Compare ping spikes, cable, powerline and network card issues.
Compare ping spikes, cable, powerline and network card issues.
I own an MSI X299M Gaming Pro Carbon AC with an Intel® Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 built-in module, and my home router is an Asus G10. Both devices run the latest drivers. When connected via Ethernet, my ping in games like CS:GO stays steady at 5-10 ms, though I sometimes join servers with poor connectivity and experience pings between 30-50 ms. The consistency of the ping is reassuring. However, using a cable isn’t ideal because it runs through the middle of the house, causing disruption for my family. Wireless becomes necessary. In good connections, ping drops to 10-20 ms, but spikes are frequent. During poor connections, gameplay becomes unplayable. Initially, I assumed the issue was with the ISP’s router, so I bought an Asus G10 during Black Friday. My motherboard supports a solid internal Wi-Fi card and has two large antennas. The router sits about 6-7 meters away, separated by one wall (wood frame plus drywall). Testing via command line shows cable connections consistently under 1 ms, with occasional spikes up to 4-6 ms. On Wi-Fi, the average is 2-4 ms, but spikes of 5-6 occur every few runs, reaching 10-30 ms or more, sometimes nearing 90 ms. Setting up a cable from my room to the router in the attic and back is cumbersome. A powerline hub (Netgear Powerline PL1000) or a new Asus PCE-AC88 would simplify things. The main question remains: will this fix actually resolve the problem? Any insights from someone who’s faced a similar setup would be greatly appreciated.
The spikes likely stem from other devices or nearby networks interfering with yours. In some areas, 5 GHz Wi-Fi must regularly scan for flight radar to disable itself and avoid disruption. Powerline issues arise because unshielded cables function like large antennas, which doesn’t always improve signal quality compared to Wi-Fi. It’s a cost-effective fix that might perform better than Wi-Fi if structural factors (like steel beams) hinder Wi-Fi signals.
We reside in a single-family residence with only one router throughout the building. The structure is made of wood. Around any given location, roughly 4 to 8 gadgets connect via Wi-Fi, most using the 2.4 GHz band, while my PC and laptop operate on the 5 GHz frequency.