Check your Windows 8 WiFi Speed!

Discussion in 'Windows 8' started by Frankincense, Nov 17, 2012.

  1. Frankincense

    Frankincense MDL Novice

    Nov 7, 2012
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    #1 Frankincense, Nov 17, 2012
    I've installed Windows 8 Ent on a couple of laptops and it's only just now that I've realised the WiFi connection speed is terrible - either online or connecting to another PC on the network.

    I think it's down to the "default" drivers that Win 8 installs.

    One of the laptops was a Dell Inspiron 6400 (yes, OK it's old I know!) which has an Intel Pro Wireless 3945ABG adapter. Using the Windows 8 driver meant this was almost unusable but installing the Windows 7 drivers made it work perfectly again.

    The other was an Asus EEPC netbook which has a Broadcom 802.11N adapter. With the Win 8 driver I couldn't hardly use WiFi so I went back to Win 7 on that and it works fine now.

    Has anyone else found their laptop wireless connection less than perfect with Windows 8?

    Frank
     
  2. Tito

    Tito Admin / Adviser
    Staff Member

    Nov 30, 2009
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    #2 Tito, Nov 17, 2012
    You should always use the updated drivers. Vanilla drivers provide just basic functionality.
     
  3. Padpadak

    Padpadak MDL Member

    Feb 11, 2010
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    #3 Padpadak, Nov 17, 2012
    Here no problems with a HP dv7 and a wifi link 5300 b/g/n card.
    Have a dual boot win 7/win 8 on win 7 use the drivers from Intel In win 8 use the Windows drivers, and speed Is the same.
     
  4. Frankincense

    Frankincense MDL Novice

    Nov 7, 2012
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    #4 Frankincense, Nov 17, 2012
    Last edited: Nov 17, 2012
    (OP)
    Maybe it's down to individual cards then ... and using "updated drivers" is fine.... if there are any "updated drivers" to be found o_O
     
  5. win7

    win7 MDL Senior Member

    Dec 21, 2008
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    #5 win7, Nov 17, 2012
    Pretty sure I have noticed this on my desktop PC. But not my laptop. Using an external Belkin adaptor, with the most recent (but still quite old) driver.
     
  6. EFA11

    EFA11 Avatar Guru

    Oct 7, 2010
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    #6 EFA11, Nov 17, 2012
    Honestly this is one area that I haven't considered. I have both my wifi and my lan connected to my router using two IP's. Both appear to be doing the job (lan 100mbps and wifi 150mbps). Ill look into this now, thanks for the thought of the day for me lol
     
  7. geneticplasma

    geneticplasma MDL Senior Member

    May 13, 2011
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    #7 geneticplasma, Nov 17, 2012
    I have also a terrible issue relating Win8 and WIFI (Intel 5300agn). My upload-speed is nearly 50% as possible! I think it's driver problem! But I tried Win8-driver and Intel-driver - nothig helped!

    LAN-Connection rocks and Wifi-Stick (Atheros-Chipset) rocks, too! But 5300agn not:mad: Don't know why:confused: (Card isn't damaged, because in Win7 upload-speed is very well!)

    Now I have ordered a 6300agn - hope this will fix it:worthy:
     
  8. free1975yuly

    free1975yuly MDL Expert

    Aug 24, 2011
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    #8 free1975yuly, Nov 17, 2012
    Ican use here any WIFI or LAN I want but my Internet speed remain the same...:rolleyes:
     
  9. Frankincense

    Frankincense MDL Novice

    Nov 7, 2012
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    #9 Frankincense, Nov 17, 2012 (OP)
    After more research I can say that if you are doing a fresh install on an older laptop with any version of Windows 8 it is not guaranteed that WiFi will be OK using the drivers that Windows 8 installs.

    Both my laptops did not work hardly at all with the drivers that Win 8 installed.

    The only current way round this that I personally have found is to manually install the latest Windows 7 drivers to each laptop (as there were/are no official Windows 8 drivers for my two laptops)

    Once I did this both laptops worked perfectly again like they did with Win 7, but obviously not everyone will have these issues, probably only people who install Windows 8 fresh onto an older laptop as new Windows 8 laptops won't have any problems of course.

    Frank