Defective Commander Core or Z690 USB issues?

[IggyT416]

Hey guys,

Before I open a ticket, I figure I'd ask around the forum. I am having an issue with my Commander Core for my H150 Elite where it disconnects and quickly reconnects (as in USB disconnecting and reconnecting, along with the familiar Windows notification chime)  during high FPS scenarios while gaming. Sometimes, the Commander disconnects entirely, with the RGB lighting going into hardware mode and the H150 disappearing from iCue altogether until restart.

I have a 4000x with the 3 included SP Elite fans plugged into the commander core, along with the 3 ML120 fans that are on the radiator. 

I should also mention I had an Asus Strix Z690 - A D4 motherboard previously and switched to the MSI Tomahawk. The disconnect/reconnect issues are the same across both boards, but H150 disappearing completely is an issue only on the Tomahawk.

Specs:

MSI Z690 Tomahawk DDR 4 mobo

32 GB Dominator RGB 2x16gb c16 3466 mhz

i7 12700kf

Radeon RX 6800 XT

@c-attack mentioned that people with this issue on z690 chipset had success using a powered USB 2.0 hub and/or a USB 3.0 to 2.0 header adapter.

Speaking of the usb 3 to 2 adapter - can I use a usb 3 header splitter to still keep the front panel port connected, or that's not recommended ? 

Is the new Corsair or the nzxt powered USB hub worth getting for Intel z690 or was that more of an AMD solution?

Or is my Commander Core unit just defective?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[c-attack]

4 hours ago, IggyT416 said:

can I use a usb 3 header splitter to still keep the front panel port connected, or that's not recommended ? 

That's a good question but I don't think anyone has mentioned doing this, so at the moment an unknown.  Generally, any type of "splitter" on the USB line creates additional load by stacking the devices.  Would the higher USB 3 voltage compensate for it?  Or would the USB 2 end cause a different issue like when you use a splitter on USB 2?  

 

Based on other Z690 owner postings, I think the USB 3->2 adapter is the best bet.  The powered hub did not seem to help on that chipset and interestingly we did not see a wave of new posts when Z790 launched.  I think there is a specific Z690 restriction on some boards.  I would think the USB 3 splitter would not be too expensive and possibly worth the gamble if you only have one on board USB 3 port.  It looks like you have a Gen 3 Type C internal and a Gen 3 USB A type.  There might be some type of internal C-> 2 converter or certainly an external C to A  which could be used in combination with a 9 pin USB 2->A, but that's probably getting too far ahead in case the standard does not work.  However, the more sure fire option is probably to use a powered USB 3 hub, just as AMD owners do with the USB 2. That would let you connect the 3->2 converter and the front at the expense of one SATA connection for power.  Unfortunately this seems to be a more expensive option based on a quick search.  

 

Since the problem appears to come into play when under load, I do think this is a motherboard chipset pathways or voltage issue.  If the Com Core was bad it would bonk out all the time at idle, randomly, and it's load does not increase with system load aside from some 12v power on the fans.  This appears to be like the other Z690 postings.  

[IggyT416]

So I have ordered a usb 3 to usb 2 header adapter - cheapest option, will report back to see how that works. There is a usb 3.0 internal hub from MODDIY that also has usb 2.0 headers but it's 50 bucks and is out of stock at the moment. If I really miss that front panel usb 3 port I might look into buying that hub, hopefully it will be back in stock.

 

[IggyT416]

Unfortunately, after plugging in the Commander Core via USB 3 to 2.0 header adapter - I am experiencing the same exact issue, the H150 disappears from iCue and reverts to hardware lighting mode. My Dominator ram and K60 keyboard are unaffected and still display their lighting effects.

[Corsair Jagtech]

Unfortunately, after plugging in the Commander Core via USB 3 to 2.0 header adapter - I am experiencing the same exact issue, the H150 disappears from iCue and reverts to hardware lighting mode. My Dominator ram and K60 keyboard are unaffected and still display their lighting effects.

Turning this into a ticket for you so we can further assist and get some more information.

[Harleybokula]

interested to hear more about possible z690 complications, I just ordered z690 steel legend wifi 6e, and will be building next week, What should I look out for?

 

[BlaiseP]

I use a powered USB 2.0 Internal hub (NZXT Gen 3 as the Corsair offering was just a twinkle in an engineer's eye at the time) with my ASUS Z690 Hero - no issues with 4 devices connected to it.

[IggyT416]

Corsair Support shipped out a replacement Commander Core unit, the issue has not occurred since I swapped my old Commander out for the replacement. The likely answer in my case is that my original Commander Core was slightly defective, it didn't seem to be related to the z690 chipset. I tried my best to reproduce the same scenarios that would trigger the issue, however, everything was working as it should, my lighting was not bouncing to hardware mode any longer.