Unusual Wi-Fi performance without any physical connection
Unusual Wi-Fi performance without any physical connection
My PC is linked to your router (roughly 8-10 feet away) through a cat 6 cable. It’s likely rated higher than 1.6 Gbps. When testing wired speeds, I see around 1600 Mbps. On Wi-Fi 6, the speed drops to about 1500-1600 Mbps. Recently, removing the Ethernet connection and testing over Wi-Fi gave me only 500-800 Mbps. The upload stays near 110 Mbps, which matches their specs. This is puzzling. Your router is an Asus GT-BE19000, with a 2.5 Gbps port on your machine. You have a Ryzen 7 5800X, 4080 Super, 32GB DDR4 at 3600MT/s.
I assume Windows prioritizes sending data via a wired link when both Ethernet and Wi-Fi are available. That 1600Mbps speed was probably over Ethernet. Check the Ethernet and Wi-Fi areas in Task Manager’s Performance section after running a speed test to identify the traffic path.
Based on my observations, even without an Ethernet link, the system attempts to direct data through cellular or Wi-Fi connections rather than using a wired path.
It seems the setup is using Ethernet rather than WiFi. I turned off my WiFi through the BIOS because of configuration issues. You might get a faster connection with WiFi, but I’d suggest sticking with wired for reliability. If your WiFi channel matches others nearby, you’ll face interference problems. Most modern routers switch channels automatically if needed. The real problem is that your router isn’t communicating with neighboring devices, so they can’t negotiate channel usage without explicit settings. You could use apps to check which channels are in use and pick a less busy one. It’s also wise to assign static IPs inside your local network for better performance. This prevents routers from broadcasting messages unnecessarily. Switching channels is similar to choosing between shouting loudly or speaking clearly—better results with the latter. For QoS, consider advanced settings like MTU offload and Ethernet modes. Fine-tuning your connection can significantly boost speed. If you’re unsure, check your modem’s IP address on your PC and use its built-in Speedtest tool. Think of your PC as the last device connected to the internet line; using a browser shows how it performs relative to network traffic. As your network expands, static IPs and QoS remain valuable for prioritizing devices. Enjoy exploring networking—your creativity is what makes it interesting!
Note: Ethernet and WiFi cannot be used simultaneously on the same device. Bridging them is possible but won’t double bandwidth. In Linux, other options exist, though they’re more complex. Using separate connections avoids conflicts.