USB4 Connection Manager - BIOS requirements?

Question

USB4 Connection Manager - BIOS requirements?

ron fucci 26

I have a Z890 motherboard that has no BIOS settings to control the CM, e.g. 'Firmware', 'Software' etc has seen on other Z890 boards.

Is there a requirement in the USB4 spec for the the BIOS in a Z890 motherboard with LGA 1851 CPU for these CM options to be available?

0 comments

1 answer

Your answer

Answer 1

Chen Tran 12,770 Independent Advisor

Hello Ron Fucci,

Thank you for posting question on Microsoft Windows Forum!

Well! The answer is No. There is no requirement in the USB4 specification. Nor in Intel’s Z890 / LGA 1851 platform guidelines; mandating that motherboard manufacturers expose Connection Manager (CM) options (such as "Software" vs. "Firmware" CM) in the user-facing BIOS.

The fact of the matter is that the USB-IF USB4 specification defines the functional architecture for both Software CM (OS-managed) and Firmware CM (firmware-managed). It dictates how the host router and tunneling protocols interact with the host interface, but it does not mandate or govern motherboard BIOS UI designs, user menus, or exposed configuration switches.

On the other hand, Modern Intel platforms (including Arrow Lake on LGA 1851) handle USB4/Thunderbolt control through ACPI _OSC (Operating System Capabilities) methods. When booting Windows 11 or modern Linux, the OS requests native USB4 domain control via ACPI. If granted, the system defaults directly to the native OS Software Connection Manager (usb4bus.sys on Windows). For more information https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/component-guidelines/usb4-acpi-requirements

As long as the motherboard correctly implements the ACPI table requirements for USB4 host interface routing, it is compliant with Intel and USB-IF certifications regardless of whether those options are exposed in the BIOS.

Hope the above information is helpful! If it is. Free feel to hit "Accepted" for benefitting others in community having the same query too.

Chen Tran 12,770 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-09-09T14:00:55.7233333+00:00

Hi Ron Fucci,

Hope you are doing well!

May I know the latest status of the query?

Hope the provided information is helpful! If it is. It is appreciated to consider clicking "Accept Answer".
ron fucci 26 Reputation points

2026-09-09T15:24:04.4366667+00:00

That's unfortunate as USB4 makes Thunderbolt even more difficult to work with.

Certain manufacturers have decided to provide the option in the BIOS to choose the USB4 CM Mode of either 'software' or 'firmware'. The latter uses the TB4 controller and I find it easier to work with and use my existing hardware.

This allows the user to decide how to use TB4 either with or without USB4.

Buyers will eventually figure out that some manufacturers allow the choice and others don't which will drive motherboard sales.

Might be a good idea to let users know the real choice they are making when they buy a Z890 motherboard in regard to USB4 and Windows 11.

Fortunately also, Windows 10 does not use USB4 and this will be yet another decision point that will affect whether or not they decide to use/buy Windows 11.