The game download causes a network drop during connection.
The game download causes a network drop during connection.
Just joined the forum. In the past two months, I've faced this problem: after about 5 to 10 minutes of downloading a game on Steam, my network crashes. My Ethernet and Wi-Fi connections stop working until I reset the router and restart the device. Previously, it never happened. Now I’m connected directly to my PC via fiber internet (1GB/1GB) with download speeds of 90 to 120 MB/s on Steam. I think my ISP is blocking the connection because Steam uses nearly all network bandwidth in Task Manager. I’ve tried limiting download speed in Steam, but it doesn’t respect the limits. Other attempts include disabling firewall on Windows and router, QoS settings, UPnP, packet filtering, and resetting the PC. The Ethernet card I’m using is a Realtek PCIe 2.5GbE model plugged straight into my motherboard (MSI MPG B550 CARBON WIFI). Next week, I expect a new router from my ISP, which should resolve the issue. If not, I’d appreciate starting discussions early so we can try solutions before the new router arrives, and if needed, follow your advice.
It seems like you're describing a worn-out router. Let me know if you'd like help troubleshooting or upgrading it!
you can restrict steam download volume in steam settings under download options
I'm facing the same problem too. It seems the issue isn't with my router downloading Warzone or Cold War, but when I play games on Steam it causes a complete Wi-Fi crash. The only fix is restarting the device or resetting the Wi-Fi card. I have fiber optic internet at 500 Mbps, an unlimited plan, a Deco M4 router, and an Asus S17 with a Mediabank Wi-Fi card. I've tried reinstalling the Wi-Fi driver but nothing has changed.
I stumbled upon this discussion and ended up setting up a new desktop, which started causing the same problem. I have two different NICs—both 2.5Gb (Realtek and Intel)—but the issue only appears on my Realtek card. Checking forums across various websites shows this has been around for years without a resolution from Steam. It’s not a router-related problem. If it were a router issue, all devices on the network would fail, not just the one downloading from Steam. Even limiting speeds to 3Mb or 1Mb doesn’t fix it. From what I understand, it’s a NIC or driver issue, and something is preventing the NIC from handling traffic properly. In my previous setup, a 10Gb Asus NIC in a PCI-E slot worked fine. I’ve managed to resolve it by disabling and re-enabling the port or switching to another NIC if the problem persists. Some suggestions mention disabling Flow Control under the NIC settings, which seems to reduce occurrences but doesn’t eliminate them entirely.