Unusual data loss on the latest device
Unusual data loss on the latest device
Hello! I've just switched to a new computer with a fresh Windows installation, but I'm experiencing significant packet loss on my new setup. I'm connected via WiFi at university, which limits my options since I can't connect to Ethernet at my student accommodation. I also don’t have the chance to adjust router settings. I’ve tried all the suggested tweaks online, but nothing seems to help. Changing the default packet size to the maximum allowed in Windows didn’t resolve the issue, though it usually doesn’t. Interestingly, my previous machine still works flawlessly with no packet loss. Both systems perform well in terms of latency and speed, and their specs look quite different. The old computer has a Core i7, MSI Ventus RTX 2070, and Gigabyte H87-D3H NIC, while the new one features a Ryzen 5 3600X, MSI Duke RTX 2080, and similar RAM and network cards. It seems WiFi isn’t the main culprit—both devices are close to the router and use the 5GHz band without congestion. The loss is steady and noticeable enough to disrupt online gaming. A quick ping test shows around 20% packet drops. Thanks in advance for any guidance!
Have you connected a USB Wi-Fi card to your new computer to check for hardware problems with the motherboard?
No, unfortunately I don't have one lying around and if I were to buy one specifically for the purpose of testing I'd probably just return the motherboard at the same time and get a different ITX, for the sake of disliking USB Wifi cards anyway. I am strongly suspicious at this point that it is a problem with the MB. Tomorrow I will try running the windows install from the old and working machine on the new hardware and see if the issue persists. If so then its a hardware issue and case closed... Thanks for the reply though!
Hey no problem, best of lucks. It has been long time when I was in university, but you could try asking someone to lend you a wifi usb for a day... might have been easier for me cause my major was IT and I was surrounded by geeks, hehe. Wish you the best.
The new WiFi is just a single chip compared to the dual-band 2x2 MIMO version before, which suggests the issue might be with the Wi-Fi card itself. Is this a removable card or permanently installed on the motherboard? If it's an M.2 module, consider swapping it for a better option like the Intel AX200. If both types are present, you could try replacing one temporarily to see if performance improves.
Hi, thank you for waiting. I placed a brand new motherboard today and installed it, but the problem continues. It’s an Asus ROG Strix B450-I Gaming board, which should have a better NIC, yet the issue remains unchanged. Both boards have built-in NICs that can’t be swapped. Since switching to a better one didn’t help, I’m feeling frustrated. Maybe I’ll just accept it and stop playing some games. I’m thinking about getting a USB card for testing, but I don’t have one right now. If you have any other ideas, I’d appreciate them!
Have you considered moving the computer to check for changes? Switching to another motherboard makes it less likely that a USB NIC will affect performance, unless antenna placement is an issue—then you might need a different antenna for the PC instead of relying on USB. The built-in unit is probably more reliable than USB.