Weird lag spikes. Is my network card done for ?

Hello People.

I signed up to this site in the hope that someone can help me with this problem.

My internet keeps lagging in a very odd way. When i am trying to play a game my ping is normally under 20. But then randomly my internet jumps to 999 for no reason.

This also counts for other games and browser. (I have cable, not wireless)

There is a routine in the lag i get. Its for 5 seconds every single time. But sometimes randomly for atleast 5 to 10 minutes without internet.

I'm not sure if its a software or hardware problem. I tried deleting my network driver (Atheros AR8131 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller NDIS 6.20), reinstall it, update it. But nothing worked so far.

I dont want to buy a new network card without knowing i really need a new one. because it can always be a software problem.

If this problem sounds formiluar. Please respond

Regards.

Hi and welcome to WTT, sorry to hear of the problems you are experiencing, with the Internet.

To try and zero in on the problem ( and eliminate a few potential causes) here is a strategy that you might like to consider following:

1 Try a different computer with a known good ability to connect and maintain its connection/speed (borrow one from a chum etc., if you do not have a spare handy) 

If this known good working computer has the same problems then:

2  Contact your ISP ( cable company) and tell them the full history, ask them to carry out checks on your connection over a prolonged time period ( sufficient for the lags or disconnections to manifest themselves.

3 If they report no problems then its time to try and eliminate your cable/modem as a source of the problem, so fit a spare if you can lay your hands on one ( maybe your cable company will help to do this) then test thoroughly….

4 If the problem persists then eliminate any router  by connection directly to the modem, then test thoroughly

5 If still no joy then check the voltage at the modem..is it getting the required level of voltage necessary in your location?

6 Next is to repeat all tests with new cables in case there is breakdown in any of them .

7 Post back with your observations and as much information as possible on the results following the above suggestions.

Next step is to try and eliminate some other factors:

8 Take your computer to a different location (a chum's house for example) and try your computer on their network, measure to see if regular lags/disconnections occur with the same frequency (but remember to make allowance for any differences between the broadband speed they are paying for compared with your own arrangements….

If the problem persists then post back with your observations and we will suggest some tests you can carry out on your own computer .

Regards

paws