Will upgrading the USB-to-ethernet adapter to USB 3.0 make any difference

We’ve also been looking for these for a long time, but no one seemed to make a USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet adapter until just this year (2012).

But we needed them for a different purpose; we don’t do virtualization but needed to add second full Gigabit Ethernet port to the laptops we send out to be used as network diagnostics equipment. We used to use ExpressCard before, but laptops don’t have this slot anymore, so had to get the USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet adapter. All others wouldn’t actually run at full Gigabit Ethernet speed despite showing it as being Gigabit Ethernet capable. The throughput of USB 2.0 was too low.

As to why it took so long, the reason is very simple actually: Nobody thought this was a product worth making until Axis decided to do it. Once they made the chip, PCB layout and programming of the chip then at least 3 companies began making the Gigabit Ethernet adapters. All of them are based on the same ASIX AX88179 chip, but the one on the site above is the cheapest we could find.

Some remarks :

1. The NH532 drivers page also has a USB Host Controller driver, while you are using the driver by Microsoft, so you haven't installed all the NH532 drivers.

2. Your USB device is on the Enhanced Host Controller, which means USB 2. As the NH532 has both USB 2 and USB 3 ports, ensure that you are using the right ports. Your device should be on the Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller.

3. Find in the BIOS (maybe under Advanced / USB Configuration) an entry that may be named something like "Intel xHCI Mode" and ensure it is enabled. Not all BIOS have such an option, but most do.

4. Go to Intel's Drivers & Software page and use "Automatically update your drivers" to get, install and use the Intel Driver Update Utility. This will get at least, if missing, the Intel(R) USB 3.0 Host Controller Switch Driver.

As according to the poster all the above conditions are correct on his computer, and as the USB 3 device shows up as connected to the Enhanced Host Controller - which serves USB 2, rather than to the Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller - which serves USB 3, I am led to the astonishing conclusion of a manufacturing error.

I have no other explanation than that during assembly of this computer, the USB 3 ports were connected by mistake to the USB2 Host Controller, so work at USB 2 speed, or that there is some other problem with the installed ports or controller. If that is the case, there is no software solution to the problem.