Oops!

Anyone know if the USB3 header on the motherboard can be replaced at a sensible price?

I knew it might happen while trying to straighten a crushed pin but I still swore pretty heavily;)

Funny thing is, both usb3 ports still appear to function normally.

Have you contacted the manufacturer?

30 minutes ago, vp49p3 said:

Have you contacted the manufacturer?

No. It's not in warranty

Easiest way is to add a PCIe USB card and use that.  They're pretty cheap.  Something like this:

Mailiya PCI-E to USB 3.0 4 Port PCI Express Expansion Card

 

 

1 hour ago, w6kd said:

Easiest way is to add a PCIe USB card and use that.  They're pretty cheap.  Something like this:

Mailiya PCI-E to USB 3.0 4 Port PCI Express Expansion Card

 

 

Yeh I've got one. Would be nice to get the front case ports sorted though. It also makes the board resalable at upgrade time;)

Just trying to find out if it's actually doable.

7 hours ago, Dougal said:

Oops!

Anyone know if the USB3 header on the motherboard can be replaced at a sensible price?

I knew it might happen while trying to straighten a crushed pin but I still swore pretty heavily;)

Funny thing is, both usb3 ports still appear to function normally.

 

Guess what Dougal? I did exactly the same thing on my Z170-A. Wouldn't plug in, checked and pin was bent, tried to straightening it and it snapped off. Wasn't an issue for me as the board was going to be used for something else and a Deluxe board was on the way. 

I recall one of the USB 3 pins is purposefully missing. And in fact quite a few of the pins aren't used. Might be why your header still functions. You can check the pin diagrams to ascertain if indeed the pin that broke off is redundant. 

I have heard of people repairing them themselves, but its tricky and fiddly. 

You could have a word with Asus to see if they can repair it for you for a reasonable cost. If it's a pin that's not used though, no point. 

 

https://superuser.com/questions/520734/why-usb3-motherbard-headers-have-so-many-unused-pins

 

 

6 hours ago, martin-w said:

 

Guess what Dougal? I did exactly the same thing on my Z170-A. Wouldn't plug in, checked and pin was bent, tried to straightening it and it snapped off. Wasn't an issue for me as the board was going to be used for something else and a Deluxe board was on the way. 

I recall one of the USB 3 pins is purposefully missing. And in fact quite a few of the pins aren't used. Might be why your header still functions. You can check the pin diagrams to ascertain if indeed the pin that broke off is redundant. 

I have heard of people repairing them themselves, but its tricky and fiddly. 

You could have a word with Asus to see if they can repair it for you for a reasonable cost. If it's a pin that's not used though, no point. 

 

https://superuser.com/questions/520734/why-usb3-motherbard-headers-have-so-many-unused-pins

 

 

Thanks Martin.  Thats a very useful site isnt it?!

My broken pin is the 'Vbus' pin right next to the missing pin.  Once I'm finished overclocking, I'll continue testing to see what, if anything, doesn't work on the front ports.....

After removing my additional front USB panel and reverting back to just using the case mounted USB3 ports, I've discovered one port isn't working at all:-(  Must be wired differently to the extra panel.  Guess I'll just a PCIe USB3 card...

22 hours ago, Dougal said:

After removing my additional front USB panel and reverting back to just using the case mounted USB3 ports, I've discovered one port isn't working at all:-(  Must be wired differently to the extra panel.  Guess I'll just a PCIe USB3 card...

 

Given I had the same issue, namely a bent pin, and that there's a multitude of individuals out there with the same issue.... I'm wondering if they're not built to an adequate standard. Annoying that the pins are so weak that they break off if you try to straighten them.

12 minutes ago, martin-w said:

 

Given I had the same issue, namely a bent pin, and that there's a multitude of individuals out there with the same issue.... I'm wondering if they're not built to an adequate standard. Annoying that the pins are so weak that they break off if you try to straighten them.

I've been a staunch supporter of Asus products for many, many years.  However, over the last two or three Asus boards I've used, I I'm sure there's a small but noticeable reduction in build quality.  On my previous Asus board, I also managed to break a pin from the onboard HD Audio header.

Also, the very small plastic locking tabs on the fan headers, that stop plugs being inverted and secure them in place, are definitely more brittle than in past years.  Having long thin fingers, I'm far from heavy handed, yet I've also managed to snap one of those off the board.  Sadly, deteriorating quality seems to be the way things these days:-(

The little plastic clip on the PCIe slot snapped off for me. I was being quite heavy handed, as I missed a screw that was still in place, but yes, brittle plastic. The boards have thinner PCB's as well. 

4 hours ago, martin-w said:

The little plastic clip on the PCIe slot snapped off for me. I was being quite heavy handed, as I missed a screw that was still in place, but yes, brittle plastic. The boards have thinner PCB's as well. 

Yup me too. I'd forgotten about that. That makes three breakages on my Z170 Deluxe :(

One on my Z170-A and one on My Deluxe. Deluxe isn't exactly a super cheap board either. 

 

 

14 hours ago, martin-w said:

One on my Z170-A and one on My Deluxe. Deluxe isn't exactly a super cheap board either. 

Much as I've always stood by Asus, my next build MIGHT be a Gigabyte system.

 

 

3 hours ago, Dougal said:

Much as I've always stood by Asus, my next build MIGHT be a Gigabyte system.

 

Yep, or perhaps EVGA. You cant beat EVGA support. A million miles better than Asus.