Wired Network speed slow on some machines


  1. Posts : 76
    XP, Vista, W7, all flavors
       #1

    Wired Network speed slow on some machines


    I have a simple home network running several machines with Windows 7.

    My "server" is running W7 Pro x32. This machine is connected via wired internet directly to my wireless router. When I run a java speed-test web app, I am seeing speeds between 1 and 4 Mb/sec. (My connection is ~20Mb).

    I have a W7 Pro x32 laptop connected via wireless. This laptop gets 17Mb/sec speeds.

    When I connect the laptop via a wire to the router, it's still upwards of 15Mb/sec.

    This was not always the case with this hardware.
    I have tried shutting down any non-essential services.
    I have tried running the speed test in Safe Mode +Networking.
    I ran a live linux CD and got fast speeds.

    Any ideas on how to troubleshoot this?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 28,845
    Win 8 Release candidate 8400
       #2

    ultralame said:
    I have a simple home network running several machines with Windows 7.

    My "server" is running W7 Pro x32. This machine is connected via wired internet directly to my wireless router. When I run a java speed-test web app, I am seeing speeds between 1 and 4 Mb/sec. (My connection is ~20Mb).

    I have a W7 Pro x32 laptop connected via wireless. This laptop gets 17Mb/sec speeds.

    When I connect the laptop via a wire to the router, it's still upwards of 15Mb/sec.

    This was not always the case with this hardware.
    I have tried shutting down any non-essential services.
    I have tried running the speed test in Safe Mode +Networking.
    I ran a live linux CD and got fast speeds.

    Any ideas on how to troubleshoot this?

    Your "server" is it running standard win 7? Are the machines connected to a "homegroup" or workgrou;p?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 76
    XP, Vista, W7, all flavors
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Workgroup. It's not a real "Server", just where I mount the network shares for our media. I run windows, linux and Mac on the network, so it makes sense just to keep the sharing simple.

    It's also the media center for the living room- iTunes/Boxee and the Browser is always up and running.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 471
    W7 Professional x64
       #4

    I've a few things I would suspect.
    First, look at the condition of the cable. If it's really beat up, it may just be no good any more.
    Second, while you're looking at the cable, read it. It'll say on it a bunch of things, but somewhere on it there will be a CatX rating (X will be 3, 5, 5e, or 6, most likely).
    Third, if you run the speed test and get slow numbers (and you've concluded none of the above is applicable), try moving it to a different port on your router.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 76
    XP, Vista, W7, all flavors
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks. I should have mentioned that I tried moving the cable, swapping the cable, etc. I don't think it's a hardware problem.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 972
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #6

    I know this is drastic... Try delete your NIC card drivers compeltely and reinstall.

    Make sure you have a copy of the newest drivers on the desktop... ( I Know its like beating a dead horse, but people do forget)

    and see if it may be it
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 76
    XP, Vista, W7, all flavors
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Wow. I decided to go back and repeat my testing- so I swapped cables- no help. Then I swapped interfaces (there are two ethernet ports) no help. I tried changing the port on the router, nope.

    Then I plugged directly to the modem (bypassed the router) and got good speeds. I ran this same test yesterday and got bad speeds. I don't know what to do here.

    Right now it looks like a router problem- but I have used two different routers from two different vendors, tried both updated native firmware AND dd-wrt on both and I am getting nowhere. Sorry for wasting the time of the people who are trying to help.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 471
    W7 Professional x64
       #8

    ultralame said:
    Right now it looks like a router problem- but I have used two different routers from two different vendors, tried both updated native firmware AND dd-wrt on both and I am getting nowhere. Sorry for wasting the time of the people who are trying to help.
    So if you plug directly into the modem, do you get consistently good response times? And if you unplug the hardwire from the machine, and plug it into the laptop, then turn wireless off, are you still getting good response times? (remember to turn wireless off. If you don't, it may be travelling over that for connectivity)
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 76
    XP, Vista, W7, all flavors
    Thread Starter
       #9

    It's crazy- but I think I have it pinpointed down to the WAN->LAN wired connection on the router. I got to digging into that and it seems to be the case. Just to test, I disabled the LAN on the PC and connected a wireless USB adapter. 18Mb download speeds.

    Sorry for all the trouble.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 471
    W7 Professional x64
       #10

    ultralame said:
    It's crazy- but I think I have it pinpointed down to the WAN->LAN wired connection on the router. I got to digging into that and it seems to be the case. Just to test, I disabled the LAN on the PC and connected a wireless USB adapter. 18Mb download speeds.

    Sorry for all the trouble.
    Wait. If you plug your laptop into the wired port (with wireless off), do you get bad download times also?

    This sounds more like a NIC on the machine issue, rather than the router, but I may be mistaken.
      My Computer


 

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