USB problem when external SSD is connected

[Ishit Singh]

Today when I connected my SSD in my front USB ports after few minutes my mouse stopped working, I didn't noticed that I connected my SSD in 2nd front USB port. My 2nd front USB port is kinda broken, it keep disconnecting USB devices randomly and frequently whenever I connect any external storage device except USB flash drives.

 

Restarting PC fixed the issue but I'm worried that this somehow damaged my motherboard in some way like short circuit or anything similar, I have no idea. Is there's a way to check motherboard USB health or motherboard health in general?

 

My motherboard is MSI B450 Carbon Pro AC
My case is NZXT H500

[Applefreak]

Your case is known to have power issues with the front usb ports, so my guess would be it's the case, not the motherboard, If the rear usb ports on the motherboard are fine, it's the case. If you need more usb 3 ports in the back, just get a pci-e usb controller card.

[Ishit Singh]

1 minute ago, Applefreak said:

Your case is known to have power issues with the front usb ports, so my guess would be it's the case, not the motherboard, If the rear usb ports on the motherboard are fine, it's the case. If you need more usb 3 ports in the back, just get a pci-e usb controller card.

Yes they seems to be working normally but what caught me off guard was that right when my external drive disconnected itself my mouse stopped working as well which was connected in read usb ports. Did this incident affected my motherboard in some way?

[Applefreak]

I am still not sure what is wrong with the case and how the USB ports are connected to the motherboard (I have no reference case myself) but many people here and elsewhere are complaining about sudden disconnects and devices not working. Some reported system freezes. So my best guess is the motherboard is trying to protect itself from something potentially causing a power surge (maybe?). On most cases the USB ports are directly connected to the motherboard. I am guessing NZXT did put some kind of unnecessary controller between them, for what reason I have not idea but it would explain the issues. From what I can tell, you won't get more then USB 2.0 spec charging as well as reduced data transfer speed compared to the ports at the back of the motherboard. 

[Ishit Singh]

20 minutes ago, Applefreak said:

I am still not sure what is wrong with the case and how the USB ports are connected to the motherboard (I have no reference case myself) but many people here and elsewhere are complaining about sudden disconnects and devices not working. Some reported system freezes. So my best guess is the motherboard is trying to protect itself from something potentially causing a power surge (maybe?). On most cases the USB ports are directly connected to the motherboard. I am guessing NZXT did put some kind of unnecessary controller between them, for what reason I have not idea but it would explain the issues. From what I can tell, you won't get more then USB 2.0 spec charging as well as reduced data transfer speed compared to the ports at the back of the motherboard. 

That's somewhat worrisome and by reading that now i'm even more anxious I somehow damaged my motherboard but won't motherboard disconnect every rear usb devices that are connected to protect itself and not just mouse? I use Logitech G502 and noticed that my mouse had power, rgb led were working but there were no mouse input but my keyboard was working without an issue.

[Applefreak]

My guess, the controller on the motherboard shut itself down. The RGB would still work, given that the port has some base voltage to detect input signals to wake the system up. Could just be enough for some lights to still work, LEDs are low power after all.

[Applefreak]

To test out the motherboard, get a USB (motherboard) to USB-A female adapter. Something like this for example. And then plug the same devices in again and try to reproduce the error. If it's gone you know your case is the issue. I am not aware of a new revision to this case yet so no idea if RMA to NZXT will benefit you at all. That's the trouble with cases without front 5.25 slots, if you had one you could get a reasonably cheap card reader usb 3 combo unit installed to fix that issue. 

The only other solution that comes to mind is to remove whatever those ports on the top of the case are connected to and get some old ports from a different case and wire them up with a new cable. Lot's of soldering and many hours of work to get it fixed this way.

[Ishit Singh]

37 minutes ago, Applefreak said:

My guess, the controller on the motherboard shut itself down. The RGB would still work, given that the port has some base voltage to detect input signals to wake the system up. Could just be enough for some lights to still work, LEDs are low power after all.

So did that damaged the motherboard in some way?

 

31 minutes ago, Applefreak said:

To test out the motherboard, get a USB (motherboard) to USB-A female adapter. Something like this for example. And then plug the same devices in again and try to reproduce the error. If it's gone you know your case is the issue. I am not aware of a new revision to this case yet so no idea if RMA to NZXT will benefit you at all. That's the trouble with cases without front 5.25 slots, if you had one you could get a reasonably cheap card reader usb 3 combo unit installed to fix that issue. 

The only other solution that comes to mind is to remove whatever those ports on the top of the case are connected to and get some old ports from a different case and wire them up with a new cable. Lot's of soldering and many hours of work to get it fixed this way.

I'll just buy a new case once this epidemic is over or get calm

[Kilrah]

28 minutes ago, Ishit Singh said:

So did that damaged the motherboard in some way?

The only way to know is for you to test all the USB ports.

[Ishit Singh]

11 minutes ago, Kilrah said:

The only way to know is for you to test all the USB ports.

and is there's a way to do that? Should I test data transfer speed in every rear usb ports? Currently my entire rear usb ports are in use by other peripheral devices and I don't see them disconnecting randomly.

[Kilrah]

Are the devices connected to them working? Then the ports are OK.

[Ishit Singh]

Just now, Kilrah said:

Are the devices connected to them working? Then the ports are OK.

yes they are but should I test data transfer speed just in case to check whether they slowed down or not? Does USB behave that way or it just stops completely if there's any damage?

[Guest]

Could be a safety circuit, If you think the front USB on the case is causing it, try disconnecting it from the board and just use the back for now.

If it happens again then it's not your front USB.

[Kilrah]

If it's damaged it won't work, no point doing a speed test.