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Thread: Is USB 3.0 bootable?

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    Xtreme Member cab's Avatar
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    Is USB 3.0 bootable?

    Is it possible to boot OS from a USB3 flash drive?

    Are there any USB3 card readers?

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    I am Xtreme lowfat's Avatar
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    AFAIK the NES/Renesas controllers can not be booted from. Even if you plug a USB2.0 device in to a USB3.0 port it will not work.

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    Xtreme Addict mattkosem's Avatar
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    I've got an Adata usb3.0 drive. I can boot from it without issues on usb2.0 ports. None of the mobos I have will see it at boot time on their usb3.0 controllers though. I believe they're all NEC, so avoid those.

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    Xtreme Member cab's Avatar
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    There a some new mobos/chipsets both from Intel & AMD -- Are any of them capable of BIOS-booting USB3 flash drives ????

    If so, can we compile here a list of such mobos? Is the GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UD3H one of them?

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    I am Xtreme lowfat's Avatar
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    All P67 or newer board should be able to boot from USB3.0 from my experience. At least all of mine have been able.

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    Xtreme Addict NEOAethyr's Avatar
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    My chiv can boot and install from usb3 ports.
    If you install win7 with it, it does so in usb 2 mode.
    If you install win8 with it, I assume it does so in usb3 mode.

    It's not like a raid thing, where you can boot off from it, but windows flips out sorta thing.
    It'll boot, and install all the way through with no probs.


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    I am Xtreme lowfat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by NEOAethyr View Post
    My chiv can boot and install from usb3 ports.
    If you install win7 with it, it does so in usb 2 mode.
    If you install win8 with it, I assume it does so in usb3 mode.

    It's not like a raid thing, where you can boot off from it, but windows flips out sorta thing.
    It'll boot, and install all the way through with no probs.
    Not nessessarily. I can not install Windows 7 via a USB3.0 port unless I slipstream USB3.0 drivers.

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    Xtreme Addict NEOAethyr's Avatar
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    I can..., done it a few times.
    But then again I am using a usb 2.0 stick in the usb 3.0 port...

    Another odd thing is you can use the usb3 port in win7 without installing drivers for it.
    It'll be in usb2.0 mode though.


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    Xtreme Member cab's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by lowfat View Post
    All P67 or newer board should be able to boot from USB3.0 from my experience. At least all of mine have been able.
    They can boot an OS from a USB3 flash drive at 300MB/sec?

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    Xtremely Hot Sauce Bobsama's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by NEOAethyr View Post
    I can..., done it a few times.
    But then again I am using a usb 2.0 stick in the usb 3.0 port...

    Another odd thing is you can use the usb3 port in win7 without installing drivers for it.
    It'll be in usb2.0 mode though.
    Not always. My Asus Sabertooth X58's USB 3.0 ports were useless without drivers--no legacy mode available.

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    I am Xtreme lowfat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cab View Post
    They can boot an OS from a USB3 flash drive at 300MB/sec?
    No idea. I was referring to installing Windows 7 from a USB3.0 flash drive.

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    Xtreme Member cab's Avatar
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    I can confirm Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H booted my USB2 flash drive from USB3 port. And I see that Panasonic has a new UHS-compliant USB 3.0 Reader, so now all we're missing are some screaming fast SD cards... yeah?

    Now I'm curious if any of the new mobos with AMD 990FX will boot form USB3.

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