OK! I'm completely stumped - Bad network/wifi speed on desktop

[swilli89]

Alright guys, I am utterly flabbergasted over here. I think I have a demon living in my box..

My desktop PC is getting severely low and laggy wifi performance.

I have tried two laptops as well as my phone in the same area and the three other devices all pull in excess of 12 mbps while my box is between 0.5 and 1 mbps with a higher ping.

The setup:
Asus P68Z3 Mobo
Intel 2500k
Radeon 290X
g.Skill 8GB DDr3 pc8400
Seagate 650w

Naturally, when the performance was getting bad, I swapped out a different wifi adapter. I bought a little Asus USB wifi stick that had thousands of reviews on amazon. This replaced a dLink USB wifi adapter. Same problem.

So then I went to Micro Center and got a PCI express card with 3 antennas, cant remember the brand. Unistalled old adapter and drivers, installed new card and new drivers. SAME PROBLEM.

So then I reformatted my computer with a fresh copy of Windows 8 Pro. SAME PROBLEM.

So then I upgraded (via totally fresh install) to Windows 10, making sure to install the proper drivers for the PCI Wifi card. SAME PROBLEM.

I am at my wits end. Do I seriously have to build a new computer to exorcise this demon? I've been building computers since 2001 and I have never seen something like this persist beyond peripheral upgrades and fresh windows installs. Is it somehow the motherboard or processor's fault? Along this time that I have been dealing with bad wifi performance, I swapped a Radeon 6900 to a 290X so that can't be it either. Any ideas?

 

[Ketchup]

Probably interference from something in or near the computer. One way to test this would be to get a USB extension cable and see if the connection is better with the USB wifi adapter a few feet away from the computer.

I didn't see anything for the mobo you listed, so maybe you have this one:
https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P8Z68VGEN3/

 

[Smoove910]

Are you plugging this into a USB 3.0 port? If so, that could be the issue. USB 3.0 runs at a frequency that interferes with Wireless, hence why you don't see many wireless routers with a USB 3.0 port. (Some, but not many).

Just a thought, and might get you somewhere. I'd try disabling USB 3.0 on your board, or plug into a USB 2.0 port and see if things change.

(EDIT: Reread your post and don't believe you are still using USB wireless adapter)

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Is it somehow the motherboard or processor's fault?

The only way to be sure would be to test with a wired connection. If wired network speeds are similar it's most likely the mobo.

 

[ecostar]

you should first test with wire wlan then see what the difference in speed u noticed

 

[John Connor]

You replaced NIC after NIC, but did you ever consider router? How far away are you?

 

[JeffMD]

It just sounds like you have the computer in a high interference zone. You would be amazed if you could look at wifi coverage visually, a 1x1 foot cube could have 1-3 dead zones in it where your wifi would literally drop out. Try relocating the computer in the room.