Results- HD Tach USB 2.0 and HD Tach USB 3.0
HD Tach USB 2.0

The same Sharkoon USB 3.0 with the WD Caviar Black 1TB drive is used on both USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports.  This should give a good idea of the advances in the new USB specification, as well as any improvements in AMD’s native USB 2.0 controller.

MSI 890FXA-G70 Motherboard Review - Motherboards 33

MSI 890FXA-G70 Motherboard Review - Motherboards 34

MSI 890FXA-G70 Motherboard Review - Motherboards 35

MSI 890FXA-G70 Motherboard Review - Motherboards 36

HD Tach USB 3.0

I then swapped the drive unit to the USB 3.0 connection and redid the HD Tach tests to see where we stand.

MSI 890FXA-G70 Motherboard Review - Motherboards 37

MSI 890FXA-G70 Motherboard Review - Motherboards 38

MSI 890FXA-G70 Motherboard Review - Motherboards 39

MSI 890FXA-G70 Motherboard Review - Motherboards 40

I am not sure if it is a physical difference, a BIOS difference, or a chip revision difference, but the same NEC chip used on each board has wildly different results.  The 890GX in this case runs significantly slower in USB 3.0 performance.  Interestingly enough, the USB 2.0 implementation on the 890FX board is again slightly faster than that on the 890GX.

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