How to enable USB 3.1 in Catalina (Z170 Skylake MTB)

[titust1]

I just installed Catalina successfully on a Gigabyte Z170 MTB. Everything works as a charm.
The only thing I have no idea how to enable is the USB 3.1 functionality.
System Report shows only USB 3.0 BUS and 2.0 Hub, no mention about 3.1.
Honestly even in High Sierra it was not working.
Any ideas?

 

[pastrychef]

I just installed Catalina successfully on a Gigabyte Z170 MTB. Everything works as a charm.
The only thing I have no idea how to enable is the USB 3.1 functionality.
System Report shows only USB 3.0 BUS and 2.0 Hub, no mention about 3.1.
Honestly even in High Sierra it was not working.
Any ideas?

You shouldn't have to do anything. The ASM1142 USB 3.1 gen 2 chipset used in most (all?) Z170 motherboards should be natively supported by macOS.

Even in High Sierra.

 

[titust1]

Despite that I get just this USB 3.0 BUS / USB 2.0 Hub see attached.

 

[pastrychef]

Despite that I get just this USB 3.0 BUS / USB 2.0 Hub see attached.

Please post your EFI folder and a screenshot of what you have in /Library/Extensions/.

 

[titust1]

 

[pastrychef]

View attachment 432474View attachment 432475View attachment 432477

Ah... I see the issue... The USB 3.1 gen 2 is provided by Thunderbolt and not ASM1142...

On other Z170 motherboards, USB 3.1 gen 2 is provided by the ASM1142.

I think that in order for your USB 3.1 gen 2 to work, you will have to get Thunderbolt working on your motherboard.

 

[titust1]

Thanks, it makes sense.
But ... do you think there is a way to make the Thunderbolt working with this Intel TB3 chip ?

 

[pastrychef]

Thanks, it makes sense.
But ... do you think there is a way to make the Thunderbolt working with this Intel TB3 chip ?

Sorry... My experience with Thunderbolt is very limited... There are several threads on this forum on how to get Thunderbolt working, try checking them out...

 

[titust1]

Actually now I realized that the USB-C TB port works, but as everyone says on the web you have to reboot in order to see the device connected to it.