I'm running into a strange USB problem on a Windows 11 system. After the computer has been running for roughly 30 minutes, any USB devices that are already connected keep working, but newly connected devices are not detected. If I unplug an existing device, it also fails to reconnect when plugged back in. The problem seems to affect every USB port I've tested.
I've already disabled USB sleep and selective suspend settings in Device Manager and the power plan, updated the motherboard BIOS, run Windows' SFC repair scan, and removed the USB root hubs from Device Manager before restarting. I also use a Kraken Elite liquid cooler with an LCD screen, and I've seen reports of other coolers with similar displays causing USB-related problems, although I haven't found anything specific to this model.
The issue usually appears after about 30 minutes of use, though I haven't found a perfectly reliable way to reproduce it. It may be related to Valorant, since the failures I remember happened while Valorant was running, but I'm not sure yet.
System specs:
- Ryzen 7 9800X3D
- ROG Strix X870-A Gaming WiFi motherboard
- BIOS version 2402
- Radeon RX 7700 XT
- WDC SN730 boot drive
- Windows 11 25H2, build 26200.8973
What should I try next to determine whether this is a Windows, software, heat/load, or motherboard problem?
2 Answers
Since all of the ports stop accepting new devices at the same time, this sounds more like the USB controller or a driver-level issue than one bad port. Check Event Viewer and Device Manager around the time it happens for USB, chipset, Kernel-PnP, or anti-cheat-related errors. Install the latest AMD chipset drivers directly from AMD or the motherboard manufacturer, and temporarily disconnect the Kraken’s internal USB cable or controller as a test.
It would also be worth checking whether the problem only appears with Valorant running. Anti-cheat software can interact with low-level drivers, so comparing Valorant, another demanding game, and normal desktop use may reveal a pattern. If the problem follows Valorant, repair or reinstall the game and its anti-cheat component, then check for known compatibility issues.
A good way to separate a Windows/software problem from a hardware problem is to boot a temporary operating system from a flash drive, such as a Linux live environment or a Windows-based diagnostic environment. Test connecting and disconnecting USB devices there, and keep the system running for longer than the usual 30-minute window.
If the USB failure also happens in that environment, the motherboard, USB controller, power delivery, or another connected USB device becomes much more likely to be at fault. If everything continues working normally, the issue is probably inside the Windows installation, a driver, or a background application. Also test both the front and rear ports, and disconnect nonessential internal USB devices such as the cooler’s controller while troubleshooting.
The timing makes this a little difficult to test, but I’ve noticed that the failures may only happen when Valorant is open or running. I’m going to compare it with another game and then try a live environment if I can’t narrow it down.