Intel 7260 Ping Spikes while gaming

I've been experiencing terrible ping spikes while gaming. I'm connected to a 5G network, and I've disabled the scanning feature, where it regularly scans for networks (this solution worked for the past 2 years, but the problem has resurfaced). Here's a log of a recent ping test during a game session.

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.10240]
(c) 2015 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\WINDOWS\system32>ping 192.168.1.1 -t

Pinging 192.168.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=65ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=75ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=133ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=123ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=33ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=63ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=64

Any suggestions would be most welcome.

 

There are too many variables to rule out but I'll try. That log you posted is not the ping to your game's server, just to your router.

What game(s) are you having problem with?
What background apps are running when you are gaming?
What kind of network setup do you have? (router, ap, # of users)

Usually the first thing to do is to log your wifi activity to get some data. There are a number of free and paid programs that do that.

I recently fixed my friend's laptop that had constant ping spike during LoL games. He had an intel card and I removed all the pre-installed driver and software and reinstalled using the text only driver. Now he has the same ping as me, constant and no spike.

 

I've been playing Overwatch and Rainbow Six Siege. I use to play Dota 2, which was 2 years ago (that's where I experienced the lag spikes and used the registry fix).
I keep my background apps minimal. Usually it's just Firefox and Steam.
It's a Verizon Quantum Router, using a 5G wifi connection, and there are at most 3-4 active users.

I might try your latter method. A quick guide on how to run that setup would be appreciated.

 

So I pinged Google, and it appears to happen outside of gaming as well.

Pinging google.com [172.217.5.14] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=9ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=86ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=232ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=58
Reply from 172.217.5.14: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=58

 

Do you by any chance have Autodesk Application Manager?

 

Yes I do, might this be the source of the problem?

 

Yeap. I have had this issue myself. Kill the Process and remove it from Autostarting. I dont remember exactly, but it was something called the Akamai Net-session blah blah. But for a friend just killing the application manager worked. Try that first.

 

I don't have the Akamai process.

I've uninstalled the program, but I'm still experiencing the issue. Going to restart the PC and run the test afterwards.

 

Normally If that program is the issue, it sorts it out after a restart. Just doubl check the running services as well.

 

Normally I'd that program is the issue, it sorts it out after a restart. Just

 

Unfortunately it didn't fix the issue.

I might try the solution that godlyathiest suggested. But, I'm not exactly sure how to go about it (not sure what a text only driver is).

 

Basically manually pointing to the driver inf file. From the device manager .

 

Uninstall the Intel ProSet wifi program, Intel Zero Config, and any of the Intel program related to wifi. You can leave all the other intel stuff alone. Download driver from here: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/network-and-i-o/wireless-networking/000017246.html
Get the latest 18.40 one. Extract all files from the zip and run iprodifx.exe. Once the blue wifi logo with green dot disappears, the text drivers have been installed. This lets you uses Windows wifi control with the bare driver instead of going through whatever bloatware Intel bundled in their software.

A couple background program won't hurt unless they are flooding your connection with packets. I run Spotify all the time and it doesn't hurt my ping. One program to record your wifi activity is Pingplotter (free 30 day trial I think or use the free version). After you install it, just start recording a session to your game server for like 30 min. Then you want to look for patterns in the graph and check which hop in your connection is causing the problem. You can learn the basics from the maker's youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVNcmN-8lgJli8kUJXtVPsQ

 

Thanks a lot for the comprehensive guide. Will give it a shot!


EDIT: It worked! I don't know how to thank you, but thanks! Really appreciate the help.

 

This is frustrating, the issue reappeared. Well it seems less frequent with the fresh installation, but the random latency spikes are back.

I've used the PingPlotter and I've been observing the hops. There are no packet losses, but the latency spikes are there. There would be a latency spike on different hops, it would be at the modem, or the down the line. Not sure how I can narrow down the problem.

If I were to post my PingPlotter pp2 file, wouldn't it give away my personal info?

 

If possible try the ping -t or plotter on a separate device or live ubuntu. That way it will isolate the issue.

 

I ran a ping test using a wired PC for an hour, no latency spikes.

 

So I've conducted a ping test on two wired PCs, latency was stable for both. However, I ran a ping test on a wireless laptop and on a phone, both displayed random latency spikes.

 

Try playing with the router wifi channels.

 

Both wireless test were on a 5G connection. Regardless, I've played around with the channels and I'm still experiencing spikes. I even switched to a 2.4G connection, and the spikes were there as well.

I also pinged between the devices on the network.
Wired PC#1--> Wireless PC#2 / Latency spikes present
Wired PC#1 --> Phone / Latency spikes present (average latency was 300!)
Wireless PC#2 --> Wired PC#1 / Latency spikes present
Wireless PC#2 --> Phone / Latency spikes present (ridiculous average latency)
Phone --> Wired PC#1 / Latency spikes present
Phone --> Wireless PC#2 / Latency spikes present
Wired PC#1 --> Wired PC#2 / Stable
Wired PC#2 --> Wired PC#1 / Stable

At this point, I guess it's either the router or the ISP?

 

Should be the router if you're pinging an ip on your LAN and getting latency.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I agree with @alexhawker - it seems to be the router, more specifically a Wi-Fi radio as evidenced by the fact that spikes are present whenever at least one side of communications is on Wi-Fi but are not present if both sides are wired.

 

I recently switched the router, unfortunately I'm also getting ping spikes with the new router. However, the spikes do seem to occur between the router and ONT/Modem.

 

Double NAT?
How are these devices configured? Ideally the modem should be in a bridge mode and if that is impossible the router should only work as an access point - otherwise you would have two routers.

 

Sorry for the late response, been very busy. The modem is set to bridge mode.

Ever since the switch, it has been much more stable, less frequent spikes.

 

Okay, I don't know how I missed this, but, it seems like the signal strength is the cause of the ping spikes. My router has to penetrate about 3-4 walls to reach my PC (~25 feet,~70 dBm signal strength). I tested for spikes right next to the router at about ~40 dBm, and it has been stable so far.

Any suggestions on what I can do to strengthen the signal? I bought a wifi extender, but, that doesn't help at all. Any other router recommendations? Preferably something that isn't too expensive (<$150).

 

I use this one :

https://www.amazon.com/RT-AC68U-Wir...8&qid=1467766680&sr=8-4&keywords=asus+ac+wifi

With Merlin's firmware , you will have access to transmission power as well. It helped at my friends place where his room was after a couple of walls. But they were dry walls, to be specific.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. Is it any different from the Asus n66? I currently have that model, and I'm wondering if the upgrade to the router you have is worth it.

Also, I bought the router from Microcenter and apparently, the 87R is cheaper than the 68U. Which of the two routers would you recommend? Are there any comparable differences that catches your eye?

 

It wont be that big of an upgrade from the N66, but will make a decent difference for sure.

The 87U however will be a big upgrade over both of them. But do double check the 87U reviews. They weren't all that positive from what i can remember, it was more or less marketed as a "gamers" router with sub par hardware or something. But i might be wrong here. Ill look this up once im back home in a few hours.

 

Thanks for all your help! Not really an expert when it comes to hardware involved with networking.... or networking itself.

 

Use a power line ethernet adapter to connect your laptop directly to the router. Less lag and much more stable that way. Or you can just add a cheap access point to your room.

Modem - Router - Access Point

Buying a top of the line router doesn't beat having an access point directly in your room with perfect signal.