Network connection blockage/ loss/ lag

[grav0pl]

Hello there SevenForums members.

I had my W7 running for 3 days with no issue, perfectly i must add, but up from Tuesday I'am struggling with really critical network issue.

I'am really turning on this forums as last resort, and I'am closer and closer to roll back to WinXP (which i really don't want...). But let me begin describing the problem from the beginning.

Some hardware specifications:
Windows 7 x64 7600 Polish Version
Motherboard: Asus P5QL Pro (with Intel chipset)
Network adapter: Atheros AR8121/AR8113/AR8114 PCI-E (On Motherboard)
Connection: Wire, Ethernet, straight to Modem
Modem: WebStar EPX2203
Antivirus: None
Firewall: only default Windows firewall

- On Tuesday (24.11) morning (+1 gmt) I've installed drivers to my Network adapter which were in Windows Update.

- While playing Team Fortress 2, i started having really akward lag. I was able to hear and see everything around but i couldn't react. Then after couple of minutes my net got disconnected, loosing connection to the internet for a brief moment (up to 1 minute)

- I've blamed my internet supplier but the lag continued throughout whole day. Even during phone session on Skype it managed to last 5-30 min, finally ending with short net disconnection. Steam games weren't the only one affected, as while playing Borderlands i have also suffered from a lag, same type of lag like in TF2 (heard, and saw but couldn't do anything in-game)

- Until today, I've reinstalled (that is uninstalled adapter then installed, also in Safe Mode) drivers for my Network Adapter many times. Forcing Windows to not install his own, but only that which i chose, picking from all 3 drivers (from newest to oldest) which are supposed to be supported by W7.

- I have also dabbled with Task Offload and unchecking IvP6, turning off Windows Firewall, but none of these brought any solution.

- Now I'am after fresh reinstallation of Windows 7, thinking that will resolve everything. But after i've installed every needed driver (for Graphic Card, Intel Chipset, HD Realtek Audio, updating DirectX, without updating Windows at all) and launched Team Fortress 2 to test out if lag is still present i've sadly encountered same as pre-reinstall of windows7.

Any ideas? Every help welcome.

 

[torrentg]

Set the router config under wireless for short preamble and also, Beacon Interval = 500 ms.

Change the wireless radio channel too.

 

[grav0pl]

I do not possess any router, I'am connected straight to the Modem (which goes right off to the net)

And i'am on wire (not wireless)

 

[torrentg]

Then you can uninstall your antivirus and firewall to test.

 

[grav0pl]

Ah yes, forgot to mention I dont have any Antivirus and firewall (only Windows Firewall works, which btw i've disabled to test out if its WFirewall fault) installed at all.

Edit: If any additional info is required please tell. I simply don't know whats relevant.

 

[torrentg]

Find the server you're connecting to for your games and run a trace route to see the nodes causing lag.

From a command prompt:

tracert {server_url_here}

or

tracert {server_ip_address_here}

Post a screenshot using the paperclip. If it's found to be at your isp, you can complain to them with screenshot and they will fix it.

 

[grav0pl]

I doubt its ISP fault. My friend uses same ISP services and also rolled on W7 recently. Many other of my chaps, use Same ISP, also no lags like this.

edit: Maybe worth mentioning. While being idle (or just browsing web) i don't get any lag. Only while playing/using up bigger amount of bandwidth

As it is in Polish, providing translation:

Uplynal limit czasu zadania = Request Time Out
Sledzenie zakonczone = Trace Complete

Tested 3 different servers and Google

Anything from this rings a bell?

 

[torrentg]

Which one is the game server? That's the only one that matters for the game.

 

[grav0pl]

85.17.60.96 (server in Netherlands)
85.131.251.109 (server in England)
87.117.217.129 (server in Germany)

all those 3 are Game servers.

 

[torrentg]

Well, you can see the large ms delays in the screenshot and where they're caused by. You can do a lookup on the associated addresses to find out who controls them. If it's your isp, complain. If it's another isp, still tell your isp because they may work together to fix the issue.

Those *s are also no good.

 

[grav0pl]

Hmm. Maybe this bit of info that just resulted from my experiment will clear something up.

I've started playing, and left running observation of my packets sent and recieved. It turns out that during that akward lag my PC stops sending packets, while it still recieves it. That also (i guess) results that i see and hear whats going on in-game.

Also, i was pinging google.com while playing, and during the lag i get whole line of Request Time Out.

And most importantly: connection won't reconnect until i shut down the game.

 

[torrentg]

See if there are any patches for the game and install.

It's a Steam game I just noticed. They have issues on Windows 7. Steam not so good.

 

[grav0pl]

Game is up-dated. I wouldn't be able to play if it wasn't updated.

Worth mentioning, it's not only Steam games, Borderlands too, even Skype.