ROG SCAR 18 2024: USB devices disconnect under heavy load (Gaming)

[SilverSurfer1]

Hello everyone,

I'm experiencing a very frustrating issue with my almost 1 year old ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 (2024) laptop, and I'm hoping someone here might have a solution.

The problem occurs when I'm playing demanding games like Battlefield 6 and Yakuza: Like a Dragon. After a while, all my connected USB devices (external keyboard, mouse, and headset) suddenly disconnect. The only thing that still works is the laptop's touchpad. The only way to fix it is to do a full hard reboot of the machine.

This makes me think it's not a software issue with the games themselves, but a deeper problem with the laptop's hardware or power management.

Here is a list of all the troubleshooting steps I've already tried:

• Replaced the USB Hub: I initially suspected my old USB hub, so I replaced it with a brand new, high-quality, powered USB hub. The issue still persists.

• Used a laptop cooling pad: Interestingly, when I use a laptop cooling pad, the issue completely disappears. This strongly suggests the problem is related to temperature.

• Clean Windows Installation: I performed a clean installation of Windows to rule out any software conflicts or corrupted drivers. After installing only the necessary drivers and games, the problem returned.

• Driver Updates: I have updated all the drivers for the GPU, chipset, and other components from the official ASUS support website. The BIOS is also on the latest version.

The fact that the problem goes away with a cooling pad, but returns after a clean Windows install and a new USB hub, leads me to believe this is a thermal or power delivery issue with the laptop itself.

Has anyone else experienced this with the Scar 18 2024 or other recent ROG models? What was your solution? I'm hoping to avoid sending it for a warranty repair if there's a known fix.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[ElectroStingz]

Hello,

What cooling pad is the cooling pad that you are using?

Can you try hardware monitor and check the PCH temperature during use, it's not cooled very well even though there is a fan directly above. This might be running close of over 90 DegC so can cause problems if runs hot, the USB controller is part of this.

https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html

[SilverSurfer1]

IETS GT 600 V2

CPUID HWMonitor Report

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Binaries

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

HWMonitor version 1.5.8.0

Monitoring

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mainboard Model G834JYR (0x000001DB - 0x00501F72)

LPCIO

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware Monitors

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware monitor DIMM

Temperature 0 75 degC (167 degF) [0x4B4] (Core)

Hardware monitor DIMM

Temperature 0 73 degC (163 degF) [0x494] (Core)

Hardware monitor Intel PCH

Temperature 0 102 degC (215 degF) [0x66] (Intel PCH)

Hardware monitor Battery

Voltage 0 17.37 Volts [0x43D6] (Current Voltage)

Capacity 0 90001 mWh [0x15F91] (Designed Capacity)

Capacity 1 84709 mWh [0x14AE5] (Full Charge Capacity)

Capacity 2 84710 mWh [0x14AE6] (Current Capacity)

Power 00 0.00 W [0x0] (Charge Rate)

Level 0 6 pc (Wear Level)

Level 1 100 pc [0x64] (Charge Level)

Hardware monitor Realtek Gaming 2.5GbE Family Controller

Hardware monitor Intel IGCL

Voltage 0 0.29 Volts [0x124] (GPU)

Power 01 46.88 W (GPU)

Clock Speed 0 700.00 MHz [0x2BC] (Graphics)

Clock Speed 1 n.a. (Memory)

Clock Speed 2 n.a. (Processor)

Hardware monitor PDH

Hardware monitor D3D

Hardware monitor Intel I/O

Hardware monitor DXCore

Hardware monitor NVIDIA NVAPI

Voltage 0 0.64 Volts [0x280] (GPU)

Current 1 2.76 Amps (GPU)

Current 6 0.44 Amps (Core Power Supply)

Current 7 0.35 Amps (Frame Buffer Power Supply)

Current 19 0.80 Amps (16-PIN 12VHPWR)

Power 01 22.59 W (GPU)

Power 06 8.95 W (Core Power Supply)

Power 07 7.14 W (Frame Buffer Power Supply)

Power 19 16.09 W (16-PIN 12VHPWR)

Temperature 1 70 degC (158 degF) [0x46] (GPU)

Temperature 3 78 degC (172 degF) [0x4E] (Memory)

Temperature 2 80 degC (175 degF) [0x4F] (Hot Spot)

Clock Speed 0 420.00 MHz [0x1A4] (Graphics)

Clock Speed 1 810.00 MHz [0x32A] (Memory)

Clock Speed 2 n.a. (Processor)

Hardware monitor NVIDIA NVML

Power 01 23.70 W (GPU)

Temperature 1 70 degC (158 degF) [0x46] (GPU)

Clock Speed 0 465.00 MHz [0x1D1] (Graphics)

Clock Speed 1 6001.00 MHz [0x1771] (Memory)

Clock Speed 2 n.a. (Processor)

Hardware monitor PDH

Hardware monitor D3D

Hardware monitor NVIDIA I/O

Hardware monitor DXCore

Processors

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

CPU Groups 1

CPU Group 0 32 threads, mask=0xFFFFFFFF

Number of sockets 1

Number of threads 32

APICs

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Socket 0

-- P-Core 0 (ID 0)

-- Thread 0 0

-- Thread 1 1

-- P-Core 1 (ID 4)

-- Thread 2 8

-- Thread 3 9

-- P-Core 2 (ID 😎

-- Thread 4 16

-- Thread 5 17

-- P-Core 3 (ID 12)

-- Thread 6 24

-- Thread 7 25

-- P-Core 4 (ID 16)

-- Thread 8 32

-- Thread 9 33

-- P-Core 5 (ID 20)

-- Thread 10 40

-- Thread 11 41

-- P-Core 6 (ID 24)

-- Thread 12 48

-- Thread 13 49

-- P-Core 7 (ID 28)

-- Thread 14 56

-- Thread 15 57

-- E-Core 8 (ID 32)

-- Thread 16 64

-- E-Core 9 (ID 33)

-- Thread 17 66

-- E-Core 10 (ID 34)

-- Thread 18 68

-- E-Core 11 (ID 35)

-- Thread 19 70

-- E-Core 12 (ID 36)

-- Thread 20 72

-- E-Core 13 (ID 37)

-- Thread 21 74

-- E-Core 14 (ID 38)

-- Thread 22 76

-- E-Core 15 (ID 39)

-- Thread 23 78

-- E-Core 16 (ID 40)

-- Thread 24 80

-- E-Core 17 (ID 41)

-- Thread 25 82

-- E-Core 18 (ID 42)

-- Thread 26 84

-- E-Core 19 (ID 43)

-- Thread 27 86

-- E-Core 20 (ID 44)

-- Thread 28 88

-- E-Core 21 (ID 45)

-- Thread 29 90

-- E-Core 22 (ID 46)

-- Thread 30 92

-- E-Core 23 (ID 47)

-- Thread 31 94

Timers

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

ACPI timer 3.580 MHz

Perf timer 10.000 MHz

Sys timer 1.000 KHz

Processors Information

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Socket 1 ID = 0

Number of cores 24 (max 24)

Number of threads 32 (max 32)

Hybrid yes, 2 coresets

Core Set 0 P-Cores, 8 cores, 16 threads

Core Set 1 E-Cores, 16 cores, 16 threads

Manufacturer GenuineIntel

Name Intel Core i9 14900HX

Codename Raptor Lake

Specification Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-14900HX

Package (platform ID) Socket 1700 LGA (0x1)

CPUID 6.7.1

Extended CPUID 6.B7

Core Stepping B0

Technology 10 nm

TDP Limit 55.0 Watts

Tjmax 100.0  C

Core Speed 5087.6 MHz

Multiplier x Bus Speed 51.0 x 99.8 MHz

Base frequency (cores) 99.8 MHz

Base frequency (mem.) 99.8 MHz

Instructions sets MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, EM64T, AES, AVX, AVX2, FMA3, SHA

Microcode Revision 0x12B

L1 Data cache 8 x 48 KB (12-way, 64-byte line) + 16 x 32 KB (8-way, 64-byte line)

L1 Instruction cache 8 x 32 KB (8-way, 64-byte line) + 16 x 64 KB (8-way, 64-byte line)

L2 cache 8 x 2 MB (16-way, 64-byte line) + 4 x 4 MB (16-way, 64-byte line)

L3 cache 36 MB (12-way, 64-byte line)

Max CPUID level 00000020h

Max CPUID ext. level 80000008h

FID/VID Control yes

Turbo Mode supported, enabled

Max non-turbo ratio 24x

Max turbo ratio 58x

Max efficiency ratio 8x

Min operating ratio 4x

Speedshift Autonomous

FLL_OC_MODE 0

FLL_OC_MODE_REG 0x00000000

O/C bins unlimited

Power Max (PL1) 175.00 W

PL1 Time Window 56.00 s

Short Power Max (PL2) 175.00 W

Ratio 1 P-Core 58x

Ratio 2 P-Cores 58x

Ratio 3 P-Cores 52x

Ratio 4 P-Cores 52x

Ratio 5 P-Cores 52x

Ratio 6 P-Cores 52x

Ratio 7 P-Cores 52x

Ratio 8 P-Cores 52x

Ratio 1 E-Core 41x

TDP Level 55.0 W @ 22x

TDP Level 45.0 W @ 18x

TDP Level 65.0 W @ 24x

Temperature 0 91 degC (195 degF) (Package)

Temperature 1 90 degC (194 degF) (P-Cores (Max))

Temperature 2 83 degC (181 degF) (E-Cores (Max))

Temperature 3 78 degC (172 degF) (P-Core #0)

Temperature 4 82 degC (179 degF) (P-Core #1)

Temperature 5 79 degC (174 degF) (P-Core #2)

Temperature 6 84 degC (183 degF) (P-Core #3)

Temperature 7 82 degC (179 degF) (P-Core #4)

Temperature 8 82 degC (179 degF) (P-Core #5)

Temperature 9 78 degC (172 degF) (P-Core #6)

Temperature 10 79 degC (174 degF) (P-Core #7)

Temperature 11 77 degC (170 degF) (E-Core #8)

Temperature 12 77 degC (170 degF) (E-Core #9)

Temperature 13 78 degC (172 degF) (E-Core #10)

Temperature 14 77 degC (170 degF) (E-Core #11)

Temperature 15 80 degC (176 degF) (E-Core #12)

Temperature 16 80 degC (176 degF) (E-Core #13)

Temperature 17 80 degC (176 degF) (E-Core #14)

Temperature 18 81 degC (177 degF) (E-Core #15)

Temperature 19 77 degC (170 degF) (E-Core #16)

Temperature 20 77 degC (170 degF) (E-Core #17)

Temperature 21 77 degC (170 degF) (E-Core #18)

Temperature 22 77 degC (170 degF) (E-Core #19)

Temperature 23 81 degC (177 degF) (E-Core #20)

Temperature 24 80 degC (176 degF) (E-Core #21)

Temperature 25 81 degC (177 degF) (E-Core #22)

Temperature 26 78 degC (172 degF) (E-Core #23)

Voltage 0 1.34 Volts (VID (Max))

Voltage 1 1.41 Volts (P-Core #0)

Voltage 2 1.26 Volts (P-Core #1)

Voltage 3 1.32 Volts (P-Core #2)

Voltage 4 1.26 Volts (P-Core #3)

Voltage 5 1.25 Volts (P-Core #4)

Voltage 6 1.27 Volts (P-Core #5)

Voltage 7 1.32 Volts (P-Core #6)

Voltage 8 1.31 Volts (P-Core #7)

Voltage 9 1.22 Volts (E-Core #8)

Voltage 10 1.29 Volts (E-Core #9)

Voltage 11 1.41 Volts (E-Core #10)

Voltage 12 1.40 Volts (E-Core #11)

Voltage 13 1.22 Volts (E-Core #12)

Voltage 14 1.31 Volts (E-Core #13)

Voltage 15 1.41 Volts (E-Core #14)

Voltage 16 1.22 Volts (E-Core #15)

Voltage 17 1.33 Volts (E-Core #16)

Voltage 18 1.35 Volts (E-Core #17)

Voltage 19 1.29 Volts (E-Core #18)

Voltage 20 1.32 Volts (E-Core #19)

Voltage 21 1.32 Volts (E-Core #20)

Voltage 22 1.41 Volts (E-Core #21)

Voltage 23 1.42 Volts (E-Core #22)

Voltage 24 1.29 Volts (E-Core #23)

Power 00 44.92 W (Package)

Power 01 38.45 W (IA Cores)

Power 02 0.01 W (GT)

Power 03 n.a. (DRAM)

Power 04 175.00 W (Power Max (PL1))

Power 05 175.00 W (Short Power Max (PL2))

Clock Speed 0 5087.56 MHz (P-Core #0)

Clock Speed 1 5087.56 MHz (P-Core #1)

Clock Speed 2 5087.56 MHz (P-Core #2)

Clock Speed 3 5087.56 MHz (P-Core #3)

Clock Speed 4 4788.29 MHz (P-Core #4)

Clock Speed 5 5386.82 MHz (P-Core #5)

Clock Speed 6 4788.29 MHz (P-Core #6)

Clock Speed 7 5087.56 MHz (P-Core #7)

Clock Speed 8 2194.63 MHz (E-Core #8)

Clock Speed 9 4090.00 MHz (E-Core #9)

Clock Speed 10 3790.73 MHz (E-Core #10)

Clock Speed 11 4090.00 MHz (E-Core #11)

Clock Speed 12 3591.22 MHz (E-Core #12)

Clock Speed 13 4090.00 MHz (E-Core #13)

Clock Speed 14 2194.63 MHz (E-Core #14)

Clock Speed 15 798.05 MHz (E-Core #15)

Clock Speed 16 4090.00 MHz (E-Core #16)

Clock Speed 17 2194.63 MHz (E-Core #17)

Clock Speed 18 3291.95 MHz (E-Core #18)

Clock Speed 19 1596.10 MHz (E-Core #19)

Clock Speed 20 3391.70 MHz (E-Core #20)

Clock Speed 21 1596.10 MHz (E-Core #21)

Clock Speed 22 3391.70 MHz (E-Core #22)

Clock Speed 23 3790.73 MHz (E-Core #23)

Clock Speed 24 99.76 MHz (CPU BCLK)

Clock Speed 25 99.76 MHz (SOC BCLK)

Core 0 max ratio 58.00 (effective 56.00)

Core 1 max ratio 58.00 (effective 56.00)

Core 2 max ratio 58.00 (effective 56.00)

Core 3 max ratio 58.00 (effective 56.00)

Core 4 max ratio 58.00 (effective 58.00)

Core 5 max ratio 58.00 (effective 58.00)

Core 6 max ratio 58.00 (effective 56.00)

Core 7 max ratio 58.00 (effective 56.00)

Core 8 max ratio 58.00 (effective 41.00)

Core 9 max ratio 58.00 (effective 41.00)

Core 10 max ratio 58.00 (effective 41.00)

Core 11 max ratio 58.00 (effective 41.00)

Core 12 max ratio 58.00 (effective 41.00)

Core 13 max ratio 58.00 (effective 41.00)

Core 14 max ratio 58.00 (effective 41.00)

Core 15 max ratio 58.00 (effective 41.00)

Core 16 max ratio 58.00 (effective 41.00)

Core 17 max ratio 58.00 (effective 41.00)

Core 18 max ratio 58.00 (effective 41.00)

Core 19 max ratio 58.00 (effective 41.00)

Core 20 max ratio 58.00 (effective 41.00)

Core 21 max ratio 58.00 (effective 41.00)

Core 22 max ratio 58.00 (effective 41.00)

Core 23 max ratio 58.00 (effective 41.00)

[ElectroStingz]

102 DegC at some point which is no good, you need to get that lower.

Screenshot when gaming default settings on my laptop.

[Lom]

Not sure if it will apply to you, but I have had an identical issue (Strix SCAR 2023) and the "solution" in my case was to never put the laptop in "Silent" Mode. Once I changed to Performance (and a lot of noise)  it stopped doing this for me.

Root cause was probably temperature in my case too since the lower fan speeds meant higher temps.