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7751
November 2nd, 2005 03:00
2915 wireless bug with Power Management!??
I just upgraded my DSL to 3MBS down 768kbs up - so I went to DSLReports.com and gave it a try. Sure enough my up was at 685 or so but my down was only at 700kbs. So I tried another computer and it ran what I expected 2.8 down and 685 up.
So... I investigated my XPS2 more - in the driver for the 2915 wireless card there is a Power Management setting. Here is what the driver says:
So... I investigated my XPS2 more - in the driver for the 2915 wireless card there is a Power Management setting. Here is what the driver says:
Select a balance between power consumption and adapter performance
Default: Power settings based on computer's power source
Lowest: Maximum battery life - Highest: Maximum performance
Default: Power settings based on computer's power source
Lowest: Maximum battery life - Highest: Maximum performance
I tried unchecking the "use deafult" and sliding the slider all the way to "Highest". I ran the tests again.. no change. So just for curiousity I moved the slider all the way to lowest performance and ran the tests... and then What?!?! It tests way up at 2.7MBS down and 685 up.... seems like a big bug!
I then went to intel's site and downloaded their newest driver (was using dell previously) and same issue.
Bad thing is... I would just leave it at "Lowest" (which is giving me the high performance) but when playing Battlefield 2 I frequently getting "there is a problem with your connection" when using that setting - I switched it back to the "Highest" setting (which is actually the low performance) and Battlefield is fine but of course downloading/surfing etc is much slower.
Anyone else have this? Give it a try (dslreports speed tests). Any known fixes etc.. driver versions that don't have the issue?
Also while I am posting any tweaks with the card to get it to work better with BF2 (like there is the "Intel Throughput Enhancement" setting... should I use that?)
The card has been solid for me at holding a connection etc. I've never run speed tests before so I don't know how long this has been going on (at my old DSL speed it would not have made a difference)
Details: XPS2, BIOS: A05, Newest drivers, utilities etc for all components installed from the Dell site. Letting windows manage the card (the intel PROset stuff is a huge resource hog)
Message Edited by chrhon on 11-02-2005 04:09 AM
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chrhon
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November 2nd, 2005 07:00
Jerry Park
695 Posts
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November 2nd, 2005 09:00
Intel's deocumentation states that the default is at maximum. But it isn't.
No matter what you set, when the card is restarted (log off, suspend, etc.), the transmit power defaults to about 40%. Changing the setting resets the transmit power for a time.
Strangely, whatever you set the power to is stored in the registry -- as if the card is going to remember the setting. But it doesn't.
The other problem with the card is the wildly fluctuating transmit speed. It will eventually drop to 1 mbps (even when the connection strength is excellent). At that rate, the card is effectively disconnected.
If you are using the Proset client, it will lie to you, reporting 'Excellent Quality' even when the connection strength is extremely poor and about to fail.
Intel seems intent on saving power to the point that the card becomes nearly useless.
Unfortunately, I bought one of these. I still have it. But I won't try to use it again until Intel fixes the problems. That doesn't appear likely to happen.
esquire
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November 3rd, 2005 01:00