Question:

How can I improve the internet speed of my new gaming PC that uses a Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX ICE motherboard with wifi antenna?

I have recently assembled a new gaming PC with this motherboard, but the internet speed is very low (around 7-8mbps) compared to my old PC (around 70-80mbps) and my phone (around 120mbps) in the same location. I have updated all the drivers and tried various solutions from online sources, but nothing worked. My ISP is Starlink. What are the possible causes and solutions for this issue?

Answer:

If you are a gamer, you know how important it is to have a fast and reliable internet connection. However, sometimes you may encounter issues with your internet speed, especially if you have recently built a new gaming PC with a Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX ICE motherboard. This motherboard comes with a wifi antenna that allows you to connect to wireless networks, but some users have reported that their internet speed is much lower than expected, even when using the same ISP and router as before. In this article, we will explore some of the possible causes and solutions for this problem.

Possible Causes

There are many factors that can affect your internet speed, such as your ISP, your router, your network adapter, your wifi signal, your PC settings, and your background applications. Here are some of the most common ones that may be causing your internet speed to drop on your new gaming PC:

• Your ISP: Your internet service provider (ISP) may be experiencing congestion, outages, or throttling, which can reduce your internet speed. Starlink, for example, is a satellite-based ISP that offers high-speed internet in rural areas, but it is still in beta testing and may not be as stable or consistent as other ISPs. You can check your ISP’s status and performance on their website or by contacting their customer service.
• Your router: Your router may be outdated, malfunctioning, or incompatible with your new motherboard. It may also be too far away from your PC, or have too many devices connected to it, which can weaken your wifi signal and lower your internet speed. You can try to update your router’s firmware, reset it, or replace it with a newer model. You can also move your router closer to your PC, or use a wifi extender or a mesh network to boost your wifi signal.
• Your network adapter: Your network adapter is the device that allows your PC to communicate with your router and access the internet. Your new motherboard comes with a built-in network adapter that supports wifi 6, which is the latest and fastest wifi standard. However, your network adapter may not be configured properly, or may have outdated or corrupted drivers, which can affect your internet speed. You can try to update your network adapter’s drivers, or disable and re-enable it in the Device Manager. You can also check your network adapter’s settings and make sure they are optimized for performance and compatibility.
• Your wifi signal: Your wifi signal may be interfered by other devices or objects that use the same frequency band, such as microwaves, cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, or metal objects. This can cause your wifi signal to drop or fluctuate, which can lower your internet speed. You can try to change your wifi channel to a less crowded one, or use a different frequency band, such as 5 GHz instead of 2.4 GHz, if your router and network adapter support it. You can also avoid placing your PC near sources of interference, or use a wired connection instead of wifi.
• Your PC settings: Your PC settings may be limiting your internet speed, such as your power plan, your network profile, your firewall, or your antivirus. You can try to change your power plan to high performance, your network profile to private, and your firewall and antivirus to allow your network adapter and your browser. You can also disable any unnecessary background applications or services that may be using your internet bandwidth, such as Windows Update, Steam, or Skype.
• Your browser: Your browser may be slowing down your internet speed, due to having too many tabs, extensions, or plugins, or having a lot of cache, cookies, or history. You can try to close any unused tabs, disable any unwanted extensions or plugins, or clear your browser’s cache, cookies, and history. You can also use a different browser, such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, or use a browser that is designed for gaming, such as Opera GX.

Possible Solutions

To improve your internet speed on your new gaming PC, you can try some of the following solutions, depending on the cause of your problem:

• Test your internet speed: Before you try any of the solutions, you should test your internet speed using a reliable online tool, such as speedtest.net, fast.com, or Google’s speed test. This will help you measure your current internet speed and compare it with your expected speed, based on your ISP’s plan and your router’s capabilities. You should also test your internet speed on different devices, such as your old PC, your phone, or your laptop, to see if the problem is specific to your new gaming PC or not.
• Contact your ISP: If your internet speed is significantly lower than your ISP’s advertised speed, or if you notice a sudden drop or inconsistency in your internet speed, you should contact your ISP and report the problem. They may be able to diagnose the issue, offer you a solution, or compensate you for the inconvenience. You should also check your ISP’s terms and conditions, and see if they have any data caps, speed limits, or fair usage policies that may affect your internet speed.
• Upgrade your router: If your router is old, damaged, or incompatible with your new motherboard, you may want to upgrade it to a newer model that supports wifi 6, which is the fastest and most efficient wifi standard available. Wifi 6 routers can offer up to 9.6 Gbps of internet speed, which is much higher than the average internet speed in the US, which is around 180 Mbps. Wifi 6 routers can also handle more devices, reduce latency, and improve security. However, to enjoy the full benefits of wifi 6, you also need a wifi 6 network adapter, which your new motherboard already has.
• Use a wired connection: If your wifi signal is weak, unstable, or interfered, you may want to use a wired connection instead of wifi. A wired connection can offer faster, more reliable, and more secure internet speed, as it is not affected by distance, interference, or congestion. To use a wired connection, you need an Ethernet cable that connects your PC to your router. You also need to make sure that your router has enough Ethernet ports, and that your PC has an Ethernet port, which your new motherboard also has.
• Optimize your PC settings: If your PC settings are limiting your internet speed, you may want to optimize them for better performance and compatibility. You can do this by following these steps:
• Change your power plan to high performance: This will ensure that your PC uses the maximum amount of resources and does not reduce your internet speed to save power. To do this, go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options, and select High performance.
• Change your network profile to private: This will allow your PC to share files and devices with other devices on your network, and also enable some features that may improve your internet speed, such as network discovery and file sharing. To do this, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status, and click on Change connection properties. Then, under Network profile, select Private.
• Allow your network adapter and your browser in your firewall and antivirus: This will prevent your firewall and antivirus from blocking or slowing down your internet connection. To do this, go to Control Panel > System and Security > Windows Defender Firewall, and click on Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall. Then, check the boxes for your network adapter and your browser, and click on OK. You should also do the same for your antivirus software, if you have one.
• Disable any unnecessary background applications or services: This will free up your internet bandwidth and your PC resources, and prevent any conflicts or errors that may affect your internet speed. To do this, go to Task Manager, and click on the Startup tab. Then, right-click on any application or service that you do not need, and select Disable. You should also close any programs that you are not using, such as Windows Update, Steam, or Skype.

Conclusion

In

conclusion, there are many possible causes and solutions for your internet speed problem on your new gaming PC with a Gigabyte B650 Aorus Elite AX ICE motherboard. You should test your internet speed, contact your ISP, upgrade your router, use a wired connection, or optimize your PC settings, depending on the situation. By doing so, you can enjoy a faster and smoother gaming experience on your new gaming PC.