Network port not delivering claimed speeds

Sirpingalot · 19-07-2008, 07:01

My network card claims to be capable of delivering speeds of 1Gbps, yet it only connects at 100Mbps and wont go above this speed while transferring files within my local network, or externally.

The rest of the network IS capable of 1Gbps, so the only weak link is this computer.

Marvell Yukon Gigabit Ethernet is the name of it.

How can I resolve this so I can tranfer files at greater speeds within my local network?

**Rob M** · 19-07-2008, 07:46

Do you have two network connections on the back of that machine?

Your screenshot shows Local Area Connections 1 and 2, only one of which is rated at 1Gb - perhaps you have the ethernet cable in the wrong connection?

nffc · 19-07-2008, 12:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob M

Do you have two network connections on the back of that machine?

Your screenshot shows Local Area Connections 1 and 2, only one of which is rated at 1Gb - perhaps you have the ethernet cable in the wrong connection?

Exactly what I was about to say. That looks like a dual sense port it's in not a Gb port. Failing that, the cabling is good cat5e and the switch is Gb too?

danielf · 19-07-2008, 12:36

It also says that the 1 gig connection is disconnected.

Sirpingalot · 21-07-2008, 12:41

Both ports are rated at 1Gig. But when I connect the cable and the network is active, it goes down to 100.

handyman · 21-07-2008, 12:49

Have you tried a different patch cable?

**Rob M** · 21-07-2008, 12:53

What model of switch/router are you plugging the other end of the cable into?

Sirpingalot · 21-07-2008, 13:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob M

What model of switch/router are you plugging the other end of the cable into?

Would that really affect the link speed? I mean.. the modem isn't capable of delivering 100Mb yet it connects at that speed, so I don't see why the router shouldn't connect at 1Gb even if it isn't capable of that speed.

Well, anyway..the router is a Belkin Wireless N with the model number F5D8233-4

The problem still exists when connecting both computers direct though (both have the same network ports) which is why I find it odd.

**Rob M** · 21-07-2008, 13:10

If the router is only rated for 100Mb then it can only negotiate a connection at that speed. The card in your PC will realise this and auto-negotiate to the maximum speed that is supported by the router, which is why you're seeing only a 100Mb speed rating on your Ethernet connection.

---------- Post added at 14:10 ---------- Previous post was at 14:10 ----------

I don't know why you're still getting the problem when connecting direct though.....

Aragorn · 21-07-2008, 13:11

According to the belkin page, it only has 100Base-T ports. The NICs will negotiate the fastest speed they and the router support - in this case 100Mb.

Sirpingalot · 21-07-2008, 13:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

According to the belkin page, it only has 100Base-T ports. The NICs will negotiate the fastest speed they and the router support - in this case 100Mb.

I see, so the router is capable of 300Mbps via wireless and 100Mbps hardwired?

Strange.

**Rob M** · 21-07-2008, 13:23

Just a thought.

Cat5 cable is only rated to 100Mb, whereas Cat5e is rated to 1000Mb (1Gb) - have you tried a different cable, preferably one that is specifically rated as Cat5e?

Interestingly (depending on how geeky you're feeling), many Cat5 cables actually meet the specifications of Cat5e apart from the fact that they haven't been specifically certified as such.

Look for something on the cable (or packaging if you have it) that identifies it as Cat5e.

---------- Post added at 14:23 ---------- Previous post was at 14:17 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirpingalot

I see, so the router is capable of 300Mbps via wireless and 100Mbps hardwired?

Strange.

Actually, the theoretical maximum is in the order of 300Mbps - but that's just me being a pedant

I think you'd be hard pushed to get that in the real world though

[Source] I know it's Wikipedia, but it's the best I could find.

brundles · 21-07-2008, 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirpingalot

I see, so the router is capable of 300Mbps via wireless and 100Mbps hardwired?

Strange.

Are you sure the router supports 300Mbps wireless rather than just the 802.11n spec?

I'd be surprised if you could run a consistent 100Mbps connection on all 4 LAN ports and see them max out as I suspect the routers own maximum throughput is less than a gig - nevermind the ports. There are a number of so called gigabit routers about that would sturggle to run at gigabit speeds if you pushed more than 2 or 3 ports on the thing.

Sirpingalot · 21-07-2008, 13:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob M

Just a thought.

Cat5 cable is only rated to 100Mb, whereas Cat5e is rated to 1000Mb (1Gb) - have you tried a different cable, preferably one that is specifically rated as Cat5e?

Interestingly (depending on how geeky you're feeling), many Cat5 cables actually meet the specifications of Cat5e apart from the fact that they haven't been specifically certified as such.

Look for something on the cable (or packaging if you have it) that identifies it as Cat5e.

---------- Post added at 14:23 ---------- Previous post was at 14:17 ----------

Actually, the theoretical maximum is in the order of 300Mbps - but that's just me being a pedant

I think you'd be hard pushed to get that in the real world though

[Source] I know it's Wikipedia, but it's the best I could find.

The cable that came with the router seems to have 5e written on it..which is the same cable I used when I hooked both PCs up direct.

---------- Post added at 14:30 ---------- Previous post was at 14:27 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by brundles

Are you sure the router supports 300Mbps wireless rather than just the 802.11n spec?

That manual seems to say it's capable of 300Mbps..

**Rob M** · 21-07-2008, 13:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirpingalot

The cable that came with the router seems to have 5e written on it..which is the same cable I used when I hooked both PCs up direct.

So the cable should (barring the fact that it could be a dodgy cable) be ok then.....

Have you checked the adaptor settings? (I'm sure you have, can't believe I'm asking). They should both be set to something like 'auto negotiate' or something similar.

Also, if it's the same cable that you used to connect them together then that could explain something.

If that's the cable that came with the router then it should be a straight-through cable, to connect to devices of the same nature (ie. 2 PCs) together you need a crossover cable. Unless, of course, you've got some very clever auto-switching NICs (which would work all that out for you), in which case forget I ever said anything