How to Update ASMedia USB 3.0 Drivers?

[RonAKA]

I have an ASUS M5A99FX PRO R2.0 motherboard and am currently running Windows 8.0. This motherboard uses ASMedia USB Controllers for the USB 3.0 ports. I have read reports of driver problems when you upgrade to Windows 8.1, and would like to ensure the best drivers are installed before I attempt the upgrade. Apparently Windows 8.1 changes the ones installed (which are now ASMedia) to Windows drivers and they don't work.

So, my question is how do I check to see if I have the latest ASMedia drivers? In Device Manager I see the ASMedia XHCI Controller has a driver dated 6/24/2013 and version number 1.16.10.0.

Asus now shows a BIOS later than the one I have installed and dated about the time Windows 8.1 was released in October. Link below. They also have a similarly dated AI Suite update. However neither one mentions anything about an ASMedia driver update. Are either of these updates (which I don't have installed now) going to update the driver? I'm thinking not. And if so, how do I go about finding if there is an update for them?

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/M5A99FX_PRO_R20/#support

 

[vailr]

I'd advise updating to the latest motherboard bios first, because that may include an Asmedia firmware update.
However, the Asmedia controller chip's firmware may instead require a separate (independent from the motherboard bios) firmware update procedure.
Latest driver: Version 1.16.20.0
Latest firmware: Version 130201
http://www.station-drivers.com/index.php/10-drivers/40-asmedia

 

[RonAKA]

I'd advise updating to the latest motherboard bios first, because that may include an Asmedia firmware update.
However, the Asmedia controller chip's firmware may instead require a separate (independent from the motherboard bios) firmware update procedure.
Latest driver: Version 1.16.20.0
Latest firmware: Version 130201
http://www.station-drivers.com/index.php/10-drivers/40-asmedia

I've done some more digging and it gets more confusing. In looking at my Windows update log, I see on October 9th, new ASMedia drivers were downloaded for the USB Controller. When I check the drivers installed via Device Manager, they are as I posted earlier. However, if I allow Windows to search for updated drivers it installs a Microsoft driver dated June 28, 2013, or 4 days newer than the ASMedia originated ones. I've rolled them back to the ASMedia ones until I get this figured out.

Not sure what I should do, except perhaps wait a month or so, and see if anything new comes out, before I update to 8.1? I think these "new" Microsoft drivers may be the problem ones, and when you update you get forced to use them.

Yes, I will update the BIOS and AI Suite utilities before I try to update to 8.1.

 

[vailr]

This driver is designed for Windows 7, 8, & 8.1.
It's also dated later than Oct. 9, when you said some MS drivers were installed.

Asmedia ASM1041/ASM1042 USB3 Controllers Drivers
Version 1.16.20.0 17/10/2013
The direct download link shows a version number of 1.16.12.0:
http://www.station-drivers.com/down...M104x_v1.16.12.0(www.station-drivers.com).exe

The firmware update Version 130201 (31/08/2013) could probably be applied whenever convenient.

 

[glugglug]

The problem isn't with the ASMedia drivers persay. It's with the drivers for the Intel controller, at least with the Series 8 boards. Unfortunately, Windows 8(.1) makes it very difficult to get/keep the Intel USB3 drivers installed, as it wants to use the generic Microsoft drivers instead which aren't really compatible. Not sure how it is on your board, but on my Z87 Pro, the ASMedia "controller" is basically an onboard USB3 hub connected to the Intel controller as a device. So incompatibilities with the Intel ports will affect the ASMedia ports as well.

That said, Asus released a new BIOS for my board on Halloween, which according to the change description is specifically supposed to address USB device compatibility issues. It works fine in Windows 7, so for now I'm leaving things alone and letting others be the guinea pig. Looks like the latest BIOS for your board is 2 weeks ago. I would strongly recommend updating especially if you intend on using 8(.1).

As far as the AISuite utilities: you probably want to uninstall them, not update them. Win8 bluescreened every day or 2 if they were installed.

 

[vailr]

ASUS M5A99FX PRO is for AMD processors.

 

[Ketchup]

Looking at the Motherboard driver page, I don't see any software for that controller for 8.0 either (7 is the "latest" one I see) so logically I think you could "assume" that the controller would give you the same performance with 8.1. The only caveat would be if Asmedia did not provide Asus with the necessary drivers for changes that may occur with 8.1, in which case there is nothing you can do about that anyway.

I have seen other posters have a love/hate relationship with Asmedia anyway, so I would just jump in and see what happens.

The one comforting thing I see is the Asus USB Boost software for USB 3.0 does specifically list Windows 8.1 as something it supports.

 

[RonAKA]

I will upgrade the motherboard BIOS first, along with all Windows 8.0 updates, and then give the update to 8.1 a try to see what happens. I'm in no rush and will probably wait for the next set of AMD Catalyst drivers too. They have an active beta which I expect will be made mainstream at some point.

My theory is that if I wait long enough and then do all the current updates everything "should" work...

Thanks for the help in this.

 

[netrod]

I'd advise updating to the latest motherboard bios first, because that may include an Asmedia firmware update.
However, the Asmedia controller chip's firmware may instead require a separate (independent from the motherboard bios) firmware update procedure.
Latest driver: Version 1.16.20.0
Latest firmware: Version 130201
http://www.station-drivers.com/index.php/10-drivers/40-asmedia

Much Thanks to you for this link... I have spent three weeks, countless attempts with Samsung support (with no solution) and hours of using various driver update utilities, nothing has worked until today with your link... I can't thank you enough... sincerely, Rod Smith...

 

[lonfa]

Thank you from me as well , Couldn't understand why my Network and USB 3 ports were playing up with a Win 8.1 trial install I'd done.

Now I know why.
Asus support and Microsoft not up on their game with drivers.

Si-Soft Sandra has given me the worst report I've seen for one of my systems, Mainly driver and hardware problems with Win 8.1 problems
Going to be a while sorting it all out then a reload with the proper drivers in the right order will help, with a Disk image once sorted so it's easy to fix next reload.

Have an Asus Sabertooth 990FX R2.0 M/b with FX 8350.
Now I'll get my Qnap NAS working!

lonfa