Can usb ports work intermittently?

[matpc]

Hello

I just bought a new motherboard and the usb ports are somehow very tight when plugging unplugging devices

I just removed a keyboard right now and it was tough to do it

Everything is working right now but i´m afraid i somehow might have damaged it

Is there a way to test usb ports ? are they digital or analog ?

It is easy to plug / unplug devices now but it was hard before for sure ( more tight to plug / remove)

Also , are there more than 4 pins contact in the usb port ? ( or 5 pins for the 3.0)?

Thanks

Hello

I just bought a new motherboard and the usb ports are somehow very tight when plugging unplugging devices

I just removed a keyboard right now and it was tough to do it

Everything is working right now but i´m afraid i somehow might have damaged it

Is there a way to test usb ports ? are they digital or analog ?

It is easy to plug / unplug devices now but it was hard before for sure ( more tight to plug / remove)

Also , are there more than 4 pins contact in the usb port ? ( or 5 pins for the 3.0)?

Thanks

the 4 pins are not bent , are there more contact pins than these visible 4 ?

 

[Bill_Bright]

They should be snug, but not so tight you feel you must apply excessive force to insert or remove and risk damage. Still, as with any connector, it is important the user first align the plug to the socket carefully before inserting. And it is important to pull the plug straight out and if necessary, only wiggle side to side as little as possible.

It is normal for brand new connectors to be tight at first, then loosen up after frequent use. In fact, if you connect and disconnect too many times, the connection can become too loose!

Remember, the most efficient electrical connection (least resistance) occurs with the best mechanical connection. So tight is good.

It is easy to plug / unplug devices now but it was hard before

I would say don't worry about it then.

As for the number of wires and pinouts, it depends on the connector and USB version. See 10 USB Pinout Explained- USB A, B, C (Male and Female).

 

[Ruru]

Few plugs and unplugs should loose them a little.

 

[Shrek]

I just bought a new motherboard and the usb ports are somehow very tight when plugging unplugging devices

I tend to treat ports with silicone oil to ease the stress and then use a USB hub to take most of the wear.

 

[matpc]

hmm i see

it was somewhat tough to plug / remove first time but now it seems better

are the 4 usb pins ( or 5 for usb 3.0 ) the only thing that matters in the usb port or is there some more contacts ?

they ´re not bent but i´m wondering if i could have damaged something else

thanks

 

[Ruru]

then use a USB hub to take most of the wear.

I use my monitor's hub just because my motherboard doesn't have enough USB3 ports. Kinda handy actually.

 

[Chrispy_]

USB plugs and ports can get bent.

Some USB ports are very tight when new.

Some motherboards bend under the strain of the CPU cooler's mounting pressure, so that the cutouts for the USB ports on the I/O shield no longer line up nicely with the USB ports, and that makes them very hard to plug in too.

 

[64K]

As far as tightness the only thing I've ever run across is occasionally I get a USB drive that is a bit tighter to plug in. That's happening with a Samsung BAR right now no matter on which PC I use it on. Never had an issue with any other USB devices. Rarely when I plug a USB drive in it doesn't get recognized but I just take it out and plug it back in again. Only one time did I get a USB drive get zapped and I don't know why but the PC shut down when I plugged it in and the drive was dead after that.

 

[Blaeza]

On my Aerocool Eclipse case, the usb ports would not keep my joypad connected. I had to plug it into the motherboard. But I also used the same usb ports to flash my bios and nothing ever went wrong.

 

[eidairaman1]

Overthinking this...

 

[Bill_Bright]

Overthinking this...

Agree.

I will note that I have experienced many times different "snugness" levels with different USB cables too. It happens.

 

[matpc]

Agree.

I will note that I have experienced many times different "snugness" levels with different USB cables too. It happens.

I´m just afraid i might be pulled too hard maybe

The pins nor the usb plastic are bent / damaged but who knows

Should i worry only about the 4 pins or is there something else in the usb port ?

Is the plastic important ?

Thanks

 

[Chrispy_]

Is the plastic important ?

Yeah, the plastic is super important, it's an insulator that stops the data pins making contact with the external part of the plug, which is grounded/0V. If they touch, you've got a short circuit. Most USB controllers are smart enough to realise there's a short circuit and just disable that pair of ports on the controller side (so killing one USB 2 or USB 3 port usually means you lose two of them at the same time)

Honestly, if you've killed *a* port, just use a different one. If you're down to your last port, buy a USB hub. If your USB port is stiff but it still works, then don't worry about it - you're overthinking things and it'll probably loosen up over time as you use it a bunch.

USB hardware - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

and...

 

[matpc]

Yeah, the plastic is important, it's an insulator that stops the data pins making contact with the external part of the plug, which is grounded/0V. If they touch, you've got a short circuit. Most USB controllers are smart enough to realise there's a short and just disable that pair of ports on the controller side (so killing one USB 2 or USB 3 port usually means you lose two of them at the same time)

Honestly, if you've killed *a* port, just use a different one. If you're down to your last port, buy a USB hub.

USB hardware - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

View attachment 357863

and...

View attachment 357865

Hmm i see

But i mean , besides the plastic , the only thing that matters in the port are the pins right ? i mean , can´t damage the plastic ( unless ripped off and the pins make contact to each other ) right ?

thanks

 

[Chrispy_]

Hmm i see

But i mean , besides the plastic , the only thing that matters in the port are the pins right ? i mean , can´t damage the plastic ( unless ripped off and the pins make contact to each other ) right ?

thanks

Yeah, a USB-A port is just a physical connector that breaks out from a cable. No electronics in the port end of things at all. As long as the pins in the plug line up with the pins in the port you're fine.

 

[matpc]

Yeah, a USB-A port is just a physical connector that breaks out from a cable. No electronics in the port end of things at all. As long as the pins in the plug line up with the pins in the port you're fine.

Ah i see

i thought there were more "contacts" around the plastic despite the 4/5 main pins

I thought the plastic was somehow important as well (i mean , it is important to isolate but it is just a plastic)

it is because i had some old mobos as well as one notebook that has the plastic somehow scratched a bit , i thought that would matter ( but the pins are still fine )

also , is the usb signal digital or analog ? it is working alright but is it possible to work intermittently ? thanks

 

[Bill_Bright]

I´m just afraid i might be pulled too hard maybe

If you grab the cable or device by the actual connector or device (and not the wire), and you pulled straight out, I don't see a problem. Having to use excessive force while inserting/connecting would be my greater concern. But if you carefully align the connectors before pushing them together, I would not even worry then.

But you stated some time ago it is better now so I refer you back to,

Overthinking this...

Time to move on.

 

[matpc]

Hmm i see guys

I had to gently wiggle( right , up , left and down , a spinning movement) sometimes to pull out ( it is better now since it loosened up a bit )

but in the beginning it was very hard

I had to loose it somehow , it is very inconvenient my devices being stuck in the motherboard when i have to take the desk out sometimes to clean and stuff

but yeah it is working so i will just leave it , thanks

i will see if i can upload some images later but they look alright ( the ports)

 

[Bill_Bright]

i will see if i can upload some images later but they look alright ( the ports)

No need to waste any more of your, or our, time uploading images. We get the picture.

Time to move on.