ROG STRIX Z690-F gaming Wi-Fi problems Network connectivity issues reported
ROG STRIX Z690-F gaming Wi-Fi problems Network connectivity issues reported
Hi there, a few years back I installed a new PC with a ROG STRIX Z690-F gaming Wi-Fi motherboard. Around six months ago, I began experiencing occasional networking problems. The internet would suddenly drop, often during online gaming sessions. Before it fully cut out, I could still hear my friends on Discord, but I’d just quit the game. About 10 to 20 seconds later, Discord reconnected and my game did too. I switched from Ethernet to Wi-Fi and the issue disappeared, though it still bothers me. I replaced the LAN PCIe card with a new one and the same problem persisted. After a full Windows reinstall, the issue remained. A fresh network cable and socket on my UDM Pro didn’t fix it either. I’m 99% confident the problem lies with the PC itself, not an external device. Before considering a motherboard swap, do you have any suggestions? Are there diagnostic tools you could run to pinpoint the cause? Given the PCIe card, it might be related to the motherboard chipset or even the CPU, but I’m not sure what to look for.
Back at the forums, it looks like you're noticing an issue with the network stack. Could you confirm if your entire network drops when this occurs? It reminds me of past problems—my router overheated and I switched to a UDM, and later a modem with a wall-mounted fan fixed the issue. Discord behaves strangely but keeps buffering audio and staying connected, especially during games. Try updating the BIOS and installing fresh drivers from ROG or the PCIe card manufacturer. A SFC/DISM scan might help too. Check Event Viewer for any error messages.
I operate from home with several machines that function perfectly without network problems. I’ve even participated in a Zoom meeting on my work PC while running diagnostics, confirming the issue. A BIOS update, driver fix for the PCI card, and an event viewer check didn’t help. A USB Ethernet dongle worked today but didn’t resolve the problem. I can buy a new motherboard on eBay and replace it, but my 13700K has known stability concerns—could this be connected? It feels like a CPU rather than a hardware swap issue.