Asus ThunderboltEX 3 USB controller Error

[Caleb37]

Hello Board.  I'm new to the forum, but after working with Asus support on a USB Controller error after installing a ThunderboltEX 3 that came with my new Asus X99 Deluxe II Mobo they have run me through hoops and I'm at loss as their support doesn't really seem to be familiar with their new product line up.  So let me explain my situation below:

 

If this is too detailed, I apologize in advance as I'm trying to answer most questions that the board might ask of me.

Last month I purchased the Asus X99 Deluxe II MB which comes with the ThunderboltEX 3 card.

The system I put the new MoBo in is brand new.  Here are the specs:

Asus X99 Deluxe II w/ ThunderboltEX 3 add in

Windows 7 SP1

Intel 6950X 10/20 core processor
Intel 750 nVME 1.2TB hard drive (PCIEX16_3) Shows as X4 in bios
Asus DX2 Premium Sound Card (PCIEX16_2) (can't put it in PCIEX1_1 because Titan X takes two slots - design flaw from my perspective)
EVGA Nvidia Titan X (PCIEX16_1) - GPU under Bios Tool Shows native x16
ThunderboltEX 3 add in (PCIEX16_5) - Shows as X4 in bios
Corsair 128GB Dominator Platinum Memory XMP 2800 (I work with AE)
Corsair H100i v2 Water Pump
2 Optical (DVD and BluRay)
2 WD HDDs (data retention)

Based on the Asus website I was to install the TBT drivers before connecting the add on card to the system, which I did, since this was a new system, I installed Windows 7 SP1 from scratch and updated Windows 7 with all updates and Installed all of the Drivers from Asus MB CD and Asus Thunderbolt CD.  I also downloaded and installed Intel 750 nvme drivers.  When the MB BIOS successfully hands off to Windows for Log In I get a Q-Code of AA - I understand this is a good thing.

My primary boot is the Intel 750 SSD as noted above with UEFI, not MBR.  With this I have the MB setting as follows:

Fast Boot: disabled

CSM Compatibility is set to Launch CSM: Enabled with all settings below that set to UEFI only and UEFI driver first respectively.

Under Boot\Secure Boot the OS type is set to Other OS

Key Management:

Boot\Secure Boot\Key Management:  Keys are loaded (thinking I should unload these as they aren’t needed).

Boot Option #1: Windows Boot Manager (Intel SSD)

When I enable the ThunderboltEX 3 in the Bios I leave Unique ID as is. I've tried this on legacy with no difference.

Changed the AIC Location Group:  CPU0 NB PCIE Slot

AIC Location is set to NB PCIEX16_5 (where Asus documentation shows the placement of the card).

All other settings are left at default.

The Thunderbolt card has the header connected to the MB and to the card as shown by the Asus documentation.

The Thunderbolt card has the mini-display port connected to my Titan X’s Display port with the supplied DP1.2 Cable. Of course the Asus rep tried to tell me it had to be plugged into the Display Port on the MB.  Again he wasn't aware of the product and doesn't realize that this board doesn't have a Display Port connection on the rear IO.

When I boot into windows, under the Device Manager I get a YELLOW exclamation mark at ‘Other Devices’ – Universal Serial Bus (USB) Controller. This error DID NOT exist prior to installing the add in card.

I allow Windows to try and find the driver with no luck.  I right click to update the driver and point to all of the Asus Drivers and Intel Drivers.  Still will not load any drivers.

I have a AKiTiO Thunder3 Duo Pro.  When I connect the USB 3.1Gen 1 (Type B) Port the Asus Thunderbolt application comes up and tells me the ports it recognizes. When I connect the Thunderbolt 3 cable it does recognize the drives in the Thunder Duo Pro, but the transfer speeds aren't even close to the USB 3.1 Gen 1.  So it's not getting  40GB throughput as the Thunderbolt 3 suggests.  I'm guessing it has something to do with the error I'm getting under the Device Manager about the Universal Serial Bus Controller.  I've also tried a different cable, but that didn't matter as when it wasn't connected I was still getting the same error. So it's not a bad DP1.2 cable.

Now my Q-Code returns with a 01.  Is this good?

I’ve rebuilt this system twice now and it’s still brand new.  The parts are only a month old.  I have followed all of the directions by Asus Customer Support that had me change the Bios from a beta 0801 down to stable 0601.  I removed the CMOS battery to reset the MB and this didn’t make a change either. I have tried the ThunderboltEX3 in PCIEX16_4, but that wouldn’t let me boot into my system, or even the Bios. 

I have not tried PCIEX16_1  as that’s where my Titan X is located. 

I’m out of options and don’t know what else to do.  I think I either have either a bad MB or Bad Thunderbolt card since I can’t resolve the Universal Serial Bus (USB) Controller error.

Caleb37

 

[Curufinwe_wins]

On 7/16/2016 at 3:41 PM, Caleb37 said:

snip

 

Were you ever able to get this working?

 

I have the same TB3 add in and after a huge amount of circus I was finally able to boot into windows with the TB3 "active" (turning off secure boot was the kicker for me).

 

I don't currently have a thunderbolt device to mess around with (or even a usb-C to try it), but I wanted to make sure the USB 3.1 port was working... Well anyways, I can't get anything I plug into it to recognize, which is insanely frustrating because I have no idea what is going on or how to even check it. i don't see any errors in device manager or stuff like that.

[belfouf]

have you tried to get the drivers from https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboard-Accessory/ThunderboltEX-3/HelpDesk_Download/

?

[...]

Having issues with Thunderbolt EX3 on Asus deluxe II MB.  Was working for a few days, then suddenly died?  Some of the settings I tried formed a continues loop that would not post. Had to reset cmos.  Anyways, I guess these cards are pure garbage, what a disappointment.  It takes like 50 steps to contact asus, I guess it's time to send it back.