Need assistance: Ethernet card leads to system lag
Need assistance: Ethernet card leads to system lag
Hey everyone, I'm facing some strange problems with my new setup. Previously, my old PC had an Asus X100C 10GbE NIC that worked perfectly. After switching to a new system, it started causing issues. When I play games that push my GPU to its limit, I get random freeze frames every few seconds. I've checked the motherboard, RAM, CPU, GPU, PSU, run stress tests, used different RAM sticks, swapped out GPUs and PSUs, updated drivers and BIOS, but nothing helps. The problem disappeared once I removed the NIC. Now I'm using a 5GbE USB-C dongle to make up for the speed drop, but it's still having the same issues. I'm really stuck and need advice. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Turn off the WiFi and the built-in Ethernet connection by adjusting settings in BIOS or the Device Manager on Windows.
Ensure the Ethernet card isn't in the adjacent 8x slot next to the GPU, as that can cause it to drop to 8X performance. Place it in the 4x slot instead. The issue likely stems from the CPU buffering data to the NIC; with a full 10GbE network, jumbo frames are necessary. Unless you have a multi-gigabit switch, 2.5GB, 5GB, and 10GbE aren't compatible except at 1GbE. Try moving the card to 1GbE first to check if performance improves.
Thank you for your prompt response. As advised, I had already turned off the Wi-Fi adapter, but not yet the internal LAN port. After that, the 5Gbe adapter worked fine during a single test run. Besides the connection problems, I noticed the PCIe card sometimes left the system in an unexpected soft-off state when the PC was powered down. This led to a RAM error nearly every time on the next boot. The CPU warning light would illuminate immediately upon shutdown. Removing the PCIe card resolved the issue and allowed normal startup. Moreover, without it, the PC would power off and attempt to install the card, then boot up automatically.
I’ve also discussed this with my colleagues, who mostly believe the problem lies with the motherboard. Consequently, I decided to purchase a new one and will return the defective unit. Too many issues and odd behaviors have made me doubt such an expensive investment. I just want it to function properly from the start. Still, your suggestion was very helpful while I waited for a solution.
I reviewed the motherboard flowchart to check for bandwidth conflicts and tested various configurations, but nothing worked. I experimented with adapter settings to stabilize it, though I can’t recall what changes I made. I know it’s possible the system buffers data unnecessarily, especially with large files, but that shouldn’t matter for light online games.
I also tried using the card in my previous PC, which ran smoothly on my current network setup—Intel-based. That experience is reassuring.
As promised, I’ll switch to a new motherboard and hope this resolves the issue. It’s a bit of a gamble, but I’m hopeful.
Thank you again for your guidance!
Do you require 10gbit performance? Are you running an online gaming server or a file-sharing service? If not hosting a server or handling large file transfers, the built-in Ethernet module typically suffices, even for gaming purposes. Modern integrated Ethernet cards now offer gigabit speeds.