Does connecting a USB port and leaving it powered affect the computer's performance?
Does connecting a USB port and leaving it powered affect the computer's performance?
Windows Mobo - Gigabyte Aorus X570
PSU - Cooler Master 750W Gold
GPU - ROG Strix RTX 2080
CPU - Ryzen 3600
Connecting a USB not only to the front panel but also directly to the motherboard causes the PC to crash. The issue varies depending on other devices connected. A DAC connection leads to crashes and reboots, while an external hard drive also triggers shutdowns after booting. The computer doesn’t display any warnings or blue screens; it simply powers off and restarts.
I’ve encountered similar issues before but haven’t found a clear solution. I’m focusing on whether the motherboard or power supply is faulty. I have a wall wattage meter, though I’m not sure if it will clarify the cause.
The problem appears to stem from power supply concerns, but I’m uncertain about its exact location. It began a few months ago, and previously, both the DAC and external HDD worked fine during startup. Now, plugging anything in causes the system to shut down completely.
Appreciate any advice or assistance from others who might have faced this situation.
What is the BIOS version of your motherboard? Which operating system are you using? If you're running Windows 10, consider checking Device Manager for any warnings with a yellow exclamation. How recent is the power supply unit in your system?
verify the usb ports for damaged or shortened pins
test using various usb cables
does this occur when connecting through the front panel too?
Does the DAC obtain its power exclusively from the +5V supply in the computer's USB port, or does it also receive another DC input, such as +12V from a mains power adapter? Likewise, is the external hard disk a 2.5in model, operating solely on +5V USB, or is it a 3.5in drive that requires an additional +12V DC supply?
If both devices (DAC and HDD) depend only on +5V USB, it’s clear there would be no low-current leakage path to other circuits through EMC/RFI capacitors in a 12V DC mains power supply.
The DAC is unlikely to draw more than a few hundred milliamps from the USB port, particularly if it uses a USB2 interface (typically 500mA). USB3 usually limits current draw to around 900mA. Neither of these current levels should stress an ATX power supply.
A 2.5in hard disk generally functions adequately with a single 500mA USB2 port, though it may occasionally need a dual-head cable connected to another USB port to supply extra current. A 3.5in external drive almost always requires +12V in most cases.
The motherboard likely includes current limiting on all USB ports to prevent short circuits or device failures from harming the board. These limiters should not cause a "crowbar" effect, which could trigger a crash. Instead, I expect the BIOS to show a current overload warning from Windows.
If you have another power supply, test it; otherwise, it seems more likely a motherboard issue.
For another perspective, consider using a USB power meter (available in USB-A and USB-C versions) to measure voltages and currents drawn by external USB devices. More advanced meters can track various USB-C PD outputs, such as 20V @ 3.25A for laptop charging.
If the voltage on the USB-A port falls below 4.75V when a device is connected, or if USB3 draws over 900mA, it indicates the device is overloading the port or there’s a cable fault.
OS Name: Microsoft Windows 10 Home
Version: 10.0.19045 Build 19045
BIOS Version/Date: American Megatrends International, LLC. F38f, 8/9/2023
No items marked with a yellow exclamation in the device manager.
The power supply unit is 4 years old, system manufactured in 2019 – identical components.
My DAC and HDD are both connected via USB, and they functioned properly for more than two years while plugged in together. However, recent issues have started occurring over the past year. As discussed in another reply, I had to disconnect two additional devices today to avoid my computer entering a crash-reboot cycle.
During a crash-reboot, the system navigates through the bootup screen and typically crashes around 10 seconds into the lock screen. Occasionally, it crashes immediately after booting up.
I should also note that even when everything runs smoothly, running resource-intensive programs can trigger crashes. This includes games like CS:GO or applications such as Stable Diffusion.