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 Old computer but fast modem, How to increase internet speed?

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TSsharp56
post Sep 26 2018, 09:59 AM, updated 6y ago

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I have a old 2nd generation core i5 2400 @ 3.10ghz desktop (installed with one SSD with 3 hard disks and 8gb DDR3 ram) which I used mainly for viewing and downloading videos with a little video editing. I don't do gaming.

I have just bought a huawei B618 modem with Digi infinite i150 which is capable of downloading 100 mbps by my handset, tablets and notebook off the wifi from my modem.

My Gigabyte M/B has been struck with lightning and the internet network part is not functioning. I installed a cheap 3rd party network card for my internet. Since I have purchased a good modem I am not satisfied that my desktop is only capable of downloading 20-30 mbps (with LAN cat 5E cable connected to B618) compared to 100 mbps on my other mentioned devices.

I need a desktop which is capable of downloading more than 100 mbps (assuming my B618 modem and Digi are able to support it). If I need a new desktop, I would be able to re-use most of my old computer parts. Budget is an important consideration and the cheaper the better.

Sifus, please recommend me two options:

(i) Option 1. Retain my old computer but recommend me a way to enable it to download 100 mbps. Parts may have to be changed/replaced to achieve it. What parts do I have to change and how much? Is it I only need to change a new M/B and discard the 3rd party network card? Which modern M/B (with many USB 3 ports and good graphics) do you recommend?

(ii) Option 2. Recommend a new computer with fast download and suitable for viewing movies and movie editing. Budget RM1,200 with most parts (SSD, HDs, monitor, CD Rom, keyboard/mouse, etc) reuseable from old computer.

(iii) Question : Where is the bottleneck in my old computer that causes the slow download speed?

Thank you in advance.
jmas
post Sep 26 2018, 10:08 AM

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I would assume your M/B got extra PCIe lane, you can buy network card supporting Gbits speed. Like this card
loki
post Sep 26 2018, 10:09 AM

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get a 1gbps network card or a 300mbps wireless adaptor.. they are not cheap though
fireballs
post Sep 26 2018, 10:11 AM

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Another vote for gigabit network card. Should be your cheapest way out
TristanX
post Sep 26 2018, 10:18 AM

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Your PC is more than capable of 100mbps. Kindly take note the letters are different. There is Megabytes per second or MB/s and Megabits per second or Mbps. These could be the issues

Network card is cheap (Some are really crap)
CAT5 cable has less performance than CAT6. CAT5e has same performance as CAT6 but only for short distance.
Your modem has shitty LAN port.

Try using USB WIFI N or ac adapter at close range. See if u could get it. Kindly take note some internet servers does not give you full speed.

This post has been edited by TristanX: Sep 26 2018, 10:19 AM
TSsharp56
post Sep 26 2018, 10:18 AM

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QUOTE(loki @ Sep 26 2018, 10:09 AM)
get a 1gbps network card or a 300mbps wireless adaptor.. they are not cheap though
*
I attach a Tenda U6 6dBi High Gain Power N300 2xMIMO Wireless USB Adapter to my USB port but the speed is still limited to about 30 mbps. My 3rd party old network card is cheap (cost about RM30)

By the way, I tested the internet speed with my mini PC (VORKE V1 Plus Intel Apollo Lake J3455 4K@60hz 4G RAM 64GB SSD Windows MINI PC 802.11AC WIFI Gigabit LAN Bluetooth4.2) by connecting to the huawei modem with the same LAN cable, I was able to get a speedtest.net of 100-130 mbps.

I suspect it has something to do with my cheap network card or the configuration thereof.

This post has been edited by sharp56: Sep 26 2018, 10:34 AM
TristanX
post Sep 26 2018, 10:24 AM

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QUOTE(sharp56 @ Sep 26 2018, 10:18 AM)
I attach a Tenda U6 6dBi High Gain Power N300 2xMIMO Wireless USB Adapter to my 3rd party old network card (cost about RM30) but the speed is still limited to about 30 mbps.

By the way, I tested the internet speed with my mini PC (VORKE V1 Plus Intel Apollo Lake J3455 4K@60hz 4G RAM 64GB SSD Windows MINI PC 802.11AC WIFI Gigabit LAN Bluetooth4.2) I was able to get a speedtest.net of 100-130 mbps.

I suspect it has something to do with my cheap network card or the configuration thereof.
*
Have you tried putting your PC very near to your router?
TSsharp56
post Sep 26 2018, 10:29 AM

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QUOTE(TristanX @ Sep 26 2018, 10:24 AM)
Have you tried putting your PC very near to your router?
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Yes, my router is connected to my PC with a 1.5 meter LAN cable (provided by Huawei). So it is very near to my PC.

I really would like to find out where is the bottleneck.
TristanX
post Sep 26 2018, 10:36 AM

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QUOTE(sharp56 @ Sep 26 2018, 10:29 AM)
Yes, my router is connected to my PC with a 1.5 meter LAN cable (provided by Huawei). So it is very near to my PC.

I really would like to find out where is the bottleneck.
*
Should not have bottleneck. Like you said, even your wifi adapter giving you slow speed. Hopefully it is not the motherboard.

Try backup your data and fresh install of windows. You can use another disk to install if you wanna keep your settings and data. Another suggestion is upgrade to Windows 10 (Windows 7 or later only).
TSsharp56
post Sep 26 2018, 10:40 AM

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I agree that my old intel i5 computer is more than capable of 100 mbps. Even a mini PC with celeron could achieve 100-130 mbps as I have tested.

At present I just couldn't figure out what causes the bottleneck. My old rig is already on the latest Windows 10.

I wonder if I change the M/B and discard the cheap 3rd party network card would solve the problem?

This post has been edited by sharp56: Sep 26 2018, 10:42 AM
fat16
post Sep 26 2018, 10:45 AM

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[quote=sharp56,Sep 26 2018, 09:59 AM] my desktop is only capable of downloading 20-30 mbps (with LAN cat 5E cable connected to B618) compared to 100 mbps on my other mentioned devices.
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[/quote]
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"downloading 20-30 mbps" refer to speedtest.net or from download manager ?
TristanX
post Sep 26 2018, 10:46 AM

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QUOTE(sharp56 @ Sep 26 2018, 10:40 AM)
I agree that my old intel i5 computer is more than capable of 100 mbps. Even a mini PC with celeron could achieve 100-130 mbps as I have tested.

At present I just couldn't figure out what causes the bottleneck. My old rig is already on the latest Windows 10.

I wonder if I change the M/B and discard the cheap 3rd party network card would solve the problem?
*
You said you tried with WIFI. I dont think removing your network card will fix the problem. Doesn't hurt to try though.

You have to look for H61, P67, Z68, B75, H77. Z77 chipset motherboards for replacement.
TSsharp56
post Sep 26 2018, 11:00 AM

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Yes, I connected the Tenda wireless adaptor, the speed remains the same as 30 mbps.

It could have something to do with the 802.11 networking standards because my Huawei B618 supports the latest internet standards and dual bands. Either the M/B or the network card doesn't support these higher internet standards or my computer needs some configuration.

I don't know which. Hopefully some sifus can enlighten me.
TristanX
post Sep 26 2018, 11:28 AM

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QUOTE(sharp56 @ Sep 26 2018, 11:00 AM)
Yes, I connected the Tenda wireless adaptor, the speed remains the same as 30 mbps.

It could have something to do with the 802.11 networking standards because my Huawei B618 supports the latest internet standards and dual bands. Either the M/B or the network card doesn't support these higher internet standards or my computer needs some configuration.

I don't know which. Hopefully some sifus can enlighten me.
*
Newer Wifi routers are compatible with older standards.

Huawei B618:
https://consumer.huawei.com/uk/smart-home/b618/specs/

802.11b/g/n/ac, 2.4G & 5G dual-band

Network cards and Wifi adapters should support too.

Did you uninstall your motherboard network driver?
TSsharp56
post Sep 28 2018, 03:10 PM

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QUOTE(TristanX @ Sep 26 2018, 10:46 AM)
You said you tried with WIFI. I dont think removing your network card will fix the problem. Doesn't hurt to try though.

You have to look for H61, P67, Z68, B75, H77. Z77 chipset motherboards for replacement.
*
Thanks for your advice.

I think that the lack of wifi speed from my LAN connection is due to my old TP-Link network card which supports only 10/100 mbps. I thought because it's stated as 100 mbps, it could go up to 100 mbps but no; it could only achieve 30-50 mbps

My Tenda USB wifi adaptor does not support dual band. Due to non-5G capable, that could be a reason why this is about more or less the same with my LAN connection speed running on 10/100 mbps.

I rather that my old computer comply with newer and faster standards than my fast modem backward comply with my slower standards of my old computer.

I have placed an order for Intel 82573L Gigabit 1000Mbps Network Ethernet LAN Adapter PCIE Card which costs about RM60 and see how it goes from there next week.

This post has been edited by sharp56: Sep 28 2018, 03:29 PM
TristanX
post Sep 28 2018, 03:18 PM

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QUOTE(sharp56 @ Sep 28 2018, 03:10 PM)
Thanks for your advice.

I think that the lack of wifi speed from my LAN connection is due to my old TP-Link network card which supports only 10/100 mbps. I thought because it's stated as 100 mbps, it could go up to 100 mbps but no; it could only achieve 30-50 mbps

My Tenda USB wifi adaptor does not support dual band. I don't know this could be a reason why this is about more or less the same with my LAN connection speed.

I rather that my old computer comply with newer and faster standards than my fast modem backward comply with my old standards.

I have placed an order for Intel 82573L Gigabit 1000Mbps Network Ethernet LAN Adapter PCIE Card which costs about RM60 and see how it goes from there next week.
*
Those cheap network cards has shitty chipset. I bought D-Link super cheap Gigabit network card. That card only transfer only around 50MB per second instead of around 110-125MB per second.

50MB = 400Mbps

I used RM100 second hand Intel Gigabit Network card. It works flawless. Using CAT6 cables. Router and switch is Gigabit as well.

This post has been edited by TristanX: Sep 28 2018, 03:32 PM
TSsharp56
post Sep 29 2018, 11:09 PM

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QUOTE(TristanX @ Sep 28 2018, 03:18 PM)
Those cheap network cards has shitty chipset. I bought D-Link super cheap Gigabit network card. That card only transfer only around 50MB per second instead of around 110-125MB per second.

50MB = 400Mbps

I used RM100 second hand Intel Gigabit Network card. It works flawless. Using CAT6 cables. Router and switch is Gigabit as well.
*
Great! I hope my intel gigabit network card works as well as yours when it arrives.

BTW what speed did you get for your Intel gigabit network card and did you have to alter any settings in your computer to reap the fast network speed and for your CAT6 cable?
TristanX
post Sep 29 2018, 11:24 PM

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QUOTE(sharp56 @ Sep 29 2018, 11:09 PM)
Great! I hope my intel gigabit network card works as well as yours when it arrives.

BTW what speed did you get for your Intel gigabit network card and did you have to alter any settings in your computer to reap the fast network speed and for your CAT6 cable?
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Did not change anything. Just install the card and the drivers. Voila.

Yes, CAT6 cable can support up to 10Gbps (still depending on your network setup). For my instance, I got 30 meter CAT6 cable to my router on my living room.

https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2013/04/ask-l...nd-cat6-cables/

Yeah, you need 10Gbps network (card, router and switch to do that) to copy at SSD speeds (But high end NVME SSDs are bottlenecked by 10Gbps network). CAT7 is longer range I think.
TSsharp56
post Sep 29 2018, 11:30 PM

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QUOTE(TristanX @ Sep 29 2018, 11:24 PM)
Did not change anything. Just install the card and the drivers. Voila.

Yes, CAT6 cable can support up to 10Gbps (still depending on your network setup). For my instance, I got 30 meter CAT6 cable to my router on my living room.

https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2013/04/ask-l...nd-cat6-cables/

Yeah, you need 10Gbps network (card, router and switch to do that) to copy at SSD speeds (But high end NVME SSDs are bottlenecked by 10Gbps network). CAT7 is longer range I think.
*
Thanks for the information, TristanX.
TSsharp56
post Oct 2 2018, 02:06 PM

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Update:

Both my Intel 82573L Gigabit 1000Mbps Network Card and TP-LINK AC1900 Wireless Dual Band PCI Express Card Adapter arrived yesterday.

I fixed up the TP-Link AC1900 to one of my two PCI-e slot and voila, I was able to get 150 mbps speed off my Huawei B618 modem and Digi Infinite i150. I was very happy with the result and did not bother to fix up the Intel Gigabit Network card to my computer.

The reason being I put up my B618 and CCTV receiver high up on my kitchen cabinet (most ideal place for me after shifting around several days and testing it). It is central access position to my old desktop computer, devices and four CCTV points around the house with the least obstructing walls. Thus I needed this wireless TP-Link AC1900 to hook up to my old computer and it received good signals.

I intend to put the spare Intel Network card in another computer in another house.

Coming from a streamyx user, I am more than happy with my present result. It's so eye-popping seeing my HD movie downloaded at about twenty times faster than my streamyx capped at 8 mbps.

Conclusion : Even with an old computer, one can achieve over 100 mbps if one has the right combination of modem (B618), telco access (Digi i150) and computer accessory upgrade (TP-Link AC1900). Of course you must also be lucky to have your house situated in a right place where there are strong and fast telco LTE+ signal.

This post has been edited by sharp56: Oct 2 2018, 02:26 PM

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