Windows 7: Gigabit nic stuck at 100mbps in Gigabit network.

Cannot get gigabit performance out of Nics in Win 7.. Locked 100 mbps. My motherboard is an Evga 590 Sli Am2 motherboard, with dual gigabit nics. Having established that there is really no benefit to using both nics at the same time in another post, I am now posting because it seems I am only getting 100mbps out of my nics, even though all the cables in the network are cat 5e, and both the router, and switch in the network are gigabit capable.

I started researching this problem some time back on the net, and came across threads where other folks were able to resolve, by installing their specific network driver from mobo maker, as opposed to the network driver bundled with chipset from nvidia. I did some footwork then with drivers, and was able to get my machine running at full gigabit speeds. It ran this way for the past few weeks, then when transfering a 1gb file from one machine on the network to another the other day, noticed that the speed was locked at 100mbps. I went under task manager, network, and noticed that the speed was back to 100mbps.

I am posting here to see if anyone has any advice. The only option on my nic controller config and the one I used to get it working before, is auto negotiate. Gigabit is not listed.



Any help greatly appreciated..

I am guessing you checked this already, but can't hurt to post the info in case not.

Right click your network adapter in the device manager. Choose properties. Then advanced. For the link speed/duplex mode, choose 1000 mbps/full duplex or whatever setting is the closest to that. I don't have gigabit network so I can't say exactly. Also, if an update for the firmware of your router is available, that is always good to install.

If both nics are onboard, try disabling one of them (if not in use) in the bios or device manager.

Here's my settings though, where I'm saying to look. I know you said auto-negotiate is the only option. You're sure about that after checking again, right? Weird problem, heh. Perhaps another machine on the network is set to 100 mbps, thus defaulting your router to work at this speed also?

Here is what seemed to fix it.. I unplugged the network cable, and plugged it back in.. walla.. back to gigabit.. very strange indeed..

to answer your question though, I did check those settings under the nic config, and gigabit was not listed. auto negotiate was the only option other than locking it in at a lesser speed. I read another post somewhere that recomended the auto-negotiate setting.. Anyways, problem solved for now.. Will post again, if it presents itself again, and unplugging the network cable does not fix..

This issue returned again, soon after I last posted. A couple times, I was able to get it to go back to gigabit, by un-plugging the network cable, and plugging it back in.

Now this is not the case.. It is once again, stuck at 100 down.. Any advice Greatly Appreciated..

I am under the assumption that you do have a gigabyte switch/router correct?

Have you tried to disable IP v6 yet?

All it takes is a poorly connected cable or frayed wire and presto you are back in the stone age again. I always use HD cat 6 cables with molded ends and test them every 6 months

good luck

ken

Interesting.. I switched nics to get it back working. In other words, my mobo has 2 nic cards, and I unplugged from one, plugged into the other.. Walla.. Has been gigabit for almost a day running..

I have the same problem as musiclover7 does, but even worse that I unplugged the network cable and plugged back in. It is still saying 100Mbps. Any idea?

Dlink Router/switch: gigabit
Laptop network onboard: gigabit
cable network: cat6

Already tried different ports on the switch.

Thanks a lot.

Like ZigZag said, make sure you are using CAT6 and not CAT5e network cable as that is the most common problem of this sort.