Precision 650 Network Problems: intel pro/1000 mtw only connecting at 10MB?

I AM CONNECTED TO A CABLE MODEM AND HAD AN XPS FOR A YEAR THAT WORKED GREAT WITH A GIGABIT CARD. HOWEVER, THE ONBOARD CARD WILL NOT CONNECT ABOVE 10MB

WHY SHOUT? (All capitals usually means you're shouting!).

The chances of the cable modem Ethernet adapter speed being greater than ten megabits are minimal. Have you checked the specifications of the cable modem?

Jim

Jim,

1. I was shouting because im a bit mad that i just bought a $7k computer and tech support was unable to fix my issue and offered me no suggestions. 

2.  I understand that my cable modem is NOT above 10mb, but its the throughput that counts here.  Its the same thing as an 802.11 b to g.  Although its the same connection, G is wayyy faster. 

3.  Overall if u buy a computer with certain specs they should ALL be working, especially from a corp. like Dell.  It is unacceptable that the tech support person just quit and offered not solution.  If I am not supposed to care then where do u draw the line? Should i have not cared if the processors were only 2.8's? (its not like im REALLY gonna be able to notice 200Mhz).

 

FYI: I am not connected to a router/switch, etc.  The 650 is directly connected to a cable modem. 

I understand that my cable modem is NOT above 10mb, but its the throughput that counts here.

OK, that's a different issue. The maximum connection speed you'll get out of two Ethernet devices is the speed of the slower device. The speed is supposed to be negotiated between the two devices.

One way that the connection speed can affect throughput is if the two devices have difficulty maintaining the negotiated connection speed. The cable modem probably has a 10 megabit/sec, half-duplex Ethernet adapter. You should be able to find out if that's right by checking the specifications of the cable modem. Try setting the connection speed and duplex of the Pro/1000 to match the specs of the adapter in the cable modem.

How are you measuring connection throughput?

(edit) Since your machine is directly connected to your cable modem, you might find ways to improve throughput in DSL Reports' "Tweaking FAQ".

Jim

Message Edited by jimw on 06-18-2004 12:53 PM

The first one shows a 1.0Gb connection when i double click it in Network Connections. The second shows a 10MB connection. Obviously something is not right here. This has nothing to do with my connection etc.

What's on the other end of the cable has everything to do with the connection speed, as I've explained before.

I have a 650 connected to a 100 mbit hub. The reported connection speed is 100 mbits. Do you have references to reports of problems similar to yours?

(edit) One way the problem would have nothing to do with the connection speed is if there's a software bug that misreports the speed. Are both driver versions the same?

Jim

Message Edited by jimw on 06-21-2004 01:25 PM

Here is the issue:

I have 2 computers that are quite similar, have the SAME NIC card in both, SAME Cable Modem, Same Cat 5 cable, etc.  The first one shows a 1.0Gb connection when i double click it in Network Connections.  The second shows a 10MB connection.  Obviously something is not right here.  This has nothing to do with my connection etc.  It also appears that other people have had the same problem with their 650's, but i havent heard anyone solving it yet.  When i called tech support the guy said that someone had called earlier that day with the same problem and they fixed it by playing with the configuration settings, but no luck with me.  I am currently out of town, but when i get back thurs this will be my top priority.  I would appreciate any advice on how to show the accurate NIC speed in my connection settings.

thanks,

-T-

I had a computer connected in the EXACT same fashion for the last year and it showed 1.0Gbs connection without any problems. The second i swapped my Dell XPS for a Dell PW 650 the connection reads 10MB. this is definately some hardware problem and i could not believe it has anything to do with the modem itself. I have already tried a standalone PCI card but that only showed 10mb as well, which is extremely weird. Just to make sure, i re-connected the XPS to the SAME modem with the SAME cable and it showed a 1.0Gbs connection. I went into bios but didnt see anything to play with there.
thanks,
-T-

But...if the cable modem is a 10 mbit device, anything that reports a higher connection speed is buggy! Can you post the manufacturer and model number of the cable modem? I'll take a look at its specs (assuming they're on the Web somewhere), and see if there's any chance that it really is a gigabit device.

Jim

It is definately not a gigbit device, however, i have tried multiple devices on it and reported 1.0gbs speed.  this is the first device that only showed 10mb.  2 years ago when i had a Dell 8600 (i think) it showed a 100mb connection, so i have no idea what is going on.  It definately makes more sense to me that this computer has a problem rather than that every other computer that ive had does, but who knows.

thanks,

-T-

My vote's still with the hardware/software that reports the maximum connection speed/duplex the cable modem is capable of. But that's truly a strange mix of data! I wonder what would happen if you updated the NIC driver on the XPS system?

Jim