Intel NUC6CAYH/S USB 3.0 ports working as 2.0 (max. 40MB/s)

[Gorbush]

Hello,

I need help with USB ports speed on NUC6CAYH device. USB 3.0 devices are detected as 2.0 which limit maximum transfer speed to aprox. 40MB/s.

I found two other thread about exactly same problem (there and there) but solution there was to install BIOS version 47. Right now I have newest BIOS (86A) for that device flashed and I don't know what to do more to fix that problem.

OS: Windows 10 Home 20H2 with all recommended updates

USB driver is Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controler - 1.0 (Microsoft) ver. 10.0.19041.662 data: 16.11.2020

[Gorbush]

I probably found a solution. It seems that if I connect to my NUC for a first time some USB 3.0 device through external USB 2.0 hub (inside my monitor) then even when I replug it into USB 3.0 port on the NUC then it still stays in USB 2.0 mode. Solution: remove driver for that device (in Windows Device Manager) and then replug it once more but this time to the USB 3.0 port for the first time. I will investigate this a little longer. What's more IIRC that issue isn't limited to NUC because I've encountered it at least few times earlier on my other PC but I forgot about that "feature".

[n_scott_pearson]

If you plug a USB 3.0 device into a USB 2.0 Hub, then, regardless of the type of USB connector that you plug this USB 2.0 Hub into, that USB 3.0 device can only be exposed as a USB 2.0 device; you will never communicate with it at USB 3.0 speeds; it is physically impossible. If you want USB 3.0 speeds, your USB device must be plugged into a USB 3.x Hub and this Hub must then be plugged into a USB 3.x interface on the system.

...S

[Gorbush]

Sorry Scott. I shouldn't have written my second post with possible solution because that could mislead people. I will deleted that post because in case of my NUC it didn't help to remove old driver for "USB mass storage" from Device Manager before connecting my USB dongle. Even when same treatment helped me in other Windows 10 PC of which one is very similar to my NUC (similar SoC).

I will continue to fight back that issue but I would like to get some feedback from users with the same NUC and BIOS version if they have problems with Windows 10 detecting USB 3.0 device connected to USB 3.0 port (front or back) as only USB 2.0 capable. One can check if that is a case after connecting such device and looking into Settings->Devices. There should be displayed name of that device and if there is a text below as follow "Device can perform faster when connected to USB 3.0" then you have same problem as mine.

[n_scott_pearson · Accepted solution]

I am having no problems with USB on my NUC6CAYS. I tried a USB 3.0 flash drive in every USB 3.0 port and all saw the drive at USB 3.0 speed.

Last week, Queens Canyon suddenly stopped seeing USB 3.0 devices as USB 3.0. I could not figure out what caused this. Anyway, I did a Windows 10 20H2 overinstall and the ports were back to running at USB 3.0 speed. I will presume it was an optional update via Windows Update that I stupidly installed; don't do this!)

...S

[Gorbush]

Yes, I did some possibly unnecessary Windows 10 20H2 updates. Even some drivers (mostly IME related) but it shouldn't have affected USB software stack (I've got same USB drivers as on other machine with same SoC). Or maybe it have.

Intel - SoftwareComponent - 1.38.2020.805

Intel - SoftwareComponent - 1.61.251.0

I will try to solve it but is seems that it is rather uncommon problem therefore it would be hard to find someone with a solution here.