Which cable should you purchase today?
Which cable should you purchase today?
It could be a hardware problem with the ports on the modem or your NIC. Sometimes modems behave oddly after ISPs release updates for customers' devices. The issue usually resolves once the modem restarts. Please keep this in mind. If it persists, consider contacting your ISP about replacing the modem.
Yes, you can purchase a router and use it independently of the modem. For a budget-friendly option around $40, consider a basic Wi-Fi router like the TP-Link Archer AX85G or the Netgear Nighthawk R7000. These models offer solid performance for home networking without breaking the bank.
The network cable seems intact. Cat5e supports up to 2.5 Gbps, but only if both the network card and the device can understand each other’s protocol (802.3bz). Older standard cables (10-20 years) allow devices to communicate at about 1 Gbps (125 MB/s or 1000 Mbps). Cat6 and Cat6a can reach up to 10 Gbps, though the real speed between your device and modem depends on what each supports. If your card maxes out at 1 Gbps, that’s the limit. The same applies to the modem side. A diagram shows the card linking to the modem at 1 Gbps, so it can transfer up to that rate. However, if the modem connects via fiber and pulls data from the internet, speeds can vary—sometimes as low as 100 Mbps, sometimes near 1 Gbps depending on your plan. Your ISP might cap the speed at 500 Mbps or less, controlling incoming data rates according to your contract.
ONTs typically act as internet gateways, blending modem, router, switch, and possibly wireless access point features. Due to their setup requirements, ISP fiber equipment isn't interchangeable with a home cable modem. You might need a dedicated router, but you'll still have to link it via Ethernet to the ONT and manage NAT settings carefully. If the issue lies in the ONT ports, simply adding another router won't resolve the problem.
It seems the issue might be related to the motherboard. Your internet speed is back to normal, so it could be connected to that component. Also, as a Romanian user, you should feel free to communicate in other languages on the forum if needed.
It seems the issue might be related to the motherboard. I'll restart the PC and check if the speed changes (it's now back to 100Mbps).
If a fault occurs in the cable—such as a loose wire at one connector causing data packets to become corrupt—the network card might reduce its speed to 100 Mbps to minimize errors. This results in slower transfer rates but more stable performance for certain tasks. Occasionally, heat from the PC or switch can cause the plastic connectors to warm up, leading to intermittent contact issues and data errors that trigger the card to drop to 100 Mbps. The fix is straightforward: use a high-quality Cat6 or Cat6a patch cable with factory-crimped connectors (available for 2-3 dollars in Romanian stores). You can also purchase crimping tools and make your own connections, though quality may vary over time. Cleaning the network jacks and checking contacts for elasticity and cleanliness is essential. Use cotton swabs soaked in alcohol or acetone to gently remove oxidation from the wire surfaces inside the jacks. It’s best to do this while the computer is off, as the jack remains isolated. Also, inspect the jacks visually—ensure wires stay separate and don’t touch each other, as misalignment can disrupt data flow at high speeds.
I removed the cable from the PC to capture a photo of its ends for posting, then reinserted it and the motherboard LED returned to orange (previously green). Now I’m seeing 500Mbps again, suggesting the port is the issue.