My current network should support wired 1Gbit connection. It used to be 1Gbit on my PC, but some time ago Windows started to see it as 100mbit. After trying several things, I am 100% it is an OS issue.
Things I've tried so far:
- fiddled with device settings, set up speed to 1Gbit full-duplex, without downgrading connection speed, disabled Gigabit Lite – didn't help
- bought new Cat6 cable, to rule out bad cable – didn't help
- tried upgrading NIC drivers – didn't help
- disabled hibernation in Windows – didn't help
- bought an USB3.0 NIC, to rule out faulty card – didn't help
- set up another PC, connected both old and new cables – second PC detects as 1Gbit on both cables
- tried using Linux Live distro on main PC – detects as 1Gbit on both cables and NICs
This suggests it is a Windows installation issue, but I'd very much like to avoid reinstalling Windows. Is there anything else I could try out?
- on-board NIC is Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
- driver is 10.10.714.2016, unsure what it was before updating
- second PC has driver version 9.1.410.2015. I'm unsure if reverting to that version could help, tried doing so but failed – Realtek drivers are pain to install
- main PC winver is 1909 (build 18363.592), auto-update enabled and OS is up to date
- second PC winver is 1903 (build 18362.592), auto-update enabled
Best Answer
Late and I think the issue is the cabling. Perhaps because I'm old enough to remember when it was a huge deal getting a CAT 5. Non e because they weren't available quite yet. Sorry for reminiscing, but I was surprised that nobody mentioned it. Maybe it's so we'll known it's a given, or maybe a long lost internet fact from the days of yore either way, CAT 5 cable tops out at 100Mbps. It looks very similar to CAT 5e but it can handle 1Gbps. Look closely at the insulation the type should be printed, dot matrix-style.