u/AlessAndere — reddlx

Hi everyone,

I’m having a hard time getting the front panel USB-C port to work on my new build. I’ve tried several troubleshooting steps, but the port seems completely "dead"—no data and no power/charging.

The Setup:

Motherboard: ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 (Header labeled U20G_C1)
Case: MSI Pano 100L PZ
Connection: Internal Type-E / Key-A cable connected to the motherboard.

What I’ve done so far:

Drivers: Installed all the latest Intel drivers (Chipset, Serial I/O, Management Engine, and Dynamic Tuning Technology).
BIOS: Updated to the latest version and did a CMOS reset. Checked "Onboard Devices" to ensure all ports are enabled.
Physical Inspection: Inspected the header for bent pins (none found).
Cable Orientation: I am using the orientation that slides in smoothly. I haven't forced it the other way because it offers significant resistance and I don't want to damage the pins.
Power Check: Connected my phone, but there is zero power delivery (no charging icon).

The Issue: Despite everything being connected, Windows Device Manager shows "Unknown USB Device" or missing controller errors (PCI Data Acquisition and Signal Processing Controller).

Specific Questions:

Cable Orientation: On the ASUS Z890, the header has a Pin 1 arrow. Does the 45-degree chamfered corner of the MSI cable need to align exactly with that arrow?
Power Delivery: This case doesn't have a SATA power cable for the front I/O. Does the ASUS Z890 require the auxiliary 6-pin PCIe power cable (PD_12V) connected to the motherboard just to get basic 5V power to the front USB-C?
Defective Cable? Has anyone experienced issues with the internal USB-C ribbons on the MSI Pano series?

Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated!