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I've been experiencing some network difficulties recently. The issue seems to stem from my setup rather than just my connection. I use an ASUS router alongside a budget TP-link switch with five ports. I’ve run Cat6 cables through conduits to each device. My ISP offers 1 Gbps, but my modem caps the speed at about 550 Mbps—this isn’t the main concern. Whenever I stream large files or download games (like Windows ISO) on my older computer, other devices on the network suddenly slow down or stop working. The bandwidth is capped at 100 Mbps for that computer, so the connection gets overwhelmed during heavy downloads. While my Apple TV downgrades YouTube to 360p, my newer PC reports connection loss even over a wired link, websites load slowly, and some Wi-Fi devices disconnect. Interestingly, the 100 Mbps link to the downloading computer remains strong and stable. What’s going on? Should I consider replacing the router? It’s an RT-AC68R—perfectly functional, but maybe it’s not suited for this environment anymore? When there’s no activity, the network performance improves significantly, with fast and reliable connections across all devices.
Long ago, I observed my download speeds dropping significantly during long downloads. It turned out my router and cable modem were getting too hot. Since then, I've been tweaking my setup, adding extra heat sinks and fans. Now I even install them on network cards for devices like my NAS. After making these changes, slowdowns during extended downloads disappeared. A few pictures help illustrate the point—just a bit of airflow through the gear makes a big difference. Most of these devices run on 12V or higher, so running fans is straightforward. This was an older cable modem, but it shows how important proper cooling is. My current Ubiquiti router even monitors temperatures and drops over 20 degrees. That’s just one experience I had; it might not be your issue, but it gives you an idea.
It seems the budget 5-port switch might only support 10/100 speeds, which can get congested during downloads, causing other devices to stop working... though this is just a guess. If that isn't the issue, then the router is likely the problem if you've already checked the modem.
The OhioYJ community could work well. Both the modem and router heat up during regular use. Which device are you connecting to? The excitement comes from the fact that the switch supports 1 Gbps, and I achieve speeds of up to 50 MB/s on my main gaming machine. The connection remains smooth, and the router still operates properly. However, my older system struggles with the 100Mbps link, dropping to about 12MB/s and disrupting the whole network. I suspect the modem isn’t the issue since it handles much faster rates. The switch might be fine, but it can support higher speeds for other devices. It definitely challenges your thinking. My older PC is a 5820k and still performs well. I faced similar issues with a cheaper model, the G4400. The specific problem seems tied to this network line.
It seems unusual. I recommend checking the cables linking the malfunctioning devices... and consider using a different cable if feasible for testing all devices. For instance, connect the cable to your faster PC first, then test it with the same setup on older machines. This way, you can determine if the issue lies with network ports or the cable itself. If the problem persists after identical testing, it likely points to a network card or configuration setting within those devices.
You can try a temporary setup with just a device connected directly to the router to check if the switches are causing the issue. If the performance improves, the problem likely lies elsewhere. I currently have four switches in my home network and they’re working fine—they’re the Netgear ones, unmanaged. I’m using an Amplifi Alien router at the moment.