Need Help Troubleshooting Internet Problems

[Bubbaleone]

@Bubbaleone

I did everything you posted with no success.

As for the CAT6 wires, what benefits does it have over CAT5?

CAT5 uses either the 10BASE-T or 100BASE-T standard for data transmission. CAT5 is now largely archaic and isn’t widely used for Ethernet connections. It’s rated for a maximum frequency of 100 MHz and it can handle up to 100 Mbps in terms of throughput.

CAT6 supports Gigabit Ethernet needs. Supporting frequencies of up to 250 MHz and the 10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T, and 10GBASE-T standards, it can handle up to 10 Gbps in terms of throughput.

As I said in my previous post; reinstalling the Realtek adapter with a fresh driver, and performing the in-place upgrade, would tell for sure if the Realtek adapter was bad.

But, if you've currently got CAT5, I'd get a CAT6 cable first since you'll need it anyway, then test the connection to be 100% sure that it is the Realtek adapter causing the problem. Since you've got two PCIe 2.0 x 1 slots, I'd suggest this Intel Network Adapterhttp://redirect.anandtech.com/r?url...duct.aspx?Item=N82E16833106033&user=u00000687 if you still need to buy one after testing with the CAT6.

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[XavierMace]

Cat5 does Gigabit.

 

[Ketchup]

As for the CAT6 wires, what benefits does it have over CAT5?

This article goes beyond what your asked, but I think answers your question:
http://www.broadbandutopia.com/caandcaco.html

The general difference between category 5e and category 6 is in the transmission performance, and extension of the available bandwidth from 100 MHz for category 5e to 200 MHz for category 6. This includes better insertion loss, near end crosstalk (NEXT), return loss, and equal level far end crosstalk (ELFEXT). These improvements provide a higher signal-to-noise ratio, allowing higher reliability for current applications and higher data rates for future applications.

 

[Bubbaleone]

Cat5 does Gigabit.

No, CAT5 does not support Gigabit Ethernet. As noted in the excellent article (CAT5e vs CAT6) that ketchup79 links to, the added specifications of CAT5e (vs CAT5) does enable it to support Gigabit Ethernet (1000BASE-T), and is perfectly suitable if one chooses not to purchase the slightly more expensive CAT6 cable.

In my last reply to the OP, I answered his specific question regarding 'CAT5 vs CAT6', and suggested CAT6 cable because of it's superior resistance to EMI in cluttered wire environments, and as a simple means of future-proofing for 10GBASE-T.

 

[XavierMace]

Correct, I was referring to 5e, my bad on that. You post didn't mention 5e, and I made the assumption that's what you were referring to when you said cat5 as I couldn't tell you the last time I've seen non-e cat5 cable. The reason I mentioned that (in a poorly done fashion) was that telling him to dump his cable seems to be based on the unlikely (IMO) possibility that his cable it old school cat5 (non-e).

 

[PBid412]

So I was looking at the cable running to my modem. The wire that comcast ran isn't labelled and the wire that I used to splice, without me paying attention, is CAT5. The cable from my modem to my computer is CAT5e.

However, my laptop ran fine with all the same wiring. This is why I think the NIC on my motherboard is not working properly.

I did order this before your suggestion:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833166005

I didn't think to use the PCI-E slot. I just liked the rating and the price of that item for now.

 

[Ketchup]

So I was looking at the cable running to my modem. The wire that comcast ran isn't labelled and the wire that I used to splice, without me paying attention, is CAT5. The cable from my modem to my computer is CAT5e.

However, my laptop ran fine with all the same wiring. This is why I think the NIC on my motherboard is not working properly.

I did order this before your suggestion:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833166005

I didn't think to use the PCI-E slot. I just liked the rating and the price of that item for now.

Cat 6 is a "might as well" in this case because it would be very cheap (since you are ordering a card from Newegg anyway) and give you one less thing to worry about down the road.

If you are referring to the cable from the wall to the modem, it is not an Ethernet cable, it's Coaxial. If it has letters on it, they don't necessarily mean anything outside of the factory that made them.

If you have the time and the interest, here is an overview of some different cables used for networking purposes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Networking_cables

 

[PBid412]

For further testing, I did share my internet connection through my laptop to my desktop. The laptop is connected wirelessly and then I have cat5e from my laptop to my desktop. Surprisingly, this is working. So I don't know what to think at this point.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

For further testing, I did share my internet connection through my laptop to my desktop. The laptop is connected wirelessly and then I have cat5e from my laptop to my desktop. Surprisingly, this is working. So I don't know what to think at this point.

Gigabit from the modem or motherboard flaky? Can you disable Gigabit from the modem and/or motherboard or otherwise force 100M only? Does your laptop do Gigabit?

 

[PBid412]

Gigabit from the modem or motherboard flaky? Can you disable Gigabit from the modem and/or motherboard or otherwise force 100M only? Does your laptop do Gigabit?

I'm not sure what you are asking me to do here or how to do it. I just did a quick google search with not much luck! lol

My laptop is not Gigabit capable by the way.

 

[PBid412]

Ok, I finally got it working now.

I went into the advanced settings of my network adapter and changed the Speed & Duplex to 100Mbps Full Duplex from Auto Negotiation.

 

[Ketchup]

Ok, I finally got it working now.

I went into the advanced settings of my network adapter and changed the Speed & Duplex to 100Mbps Full Duplex from Auto Negotiation.

Good work. I wonder if the original driver had some weird default setting.

 

[PBid412]

Much better.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Much better.

Awesome! :thumbsup:

Now we need to figure out if the gigabit on the modem, or gigabit on the motherboard, is bad. If it's the modem you can ask Comcast for a new one, and if the motherboard then a new Gigabit NIC would suffice. Of course you can just keep everything at 100M speeds and be content.

 

[PBid412]

When the new card come, I'll see if it works to determine if its the motherboard. Otherwise, we'll find out if its the modem.

 

[PBid412]

The new card came in today. Put it in the PCI slot, fired the computer up. Now gigabit works.

So I don't know if its a setting or what it could be for my motherboard NIC.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

The new card came in today. Put it in the PCI slot, fired the computer up. Now gigabit works.

So I don't know if its a setting or what it could be for my motherboard NIC.

If it is a setting, it would be in the BIOS since you tested with Linux which ruled out a Windows setting/driver issue. I highly doubt it's a setting, though.

 

[Ketchup]

The new card came in today. Put it in the PCI slot, fired the computer up. Now gigabit works.

Glad to hear it's working now.