XPS 8930, slow Verizon Fios connection compared to XPS 9320?

Question

Hi All,

My good-old XPS 8930 desktop is connected to the internet via Verizon Fios, as is my wife's laptop (XPS 9320). But fast.com says my XPS 8930 is getting a max speed of 320-360 mbps, while her XPS 9320 is routinely getting 740 mbps. Both computers are connected to Fios via a wired Fios Extender, a Local Network and a TP-Link switch model TL-SG105(UN). And the laptop is connected to the switch via a Dell Dock WD19S.

Both computers are running Windows 11 that are up to date.

This slower speed on the desktop is not new. In fact, it had been the case from the time we joined Fios in this metro area, about 4 years now. It's only in the past year or so since my wife got her new laptop that the speed difference became so obvious (we didn't check her laptop network speed before that).

I know this might have something to do with older components on my older desktop. But, I'm hoping someone might point me in the right direction so I can identify the part, or maybe just the setting, that could be changed to increase speed.

Thank you!

Josephus Flavius · Accepted Answer

UPDATE: I solved the problem by removing the Killer Control Center altogether. I did a (google) AI search and it came back with the recommendation to remove it because it said Killer throttles down connection speed with its "prioritization" settings. I tested first by just disabling it, and the connection speed immediately shot up from 340 to as high as 760. Once removed, I also used the Intel removal tool to fully remove any leftover files.

Thank you both Anne and Chris!

DELL-ChrisM2 · Answer

The 2017 XPS 8930 motherboard has two PCIe x1 slots and one PCIe x4 slot. See page 12. You could NOT use the onboard RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet port and instead install a modern PCIe x4 Ethernet card. Or even an external USB-A to Ethernet adapter.

Before purchasing anything, note that our OEM Killer E2500/E2600/E3000/E3100/E5000 Gigabit Ethernet Controller Driver is dated 2023. You might try searching for a newer Killer driver and see if they install and if you get faster speed.

anne_droid · Answer

Hi

You don't mention the plan you have.

Plan tiers and typical claims

Fios 300: up to 300 Mbps download and 300 Mbps upload.
Fios 500: up to 500/500 Mbps.
Fios Gigabit: up to 1,000/1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps symmetrical) in most areas.
Fios 2 Gbps: up to 2,000/2,000 Mbps where available (select markets).

EG:

IN-USE BSSID SSID MODE CHAN RATE SIGNAL BARS SECURITY
* AA:11:BB:22:CC:33 WhiffyToo Infra 64 540 Mbit/s 74 ▂▄▆_ WPA2
AA:11:BB:22:CC:33 WhiffyOne Infra 11 195 Mbit/s 32 ▂▄__ WPA2

I am actually supplied (at best) by my ISP 80/20 via copper wiring from the 1970's. So the speed of my adapter is more than adequate.

Josephus Flavius · Answer

Thank you both!

Anne - we have the Fios Gigabit plan.

Chris - I need to read the references you mention before I reply, to make sure I understand what you're pointing to. Might need some further explanation.

Thank you again!

anne_droid · Answer

Hi

HOW is the desktop 8930 connecting to the internet, via an ethernet cable (which should give Gigabyte as @DELL-ChrisM2 is suggesting, driver update notwithstanding) or a WiFi signal that could be upgraded.

If you wish to investigate, you could try, on either or both machines.......

CLI winkey +R cmd.exe - Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to launch.

ipconfig /all

tracert 13.107.4.52

netsh lan show interfaces | more /c

netsh wlan show interfaces | more /c

If in doubt please ask.

Josephus Flavius · Answer

@anne_droid​ Thank you Anne. It's a local area network, a very small one. Both desktop and laptop are connected via LAN cable to a TP-Link switch (see model in my original query) to the wired Fios Extender. There's a printer also connected to the switch, and that's the entire network.

Josephus Flavius · Answer

@DELL-ChrisM2​ Thank you again, Chris! It's actually a Killer E2400 controller located at the PCIe x4. The driver is from 2020, File Version 9.0.0.50  Just FYI, Windows 11 says all drivers are already updated... The RJ45 cable is connected to the default port on the backside.  I'm not sure whether you suggested I do something different. If so, perhaps you can spell it out for me? I'm quite rusty when it comes to tweaking PC settings, but can follow instructions well. Thank you again!

DELL-ChrisM2 · Answer

Just to be clear, is the RJ45 cable connected to =The top #1 section RJ45 port-or-The bottom #3/#4 section added NIC card RJ45 port

Josephus Flavius · Answer

@DELL-ChrisM2​  It's at the top, at #1.  I don't have cards, other than the video card... So I might have confused the matter by mentioning the PCIe4, haven't I?  Would purchasing an NIC card get me the higher connection speed? If so, what type/class?  Thanks again!

DELL-ChrisM2 · Answer

'The driver is from 2020, File Version 9.0.0.50'This XPS 8930 Killer driver 22DM9 34.23.7197 A54 dated September 28, 2023 shows as compatible with Killer E2400. Install it, reboot when done. Then retest and tell us if the speed is better.

anne_droid · Answer

Hi

A tracert or traceroute can be very telling...

traceroute to verizon.com (23.206.62.107), 30 hops max, 60 byte packets
1 Whiffy.Too (192.168.1.1) 1.936 ms 2.459 ms 2.417 ms
2 * * *
3 * 63.130.172.35 (63.130.172.35) 10.838 ms *
4 90.255.251.41 (90.255.251.41) 12.818 ms 13.028 ms 13.205 ms
5 ae2.3609.edge6.Miami1.net.lumen.tech (4.69.219.142) 111.631 ms 111.664 ms 112.603 ms

Shows my WiFi takes 2 - 2.4 ms to reach my router, and 112 ms to reach Miami from the UK.

Therefore just pure speed of connection is not the only parameter that matters, routing also matters.

I wish you luck.

Josephus Flavius · Answer

@DELL-ChrisM2​  Very interesting. I downloaded and installed the driver, following instructions. Rebooted and found minimal improvement. Then went back to Device Manager and found that the old driver is still shown (see image). Not seeing any change under Killer E2400 Gigabit Ethernet Controller in the Device Manager. And, again, when trying to Update driver, it says the latest/best driver already installed. Maybe the system didn't like this 2023 version for the E2400 ? Thanks again!

Josephus Flavius · Answer

@DELL-ChrisM2​  Just to update you: I did another Install/Repair and got the same speed results and again the new driver is not visible on the Device Manager, only the old driver info is shown.

DELL-ChrisM2 · Answer

'only the old driver info is shown.'Odd. In the Properties box, click Update Driver and direct it to look at the specific folder created when you installed Killer driver 22DM9. See if it will find a newer driver.

Josephus Flavius · Answer

@DELL-ChrisM2​  My thinking exactly. I did it, and then I repeated just in case (the Dell forum didn't allow me to come back right away...). It just says 'The best driver is already installed.' As to the Update, it's not just a couple of files. Rather, it's a Killer Center which involves a large set of files. I made sure that when pointing to it the check mark for Subfolders is checked, but somehow it didn't find those files useful. Maybe this 'Center' update is not officially for the E2400 ? No idea...

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XPS 8930, slow Verizon Fios connection compared to XPS 9320?

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