WinXP Network Slowdown during gaming

[Dave]

Hi all. I'm having a strange problem while playing City of Heroes. At
sporadic times, I get excessive ping times to my local router, and my
throughput drops dramatically. The router does seem to get standard
throughput out to the site, when this is or is not happening. I'm
going to do some more checks on this.

When wired, my ping time to the router (1 hop) goes from <1ms to
400-800ms. Wireless goes from <2ms to 500-1100ms.
Regardless of if i leave the game running, or turn it off, the
excessive ping time remains. This slow ping almost always lasts ~4
minutes, then clears up.

Here's what I've done so far.
* Checked for Adware/Spyware (none)
* Turned down graphic resolution on the game
* Verified all drivers/BIOS are up to date (or, as up to date as I can
get)
* Tried with and without Virus scanning (McAfee) on
* Tried with and without my Firewall up (Zone Alarm, turned off
Windows Firewall)
* Tried both wired and wireless
* Tried Linksys WRT54G and a Belkin router
* Tried different ISPs
* Install/Uninstall VPN service - normally not running, also have
restarted machine after using to un-set VPN changes
* Tried with and without Wireless Zero Config
* Monitored excessive incoming traffic to my machine - nothing
* Monitored disk speed/io, cpu load, cpu temp - no dramatic changes
* Reviewed windows event log for anything strange - nothing
* Turned off internet connection sharing
* Turned off indexing service
* Tried insalling XP SP2 RC2
* Defragmented, error checked the disk
* Verified there are no shared drives.

* TODO - monitor if the router is getting slammed (hasn't appeared to
be in the past)
* TODO - assign my computer a static IP
* TODO - try running as Admin instead of the normal, primary user
account
* TODO - turn off windows themes

Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!

Relevant Hardware:
Dell Inspiron 600m
1GB Ram, 1.5GM virtual
1.6Ghz PentiumM
Intel Pro/Wireless 2100 3A
Broadcom 570x Gigabit Ethernet

--dave

 

[Jimmy S.]

Hi Dave,

You seem advanced, and have tried most steps that I usually recommend
however just the same, you might find my troubleshooter of some use..

With that said, here's the checklist of troubleshooting steps for you!


HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR CONNECTION:

1. Run this SPEED TEST: http://bandwidthplace.com/speedtest/

2. Download the TCP Optimizer Utility: http://www.speedguide.net/files/TCPOptimizer.exe

3. Double click the program to start it:

4. Select the type of connection you're using: DSL, Dialup, DSL (PPPoE),
or Cable, then click "Optimal settings", click Apply changes, and click Exit.

5. Reboot and run the SPEED TEST again. Notice any improvement? If not,
then the Internet "highway" that you're using may be under heavy traffic or
construction. I have a webpage you can use to examine that possibility:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/nibblesnbits/TraceRoute.html


ADDITIONAL CONNECTIVITY TIPS:

1. Extra items in your Networking Properties Components list may confuse and
delay your system while it's connecting as it has to choose which component to
transfer the data through. Solution: Remove unnecessary network Components.
If you don't use dial up, replace "Dial Up Adapter" with "Network Adapter" in:
these instructions: http://www.oregoncoast.com/configuration/ConfigNetwork.htm
* If you don't use a Dialup Modem, delete it. In 99% of cases VPN components
aren't used, so you can safely delete those as well.

2. Advanced Users should Reinstall ICS and Networking Components:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q263276 Or..
another advice would be to simply unplug the computer, remove the card
you connect to the internet with, and then restart the computer to verify that there
is no longer anything installed in the Control Panel / Networking section.
Once done power off, unplug, reinstall the card, and create a new connection.

3. Lag/Latency can be caused by your Modem or Network Cards and by other
programs running on your system. Firewalls and even AntiVirus programs have
been know to slow a connection down. You can disable startup programs using the
method explained at: http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.htm.

4. Scan for Adware/Spyware/Trojans with Spybot from: http://security.kolla.de
And then run an Online Virus Scan: http://housecall.antivirus.com/

5. If you use a Router, or similar networking/internet sharing device, check for
firmware updates. There's been a lot of improvements with the release of DX 9.0b
which you should download and install from: www.microsoft.com/directx


IF DISCONNECTED WHILE PLAYING:

1. Disconnects can be caused by your Modem or Network Cards and by other
programs running on your system. See above for help disabling those programs.

2. Another reason for disconnects could be an external router or modem that has
overheated. Try unplugging it for awhile, and contact your ISP to see if they have
a newer model if the problem keeps recurring.

3. Check for IRQ sharing: Click START / Run / type: msinfo32 / ENTER
Expand + Hardware Resources / Click on IRQ and notice if the sound card, video
card(s), and modem/network cards share the same IRQ. If they do, move them into
different slots, to prevent bottlenecks caused by too much traffic on the same IRQ.

4. Further to step 3., Make certain that your Network adapter or Internal Modem
is not in the slot directly beside the graphics card, as those two must be separate.


ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

More information on the topic of online gaming connections is available at:

http://NibblesNbitsConnect.tk my site and the reference for this reply to you includes
Ports listings, Router configuration settings, ICS, DSL, Cable and Networking help.

Dialup Tips: http://www.56k.com/trouble/#disconn
Zone.com Dialup Tips: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q228564

Hope that's been of help, please let me know how it went.

--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
MS Support at: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=sz;en-us;top
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________



| Hi all. I'm having a strange problem while playing City of Heroes. At
| sporadic times, I get excessive ping times to my local router, and my
| throughput drops dramatically. The router does seem to get standard
| throughput out to the site, when this is or is not happening. I'm
| going to do some more checks on this.
|
| When wired, my ping time to the router (1 hop) goes from <1ms to
| 400-800ms. Wireless goes from <2ms to 500-1100ms.
| Regardless of if i leave the game running, or turn it off, the
| excessive ping time remains. This slow ping almost always lasts ~4
| minutes, then clears up.
|
| Here's what I've done so far.
| * Checked for Adware/Spyware (none)
| * Turned down graphic resolution on the game
| * Verified all drivers/BIOS are up to date (or, as up to date as I can
| get)
| * Tried with and without Virus scanning (McAfee) on
| * Tried with and without my Firewall up (Zone Alarm, turned off
| Windows Firewall)
| * Tried both wired and wireless
| * Tried Linksys WRT54G and a Belkin router
| * Tried different ISPs
| * Install/Uninstall VPN service - normally not running, also have
| restarted machine after using to un-set VPN changes
| * Tried with and without Wireless Zero Config
| * Monitored excessive incoming traffic to my machine - nothing
| * Monitored disk speed/io, cpu load, cpu temp - no dramatic changes
| * Reviewed windows event log for anything strange - nothing
| * Turned off internet connection sharing
| * Turned off indexing service
| * Tried insalling XP SP2 RC2
| * Defragmented, error checked the disk
| * Verified there are no shared drives.
|
| * TODO - monitor if the router is getting slammed (hasn't appeared to
| be in the past)
| * TODO - assign my computer a static IP
| * TODO - try running as Admin instead of the normal, primary user
| account
| * TODO - turn off windows themes
|
| Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!
|
| Relevant Hardware:
| Dell Inspiron 600m
| 1GB Ram, 1.5GM virtual
| 1.6Ghz PentiumM
| Intel Pro/Wireless 2100 3A
| Broadcom 570x Gigabit Ethernet
|
| --dave