Problem with AR8151 ethernet on M17x R3

Hi guys

I am having an issue with the Ethernet on my M17x R3. It’s an Atheros AR8151 and is still using the shipped driver it came with. Until now I’d always used wifi on my machine but recently due to doing quite a few NAS transfers I craved faster speed so finally ran a cable into my computer room. Indeed the NAS file transfers were even faster. But what I have noticed is a slower boot since using Ethernet, increases by 5 to 10 seconds and things like Network Refresh for my SMB shares under Windows 7 are not as snappy and a bit slower under wired. Using Wifi this was really fast. It’s almost like having Ethernet is bringing some kind of ever so slight latency into the system. I have ordered another cable but in the interim I wonder if others have seen the same? For what it’s worth I keep both wired and wifi adapters running so it quickly switches to wifi if I roam in the house. I can confim that windows 7 is correctly prioritising Ethernet over Wifi when this happens by checking the NAS transfer speeds. Any ideas? As soon as I switch to wifi the extra zip to the machine is back and boot shortens by a few seconds. A newer driver perhaps (not that Dell has updated their site)? If this is the solution does one just install the newer driver over the top of the old one?

Many thanks,
Wayne

 

You might want to check this out:
Qualcomm, Atheros, Zidas, Attansic, Intellion drivers, firmwares

The one you are looking for is near the bottom,AR815x.
I'm using pack 2.1.0.15,although there is a newer version.
Works fine so far.Also I disable my wifi if I'm using ethernet,just a button press away on the top right panel.

 

Thank you. Will try this later. What is the best way to install the newer driver. Just run the exe and install over the top of the old one?

 

I'd remove the old one and then install the new one.

 

Meaker is right,you should do a clean install by removing the old driver first.

 

Probably some extra services that are being launched on startup or just an outdated driver. Give that a try and let us know how it goes.

 

From experience Win 7 never picks the ethernet when wifi is present. It seems totally obsessed with using the slower wifi connection. My suggestion would be to keep the wifi off when using ethernet.