The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Killer network card sucks?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by Mozin321, Aug 2, 2011.

  1. Mozin321

    Mozin321 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Sorry, I just wanted to get more people to view the thread :p

    I got my M14x a few days ago and added in the 1103 card. I'm getting really high ping times. The speed given to me by my ISP is 5.344 Mb down and 512 Kb up. My sis just did a Speedtest.net test on her MBP and got a ping of like 32 and 5.2 Mbps down. I just did a test on my old Inspiron 14 and got 31 ping and 5 Mbps down. However, with this supposedly better gaming network card, I'm getting a ping of 154 ms and a downspeed of .8 Mbps. What's going on? I downloaded the driver from Dell to see if it would help, but it didn't.

    I'd also like to add that the connection goes on and off (stays off for like 10 secs max). Also, when I do a pingtest.net test, I get a ping of 21ms. My other computers get the same result.
     
    Mozin321, Aug 2, 2011
    #1
  2. niko2021

    niko2021 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    93
    Messages:
    592
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Maybe you got a defective card? If the cards are compatible with two antennas, try switching them out and see if you get better results. I have 15 mbps internet, and my results to the closest server was 25mbps down and 5 up. That's with the base intel 1000.

    Also i know that Killer has a bandwidth allocation feature, try messing around with the software.
     
    niko2021, Aug 2, 2011
    #2
  3. Aneap

    Aneap Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    If you have access to another wireless card, perhaps switch it out and see if your ping improves. It might be a software problem or a problem associated with the card connector etc. Maybe even try using a lan cable to your router just to see if that works.
     
    Aneap, Aug 2, 2011
    #3
  4. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

    Reputations:
    827
    Messages:
    2,278
    Likes Received:
    104
    Trophy Points:
    81
    Just wanted to jump in here, I have/had the same problem. I sent out a email to bigfoot and they replied right away with a little bit of help.

    Open the folder in your start menu for bigfoot, open the diag log thing. Run the test that it has and then save this.

    then

    turn off any antivirus software you have running. Next download the drivers from bigfoots page and reinstall.

    If you still have problems, run the diagnostics again and email bigfoot with those logs. They can usually figure out what going on right there.

    My card would loose connection alot till I did the driver w/virus off thing. My connection is good, but I still have some issues with downloads locking up.

    I sent them a video along with my logs to see what they say.
    ‪DSCN0097‬‏ - YouTube
     
    ejohnson, Aug 2, 2011
    #4
  5. Mozin321

    Mozin321 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Hmm, connected straight to modem right now. Still getting ~150ms ping.

    I set chrome to have a high priority. Still high ping. I turned application control off. Still high ping.

    Time to call Dell I guess.
     
    Mozin321, Aug 2, 2011
    #5
  6. Mozin321

    Mozin321 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Can you send me a link to the page with their email on it?
     
    Mozin321, Aug 2, 2011
    #6
  7. ejohnson

    ejohnson Is that lemon zest?

    Reputations:
    827
    Messages:
    2,278
    Likes Received:
    104
    Trophy Points:
    81
    ejohnson, Aug 2, 2011
    #7
  8. Mozin321

    Mozin321 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Oh, haha. derp derp. thanks.

    OHY I just did what you suggested. I ran a speedtest again and got 156ms ping. BUT! get this, I let the Network Manager run its own speedtest.. I opened up its own browser window (prob IE) and I got a ping of 32 and a down speed of what I was supposed to get.

    Turns out, the problem is Google Chrome.

    EDIT: at least for the speedtest...

    My internet connection just went off and on again. Guess I'll give Bigfoot a call.
     
    Mozin321, Aug 2, 2011
    #8
  9. Izaak99

    Izaak99 Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    1
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I just spent the past hour removing the Bigfoot Network Wifi card out of my Alienware m17x and swapping with the Intel 5300 in my older m15x.

    It started yesterday with random connection drops, then became such a problem today that I couldn't even ping the router for more than 30 seconds.

    The crapware that comes with the Bigfoot card is horrible and why they don't offer a simple driver is beyond me.

    The good news is it was worth the effort, I can connect and stay connected now. On top of that, my signal vastly improved (was hanging around 86% and I'm right underneath the AP in my loft) to now 99%.

    I think by Network Killer, they literally mean NETWORK KILLER.
     
    Izaak99, Dec 11, 2011
    #9
  10. TheJoker7030

    TheJoker7030 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    49
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    So far I HAVEN'T HAD A problem with mine, also i never update any drivers, only the ones that came factory installed
     
    TheJoker7030, Dec 11, 2011
    #10
  11. TheJoker7030

    TheJoker7030 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    49
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    lean to use the software it actually comes in handy, when you realizes windows is downloading an update, or your antivirus is updating, setting them to low priority really saves your bandwidth from getting used up
     
    TheJoker7030, Dec 11, 2011
    #11
  12. aptsys

    aptsys Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I found the power saving settings to be the problem on mine. The connection was dropping out constantly while running on battery, but once I set to maximum performance in the power settings, it's been running flawlessly.
     
    aptsys, Dec 12, 2011
    #12
  13. sHashiro

    sHashiro Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    so is it worth it to get the killer network upgrade? mine was the standard one, kinda regretted not upgrading it for a small price.
     
    sHashiro, Dec 13, 2011
    #13
  14. aptsys

    aptsys Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I'm not sure how much difference it makes to be honest. I wouldn't worry unless you've having problems, and even then I'd look at your wireless access point first :)
     
    aptsys, Dec 13, 2011
    #14