Re: Internet Speed is Lower Than it Should be

Tyrrox · ‎2022-10-30

Hey all I have tried various searches to find an answer for this, called Comcast, Asus, Netgear, had techs out and so far, nothing, but let me tell you what is going on.

Last week I had 900mbps download from Comcast and they upped it to 1000mbps, but I was still getting 800mbps-940mbps on my desktop when I ran a speedtest.

Late last week I upgraded to Comcast's 1200mbps package and because my old modem maxed out at 950mbps or around there, I updated it to the Netgear Nighthawk CM2000 which has the ability to do up to 2.5.

My desktop motherboard is the ASUS ROG STRIX Z490-A which has a built in 2.5 NIC.

My router is the Netgear Nighthawk Raxe290. I have a cat8 cable going from the modem 2.5 port to the 2.5 internet port on the router. I then have another cat8 cable in port 1 of the router going to my desktop.

I changed the NIC on the desktop in device settings to use full duplex 2.5.

When Comcast tested the speed in the house and at the modem it was coming in at 1350-1400mbps. When I do a speedtest on the router I am also getting 1350-1400mbps; however, when I do a speedtest on my desktop I am only getting 700-900mbps. The same is true on my Alienware m2 laptop that I believe also has a 2.5 nic.

I am really not sure why I am not getting that full 1200mbps+ speed I should be getting from Comcast. I tried calling Netgear today, but they transferred me around and after being on hold for over an hour two separate times I just hung up. If anyone has any experience fixing this or advice, I would be extremely appreciative!

Thanks!

Kitsap · ‎2022-10-30

@Tyrrox wrote:
Hey all I have tried various searches to find an answer for this, called Comcast, Asus, Netgear, had techs out and so far, nothing, but let me tell you what is going on.

Last week I had 900mbps download from Comcast and they upped it to 1000mbps, but I was still getting 800mbps-940mbps on my desktop when I ran a speedtest.

Late last week I upgraded to Comcast's 1200mbps package and because my old modem maxed out at 950mbps or around there, I updated it to the Netgear Nighthawk CM2000 which has the ability to do up to 2.5.

My desktop motherboard is the ASUS ROG STRIX Z490-A which has a built in 2.5 NIC.

My router is the Netgear Nighthawk Raxe290. I have a cat8 cable going from the modem 2.5 port to the 2.5 internet port on the router. I then have another cat8 cable in port 1 of the router going to my desktop.

I changed the NIC on the desktop in device settings to use full duplex 2.5.

When Comcast tested the speed in the house and at the modem it was coming in at 1350-1400mbps. When I do a speedtest on the router I am also getting 1350-1400mbps; however, when I do a speedtest on my desktop I am only getting 700-900mbps. The same is true on my Alienware m2 laptop that I believe also has a 2.5 nic.

I am really not sure why I am not getting that full 1200mbps+ speed I should be getting from Comcast. I tried calling Netgear today, but they transferred me around and after being on hold for over an hour two separate times I just hung up. If anyone has any experience fixing this or advice, I would be extremely appreciative!

Thanks!

For testing, have you connected your 2.5 Gbps port on your desktop directly to the 2.5 Gbps port on your modem? You would have to power down both your modem and computer, then power up the modem and allow it to boot followed by the desktop to establish the connection. If your throughput testing matches your performance plan, Comcast has done their part.

Looking at the specifications on your router, it only shows one 2.5 Gbps port on the back. It can be configured as a 2.5 Gbps WAN connection. The other yellow port (#1) is a 1 Gbps connection as are your other LAN ports. Normally a 1 Gbps port runs at about 93-95% efficiency, thus you are seeing the nominal 940 Mbps throughput.

Tyrrox · ‎2022-10-30

It looks like I won't get the speed I want with this router wired, but what if I bought a wireless card for it, since the wireless for 5ghz and 6ghz seem to go beyond the 1mbps?

Kitsap · ‎2022-10-30

@Tyrrox wrote:
It looks like I won't get the speed I want with this router wired, but what if I bought a wireless card for it, since the wireless for 5ghz and 6ghz seem to go beyond the 1mbps?

Maybe. I do not own any Wi-FI 6 or 6E hardware. What specifications seem on paper are seldom matched in the real world.

Comcast just increased the specified download throughput of my plan from 800 to 1000 Mbps. With over provisioning I should see around 1.2 Gbps. I do not have any downstream hardware to test once I get past my modem. I cannot imagine doing anything to saturate that connection and plan to downgrade it in exchange for a higher upload throughput.

plemans · ‎2022-10-31

With the router, you either use the 2.5gig port for wan or lan. So if you use it for wan (ideal), you'll max its gigabit ports out at gigabit speeds. so t he 700-900mbps that you're hitting.

If you add a wireless card to it that supports 6ghz, you might get a little faster speeds. But I wouldn't. If you're computer is close enough to hardwire in, thats going to be the best option. Reason I say that is many things impact wireless speeds. You might be able to hit faster than gigabit speeds but will they be as consistent as a hardwired connection? Doubtful. I haven't found a wireless device thats as reliable as a hardwired connection.

Are you doing something that needs faster than gigabit speeds?

Tyrrox · ‎2022-10-31

Just trying to see if I can get the speed I'm paying for on my desktop is all. How does using the 2.5 port on the router as a LAN work? If that port is going to my desktop what port is the modem going into and I'm assuming there is something in the router admin site I would have to change?

plemans · ‎2022-10-31

If you're using the 2.5gig port as a lan port, then your wan port is only rated gigabit and you're max speed is gigabit.

Thats the problem with many mutligigabit devices when they only have 1 multigig port. Do you use if for the wan (as I recommended) or lan?

If you use the wan port as the multigig port, then while your computer is maxing out its hardwired gigabit connection, the wifi still has 400mbps of usage. (comcast over provisions 1.2 gig as 1.4gig).

Options if you want your computer to get fully 1.4gig?

Switch to something like the CAX80 that has its own multigig internal modem and a 2.5gig out port. You can either direct connect that to the pc or get a 2.5gig switch (as I've done) for several mutligig ports.

Or upgrade to something like the RBKE960 that has a 10gig wan port and 2.5gig lan port.

Tyrrox · ‎2022-10-31

Thanks, I am currently using it as WAN, where the modem is connecting to the router's 2.5 gbps port and the desktop and NAS are using 2 of the 1 gbps ports.

If I wanted to go the switch route like you are using which switch, would you recommend? I only really need a few ports. Also, how would the setup look? Would I go from the modem to the Switch and then from the switch to the router?

Kitsap · ‎2022-10-31

@Tyrrox wrote:
Thanks, I am currently using it as WAN, where the modem is connecting to the router's 2.5 gbps port and the desktop and NAS are using 2 of the 1 gbps ports.

If I wanted to go the switch route like you are using which switch, would you recommend? I only really need a few ports. Also, how would the setup look? Would I go from the modem to the Switch and then from the switch to the router?

That configuration will not work. You have to go modem -> router -> switch. Then you are in the same situation you have now. I would not recommend the CAX80. It has been nothing but a double handful of headaches. Do a little research on this forum!

FURRYe38 · ‎2022-10-31

The only router I know of that has a Multi gig WAN port and 1 Multi gig LAN port is the Orbi 9 series RBRE960. I has 1x 10Gb WAN port and 1x 2.5Gb LAN port along with 3x 1Gb LAN ports.

plemans · ‎2022-10-31

@Kitsap is correct. You can't go modem---->switch---->router.

It needs to be modem--->router---->switch

I have a switch connected to my RBKE960 to add additional multigig ports because I have a couple device that support multigig. Its after my router and not before.

The CAX80 does have a few reports on here of issues. And there are some issues with it. Thats what people are on the forums for. But not all of them have problems. Mine works fine and doesn't have any issues. I just don't use it because I prefer the CM2000---->RBKE route

(not saying to go that route, just something to keep in mind)

I really wouldn't worry about trying to hit >1gig speeds on 1 device. Most servers aren't even going to max out a 1 gig connection. It mainly just test servers that will hit those speeds.

I didn't even really notice much of a difference in speeds once I got past that 300mbps (ish) mark. By that point, most of my devices were saturating the servers they're connected to.

Kitsap · ‎2022-10-31

@plemans wrote:

I really wouldn't worry about trying to hit >1gig speeds on 1 device. Most servers aren't even going to max out a 1 gig connection. It mainly just test servers that will hit those speeds.

I didn't even really notice much of a difference in speeds once I got past that 300mbps (ish) mark. By that point, most of my devices were saturating the servers they're connected to.

Solid advice above. There is no need to fall victim of the advertising hype unless you just have money to burn!

Tyrrox · ‎2022-10-31

That's fair thanks for the advice.