Not compatible USB port

FokkerFace

If compatibility test tool tells that USB3.0 ports are not compatible, does it mean that Rift won't start up? Or will it start up, but will have lag?

I don't want to add another PCI-E card unless it is absolutely necessary. I've seen some test results including "compatible" and "not compatible" USB 3.0 chipsets, and there was a throughput difference, but is it bad enough for Rift not to function at all? Does anyone know what are throughput requirements for Rift to function normally? As far as I understand one of three USB 3.0 ports is reserved for Touch, but Touch is not even included with initial Rift sale, therefore two USB 3.0 ports are actually required initially, before Touch. Two remaining USB 3.0 ports - I have to guess are used by tracking camera and Rift itself. So what are their requirements?

[edit]

I've found test results I've referred to:


Oculus compatibility tool says Intel X99 is compatible, VIA VL805 is not. While difference is obvious, does Rift really need more than 200MB/s throughput?

Percy1983

I can't say for certain but I believe its more latency than speed with is the problem with some chipsets.

If you go into you device manager and disable the via controller, then test all your USB3 ports, this will then let you know which ports to use and if you have enough.

As you say you only need 2 for the rift out of the box the third being for touch (if you want one that is).

FokkerFace

the problem is - I only have 1 USB3.0 controller, and it's VL805. It uses one v2.0 PCIe lane, therefore latency wouldn't be any different from other controllers. I will test it's throughput today, because it's really surprising that it uses only half of 2.0 PCIe lane 500MB/s throughput.

Percy1983

Do you not have a chipset usb3 controller?

In my case I have intel ports and AS media ports on my board, the intel ones are fine and the as media not so much.

Using the steps above I could figure which ports where compatible and which weren't.

FokkerFace

No, 990FX doesn't have native USB3.0 support, therefore all USB3.0 ports come from on-board controllers that operate via PCIe lanes. I have only one controller, and it's 4-port VIA VL805.

Percy1983

Sorry to say it it looks like it might have to be a PCI-e card then.

I am sure somebody will be able to tell you the exact consequences of not being up to spec.

cybereality

If the Compat Tool fails your USB ports, it means nothing will work at all. The headset will never even light up and you won't be able to play anything. You should get this add-on card, which is confirmed to work:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FPIMJEW

FokkerFace

How will it know what chipset USB3.0 is run with, before even pairing? USB communication protocol is standard for all devices.

glaze

FokkerFace wrote:

How will it know what chipset USB3.0 is run with, before even pairing? USB communication protocol is standard for all devices.

I remember reading somewhere that many vendors don't implement the standard properly.

hatec0re

glaze wrote:

FokkerFace wrote:

How will it know what chipset USB3.0 is run with, before even pairing? USB communication protocol is standard for all devices.

I remember reading somewhere that many vendors don't implement the standard properly.

Im curious as well, @Fokker, which Vendor is your Mainboard from?

FokkerFace

My motherboard is Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3. USB is provided by VIA VL805, and I guess it's really widespread controller used by both Intel and AMD motherboards.

Percy1983

Most intel boards have intel usb ports + a secondary controller which may or may not work, in my case my secondary 'as media' ports wont work.

cybereality

@FokkerFace: So, just to be clear, if the Compat Tool fails for USB, the consumer Rift won't work at all.

The way the Compat Tool does it's check is based on a whitelist of known working USB controllers and a blacklist of known incompatible USB controllers. In the process of building this tool we purchased a number of popular motherboards and tested them for compatibility.

In terms of why certain cards don't work, it's mostly about the USB 3.0 spec (at first) being not completely clear in places, causing different chipsets to act differently. In the beginning, there were aspects of the USB 3.0 spec that were ambiguous, in which case some vendors interpreted the spec in slightly different, conflicting, ways. With simple devices, like a USB hard drive, this isn't a big issue, but with the consumer Rift it's really pushing the limits of USB and can run into some problems.

Hope that makes sense.

Maxxgold

cybereality wrote:

@FokkerFace: So, just to be clear, if the Compat Tool fails for USB, the consumer Rift won't work at all.

The way the Compat Tool does it's check is based on a whitelist of known working USB controllers and a blacklist of known incompatible USB controllers. In the process of building this tool we purchased a number of popular motherboards and tested them for compatibility.

In terms of why certain cards don't work, it's mostly about the USB 3.0 spec (at first) being not completely clear in places, causing different chipsets to act differently. In the beginning, there were aspects of the USB 3.0 spec that were ambiguous, in which case some vendors interpreted the spec in slightly different, conflicting, ways. With simple devices, like a USB hard drive, this isn't a big issue, but with the consumer Rift it's really pushing the limits of USB and can run into some problems.

Hope that makes sense.

This is a false statement. I have a Sabertooth Z77 motherboard and when I ran the compatibility tool it failed. I then disabled the the .96 ports. It will now show that you pass, as long as you have some powered USB 3.0 controllers. For my motherboard the .96 adapter was the one that hooks up to my front panel on my case. I have 4 USB 3.0 sockets on the rear that run off the 1.0 Controller and they pass. So anyone telling you that the compatibility tool is the final say-so is wrong. If you have incompatible ports then just disable them and run the compatibility tool again. To be clear you have to have some compatible ports as well. In my case I was never using the forward .96 ports. I did not even have them hooked up, but if the driver is installed the compatibility tool will say you fail.

cybereality

That is not a false statement. Most motherboards include two different USB controller chipsets and some may pass, and some may fail. This is expected, and the Compat Tool even says so in the error message.

Percy1983

My board has the 2 controllers to which the test gives me a yellow triangle which is a warning not fail.

If I disable the problem controller which the tool tells me I then pass the test.

Its worth doing this and testing the ports so you know which ports are the compatible and which are not.

Of course I have re-activated the problem controller and the rift test will give me the warning, but as long as I use the correct ports for the rift (intel chipset in my case) all will be fine.

So I don't see how the test has given any false information.

Maxxgold I would suggest you do the above to be sure, on my board (Asrock extreme 4 Z77) 2 ports on the back and the internal header are intel and 2 ports on the back are asmedia (which fails).

FokkerFace

From Maxxgold comment it looks like he has done this already, and he knows what ports on his mobo are ok.

WormSlayer

Where is this whitelist of known good controllers?

I just built a new computer to run my incoming CV1, and guess what? The USB controller fails the test!

So now I need to dismantle it, ship the board back, get a refund, order another board, wait for that to arrive, rebuild the system, and hope I have randomly picked a supported controller this time?

FokkerFace

Or, what cybereality suggests - pay another 30 dollars to install PCIe expansion card. Unfortunately that's not really an option for me, since the only PCIe I could spare - is already occupied by wifi adapter, and I have to have a wifi on a PCIe, not UBS.

cybereality

Just buy this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FPIMJEW

Percy1983

WormSlayer wrote:

Where is this whitelist of known good controllers?

I just built a new computer to run my incoming CV1, and guess what? The USB controller fails the test!

So now I need to dismantle it, ship the board back, get a refund, order another board, wait for that to arrive, rebuild the system, and hope I have randomly picked a supported controller this time?

If you do a little research you can usually find out what USB controllers are used, I believe (could be wrong) all recent intel boards will have some intel usb3 ports.

Past that just get a card like the one linked, will add quite a few USB ports which is useful anyway.

FokkerFace wrote:

Or, what cybereality suggests - pay another 30 dollars to install PCIe expansion card. Unfortunately that's not really an option for me, since the only PCIe I could spare - is already occupied by wifi adapter, and I have to have a wifi on a PCIe, not UBS.

Any space PCI (yes old school) slots, you can get wireless on those, past that there is some very good USB wifi receivers, failing that you could get a wifi bridge to the network port or use powerline adapters.

Like you I could go internal card first but there is other options.

Monstieur

Can anyone confirm if the Renesas uPD720202 works? I want to buy this card which has true 5 Gb/s per port.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HJZEA2S/

kanevsky

What a little research you tallkin about? I spent one week in summary at any rate trying to find out what should i buy and always get this link to amazon at the end.   

Does somebody knows other analogs of this card?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FPIMJEW

Unfortunately they does not ship this one to Russia. 

Or maybe someone has this damn whitelist to choose from? Or at least whitlist of controller brand or specification? 

In every topic about usb problems i see this link to pci-e card on amason and it has (according to photos) LVI contoller that doesn't supports according to some other comments. 

I have GIGABYTE GA-970A-DS3P motherboard and full AMD setup accordingly. So i have no ability to change motherboard to have intel controllers.  

I have only two usb 3.0 on board and only one works with rift. 

I already bought one pci-e card on Etron EJ168A and it doesn't  work... I'm really disappointed of poor expirience cause two my oculus sensors for rift and touch works with lag as they connected to usb 2.0 and i don't know how to fix it except bying all existing brends of pci-e usb cards one by one.

cybereality

This is the only card that has been tested and approved by Oculus.
https://www.amazon.com/Inateck-Superspeed-Ports-PCI-Expansion/dp/B00B6ZCNGM

Notice this is the 4-port model. Even other versions from the same company (like the 5-port model) may use different internal USB controller chips and may not actually work well.

Though you can try to source a local card that uses the same Fresco Logic FL1100 chipset.

kanevsky

You just like: We know that we're producing product that incompatible with at least 40% of hardware but we don't give a shit so much so the only solution we can offer is to buy this card from amazon.

Why this one? Just because we tested only this one. 

What? You are from shitty third world country and you can't order usa brands from amazon? Bad to be you but still don't give a shit - order this one from amazon. 

You need specifications? Meh... We. Don't. Give. A. Shit. We didn't test others. Here is the link to amazon. 

   

And here is none of any pci-e 3.0 cards using Fresco Logic FL1100 chipset in Russia or any nearby country where i can order this card less then 70$ (including delivery). 

I'm ready even to buy a different amd motherboard if i only have this whitelist of them... 

This is a really demonstrative case for those who still trying to chose between Oculus and HTC.