Front USB-C not working on ASUS ROG Maximus Z890

Posted by AlessAndere@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 4 comments

Hi everyone,

I’m having a hard time getting the front panel USB-C port to work on my new build. I’ve tried several troubleshooting steps, but the port seems completely "dead"—no data and no power/charging.

The Setup:

Motherboard: ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 (Header labeled U20G_C1)
Case: MSI Pano 100L PZ
Connection: Internal Type-E / Key-A cable connected to the motherboard.

What I’ve done so far:

Drivers: Installed all the latest Intel drivers (Chipset, Serial I/O, Management Engine, and Dynamic Tuning Technology).
BIOS: Updated to the latest version and did a CMOS reset. Checked "Onboard Devices" to ensure all ports are enabled.
Physical Inspection: Inspected the header for bent pins (none found).
Cable Orientation: I am using the orientation that slides in smoothly. I haven't forced it the other way because it offers significant resistance and I don't want to damage the pins.
Power Check: Connected my phone, but there is zero power delivery (no charging icon).

The Issue: Despite everything being connected, Windows Device Manager shows "Unknown USB Device" or missing controller errors (PCI Data Acquisition and Signal Processing Controller).

Specific Questions:

Cable Orientation: On the ASUS Z890, the header has a Pin 1 arrow. Does the 45-degree chamfered corner of the MSI cable need to align exactly with that arrow?
Power Delivery: This case doesn't have a SATA power cable for the front I/O. Does the ASUS Z890 require the auxiliary 6-pin PCIe power cable (PD_12V) connected to the motherboard just to get basic 5V power to the front USB-C?
Defective Cable? Has anyone experienced issues with the internal USB-C ribbons on the MSI Pano series?

Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated!

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Zombie_Tech@reddit

Despite everything being connected, Windows Device Manager shows "Unknown USB Device" or missing controller errors (PCI Data Acquisition and Signal Processing Controller).

Are you using Windows 10? Cause the chipset "driver" should've covered those missing parts in Device Manager.

Since your board has two front USB-C headers, try using the other one.

I have installed Windows 11 Pro and all its updates. Also, when I try to plug in the phone before turning on the PC, neither the USB connection nor charging is recognised through the USB-C port, which seems odd, as at least an electrical input should be automatically prompted, I guess. I have also checked the Z890-A manual to find the other USB-C header, but it seems to be just one header for type-E (?) https://rog.asus.com/it/motherboards/rog-strix/rog-strix-z890-a-gaming-wifi/helpdesk_manual/

Sorry I didn't realize you have that exact model. To check that the cable is plugged in correctly it shouldn't come out with any slight resistance. Between this header and the USB3.0 one they can be a pain to connect. :/

RabidTurtl@reddit

Cable orientation shouldn't matter for Type-E. Unless you see damage to the cable, I would assume the issue is the port. If mobo is under warranty (I'm guessing it is due to being a new build) I would RMA it. Otherwise you can buy a cheap pci-e to internal usb-c card. I did that for my build because the connection on my motherboard is in an awful location that gets covered up by my gpu.