Killer Wireless-AC 1550 Review

Even if home users aren't, thousands of businesses and corporations are still using Windows XP or Server 2003 long after support for them ended. Hell, some are still using Windows 95 LOL, yet some think Windows 7 is dead. Yeah right...

 

I think driver framework model and Intel didn't make drivers for older drivers.

 

As others have said, the 1550 is based on the Intel 9260, so we are beholden to them when it comes to drivers for the device. They are the developers for the 1550's device drivers. Unfortunately, the decision to not include Windows 7 drivers was made before release. Personally, I agree that it seems like effectively limiting the number of potential customers on purpose, but there may be some rationale to which I am not privy. Either way, it's not a decision made by myself or even my boss or their boss, so I can only provide information.

-- Anthony with Killer Networking

 

Really?

Then why do I get atrocious banding issues with KCC installed, tested on all the systems I've ever owned with the 1535?
How exactly does this *prioritization* work? Is there a published paper that describes the method(s) used to achieve this?
Companies such as Broadcom have proprietary Cut Through Forwarding (CTF) whose function is clearly documented, so how exactly does this KCC work? And again, what's with the horrendous DPC Latency Spikes induced by your software?

 

@Killer_Networking @downloads @Papusan @tilleroftheearth

Here's a funny one for you.

So I was at the Dubai Mall a few days ago at an electronics shop called Virgin Megastore.

I was checking out a few laptops then asked one of the salesmen if I could download my tools and test an Alienware m15 that they had on display.

I then started to download HWiNFO and Cinebench then the machine just randomly restarted after showing a BSOD for a brief moment. I told him what's up? He gave me an answer which makes no sense but anyway, he said, sir all our machines do this because they cannot be activated!

I'm like really? want me to show you how to activate it? He looked at me with doubt and said sure go ahead.

I immediately ran services.msc, and as I expected, they had the Killer Network Service (or Killer Advanced Stream Detect I can't remember) so I stopped and then disabled the service, then we tried to activate and BOOM! The machine got activated instantly!

 

I'll check them out when I'm there next month. We might even meet if you'll be around.

I believe you. btw this bug isn't new. Had the same issue on the older MSI GS43VR 6RE Phantom Pro, in 2017. Something I never gave too much attention to (as mine was shipped from Amazon) and I re-installed Windows 10 almost immediately when I realized it couldn't activate.

 

I ask this due to how opaque this company is regarding how their "tech" works.
I recall Bigfoot Networks back in the day when they still made the K1 and the M1 adaptors, and their so-called Flexible Network Architecture (FNA) that was just as opaque as their current implementation (as a user-land application).
I wonder if you can still get this hardware today: https://www.avadirect.com/Killer-NI...0-100-1000-Mbps-PCI-2-2-Retail/Product/778493

 

It actually depends on Intel if they make a W7 compatible driver then Killer might get the source code for making drivers.

 

Play second violin ain't nice. You should have fully access to your own property. Would people be very happy if they only could use the Micro$lope's propritary Apps on Windoze 7, 8&8.1 or WinCrap X?

 

NDAs from Intel and such.
Maybe very soon we'll get unofficial W7 drivers for most hardwares since most of them will install W7 more during EOL period.

 

We do not have a published paper. In short, Killer prioritizes by identifying domains or applications and ensuring proper ‘queuing’ of the packet in the transmit direction to ensure a higher priority item transmits first. This is how our technology differs from router QoS - router QoS cannot prioritize packets based upon the exact application or website because the router does not have that information. Using the information made available by the operating system to the Killer Control Center, the prioritization works similarly to QoS, except with all of the additional information.

Regarding DPC latency, the Killer Control Center has not used DPC interrupts in over a year. Any system that is seeing DPC latency from the Killer Control Center would be running a very outdated version.

-- Anthony with Killer Networking

 

Atleast on 1535 model, DPC issues were never present on KCC since 1.5. DPC related issues were present on Killer network manager and it won't connect to Wifi AP which is 10cm away! Always it had issues one way or another. KNM was garbage software. KCC is far better on 1535. I can't say anything about 1550(i) because I don't have it.

 

It's worth noting that the Killer Network Manager was also developed first by Bigfoot, and then by Qualcomm after they acquired the Bigfoot Killer name. Everything from the Killer Control Center forward is developed in-house by Rivet Networks. It's a smaller team, but one far more dedicated to the specific product.

-- Anthony with Killer Networking

 

The newest Skip Ahead Insider Preview 20H1 build 18875.1000 has Intel Wireless ProSet v21.10.0.2
This build also has WPA3 support.

Download v21.10.0.2 link is below.

http://www.mediafire.com/folder/k9x9tricy2wn9/21.10.0.2

 

A weird thing about this new 21.10.0.2 driver.
It installed and works without issue on all 6 SSDs that attach to my desktop PC that has a Killer 1550 in a PCIe x1 adapter On my MSI notebook with a Killer 1550 it installed without issue on a Samsung 1TB 860 EVO but on an M.2 SATA III Crucial SSD I cannot connect using it.Rolling back to the previous 21.0.0.5 driver allows connection on both bands.The troubleshooter cannot find a problem nor can I.
My settings are the same on both drives.Probably time for a fresh OS installation on the crucial.That's usually easier than hours spent trying to find the issue.I normally do clean installs every 6-12 months anyway.

 

A clean installation of Windows 10 x64 Pro did the trick.The the Intel 21.10.0.2 wireless driver installed and I was able to connect on both bands easily using it.
I planned on doing this yesterday but some bad weather knocked the power out in this area of Texas probably caused by a tornado touching down not too far away plus the high winds and thunder storms that came through.

 

The latest release of Windows 10 Insider Preview 20H1 build 18885 installs Intel Bluetooth driver v21.10.0.6

I'm not able to connect to the killernetworking site downloads since yesterday afternoon to check for new drivers and software.All I get is a "please wait" message.

 

Killer Wireless-AC 1550 WiFi Driver v21.10.1.2

Don't forget to unblock the ZIP file before extracting it

Got this directly from Killer Networking

 

Thanks reason i ask is because i am having some very serious latency issues. With the 1535 in games was solid 35-50ms ranges when there was anything be watched on any other device now its 100-200ms which is a big jump specially when i am using SQM to stop the latency issues.

Edit: Like an idiot i am posted in the wrong thread as i have the AX200 lol sorry