies my scenario.

 

[Over-Dose]

From the description of your problem it seems that your computer only has USB 2.0 ports. If so, USB 3.0 cables or ports will not give you USB 3.0 speeds and could lead to power problems as sajunky suggests?

You have misunderstood my OP I'm afraid. If you read it again you'll see I mention that the issue I'm having is with larger capacity hard drives (powered or not), which fail to load / initialise via the USB 3.0 extension cables I have connected to my motherboards USB 3.0 slots (at the back of the case).

And I explained that when I connect these larger capacity hard drives directly to the USB 3.0 ports on the motherboard, they initialise just fine. However not when connected via the USB 3.0 extension cables.

 

[sajunky]

I'm not quite sure I understand what you're saying. Because as my original post mentioned, the issue is specifically happening with USB 3.0 extension cables that are plugged into the back of my motherboard, and not a USB 3.0 hub.

Perhaps, but you don't understand what I wrote: I meant USB 3.0 hub on the motherboard and associated drivers.
However it doesn't matter, as your later post indicate that cables are suspect indeed. If you use 2x 1.5m extension cables you have already exceeded recommended cable length. And when device draws lot of power, then cable quality matters even more.
Having said so, I wouldn't afraid connecting your new self-powered hub. Put it between two 1.5m cables for better result. But restart computer before doing this.

 

[Over-Dose]

Perhaps, but you don't understand what I wrote: I meant USB 3.0 hub on the motherboard and associated drivers.
However it doesn't matter, as your later post indicate that cables are suspect indeed. If you use 2x 1.5m extension cables you have already exceeded recommended cable length. And when device draws lot of power, then cable quality matters even more.
Having said so, I wouldn't afraid connecting your new self-powered hub. Put it between two 1.5m cables for better result. But restart computer before doing this.

Hi sajunky,

It is important to note that I'm not linking the two 1,8m cables to make a 3,6m long cable. I'm using each cable in a designated USB 3.0 slot at the back of my motherboard.

And while we're on the subject of recommended cable length, I read somewhere that 9-12m are the recommended maximum cable lengths. And hence I made sure to replace the previous cables I had (2 x 1,8m USB 2.0), with 2 x 1,8m USB 3.0 extensions that I used individually.

And lastly, whenever I did try to use the larger capacity hard drives, I wouldn't have anything else connected to the other extension cable, it would be just one device, and it would still not load if it's a larger capacity drive.

But if I use any smaller capacity drive, it didn't matter whether I use one or both USB 3.0 cables simultaneously, the devices worked just fine.

So I'm still left with suspecting the cable quality and am waiting for an order of a different better quality brand, to test if the same happens with that.

I'll connect my USB 3.0 hub once I've identified if it indeed was a cable quality issue, or whether there is something else on the desktop that larger drives aren't liking.

Cheers.

 

[sajunky]

It is important to note that I'm not linking the two 1,8m cables to make a 3,6m long cable. I'm using each cable in a designated USB 3.0 slot at the back of my motherboard.

It is important, but you didn't say it.

And while we're on the subject of recommended cable length, I read somewhere that 9-12m are the recommended maximum cable lengths. And hence I made sure to replace the previous cables I had (2 x 1,8m USB 2.0), with 2 x 1,8m USB 3.0 extensions that I used individually.

USB 3.0? Source?

And lastly, whenever I did try to use the larger capacity hard drives, I wouldn't have anything else connected to the other extension cable, it would be just one device, and it would still not load if it's a larger capacity drive.

But if I use any smaller capacity drive, it didn't matter whether I use one or both USB 3.0 cables simultaneously, the devices worked just fine.

It would give a clue if you say one things more:
Are these smaller capacity drives USB3.0 or 2.0?
Are these smaller capacity drives use USB power or their own power supply?
Lastly: How many drives you connect to PC at the same time and what kind - USB powered?

Re USB external hub: What is power rating of the power supply? They say in Ampers or Watts.

 

[Over-Dose]

It is important, but you didn't say it.

USB 3.0? Source?

It would give a clue if you say one things more:
Are these smaller capacity drives USB3.0 or 2.0?
Are these smaller capacity drives use USB power or their own power supply?
Lastly: How many drives you connect to PC at the same time and what kind - USB powered?

Re USB external hub: What is power rating of the power supply? They say in Ampers or Watts.

I am not an English first language speaker, so I honestly thought that that was evident in my first post, that I am not linking the 2 x 1,8m cables to make 3,6m. Anyway, that is now clarified.

I read the information about maximum cable length being 9m-12m while I was searching Google for possible causes and solutions for what I was experiencing, and I think it was a post on SevenForums, but I can't be certain.

And again, with regards to my original post, I thought I explained my situation as thoroughly as I can with whatever command of the English language I have. But to help clarify, here are responses to the questions you posted:

The smaller capacity hard drives are a mixture of USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. (Mostly USB 3.0)
The smaller drives are ALL USB powered.
The one 1TB drive is USB 3.0 and USB powered, but does not load up as previously stated.
The remainder of the drives are predominantly USB 3.0 and larger format, but only two we being plugged in via these new USB 3.0 extensions I had bought. The rest are permanently connected to a USB 2.0 7 port hub, which I am planning to replace with the USB 3.0 7 port hub (that is still in the box) once I resolve these issues.
Lastly, the issue I was experiencing even when there is only one powered USB 3.0 drive that is being connected via the cables I bought.

And just to emphasise, all the above mentioned drives work just fine when plugged in directly to the ports on the motherboard, without any USB cable extensions, and also work just fine when I use my USB 2.0 extensions. A perfect case scenario is that I could have ALL my external hard drives booting up just fine, at the same time, when I use USB 2.0 extension and the USB 2.0 7 port hub.

Hence I am strongly suspecting the quality of USB 3.0 cable that I bought.

I haven't connected my new USB 3.0 external hub as yet, and I will have to check the manual of the existing USB 2.0 hub.

Cheers.

 

[PsYTraNc3]

Longer cable = lower amperage.
Lower amperage leads to odd issues.

I've had problems before with even a half meter extension cable if the quality is just not good enough.

 

[Over-Dose]

Longer cable = lower amperage.
Lower amperage leads to odd issues.

I've had problems before with even a half meter extension cable if the quality is just not good enough.

That's exactly what I was suspecting PsYTraNc3, and I was just bouncing off my experience with other people who may have had the same issue happen. I am looking to get better brand USB 3.0 extension cables, and see if the issue is resolved afterwards.

I hope it is the solution.

 

[sajunky]

Right. Now picture is very clear. I will try to put it very clear, as English is also not my primary language. And if you don't mind, it will be my last post.

USB 3.0 specification doesn't say anything about maximum cable lenght and details to the cable design are very fragmented. They know that cable would need to be very thick and inflexible, therefore - not practical for generic use, so they decided to keep quiet. Recommended cable lenght is also set not by a standard body, but by the users and professionals. So we talk about 3m with moderate load (around 0.5A). If device requires more, lenght should be decreased (see other post). Typical hard drive take at least 3 times more power during startup. Some brands less, some other more. It is why some drives appear to be working, other do not. If you connect through USB 2.0 cable everything works, it is in 2.0 mode.

If you pursue search for better cable keep in mind that cable attached to the box is usually not the best quality. They cut lenght of the poor cable to give you flexible attachment, but it comes on the cost when you add additional lenght, see your results.

The rest are permanently connected to a USB 2.0 7 port hub, which I am planning to replace with the USB 3.0 7 port hub (that is still in the box) once I resolve these issues.

I am afraid, it will be difficult to find cable working with all drives. USB 3.0 hub is a solution. However you didn't respond to the question what is a power rating of the hub's power supply. You need 2A per USB powered hard drive permamently attached to the hub. By example: you have two hard drives already attached to the hub before switching on power to the hub, then you need 4A power supply. If you attach drives sequentially, use figure 0.75-1A per hard drive.

Use your 3.0 extension cable between PC and self-powered hub. It will work assuming hub's power supply is rated as above.

 

[Over-Dose]

Thanks sajunky. I'll try that once I've sourced a better brand extension cable, and also connect the new USB 3.0 hub when I have all cables.