Issues with USB 3 host controllers and DisplayLink

There can be issues using DisplayLink technology on USB 3.0 on Windows 7 if using older USB 3.0 host controller drivers.

Devices powered by DisplayLink technology are USB compliant, but are complex devices with multiple endpoints (Video, Audio, Network) with bulk and isochronous traffic. This can expose problems in earlier USB 3.0 host controller drivers and why we recommend updating to the latest host controller drivers.

This article is only applicable for Windows XP - Windows 7. From Windows 8 onward, Microsoft provide an inbox USB 3.0 host controller driver. This is kept up to date by the operating system.

Please check with your host controller manufacturer, or laptop manufacturer, for updated USB 3.0 host controller drivers. Also, please make sure you are using the most recent DisplayLink host software.

The links below refer to the latest driver downloads for USB 3.0 host controller driver. You should check with your laptop manufacturer for the USB 3.0 host controller provider in your computer.
Some motherboards are known to be incompatible with the NEC USB 3.0 controller due to out-of-spec PCI Express spread spectrum clocking. A list of known incompatible motherboards is below, however there may be other motherboards that have the same issue.

ManufacturerModel NumberChipsetWork Around
MSIG965MIntel G965No support to disable Spread Spectrum
AsusP5E WS ProfessionalIntel X38Computer Works if Spread Spectrum is disabled in the BIOS (it is enabled by default)

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