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Extremely high ping (500+) after connecting to an online gaming server
Good day!
My problem is that I get a crazy high ping after connecting to any online gaming server, no matter what the game (specifically Counter-Strike: Source and Age of Empires III). Below is a perfect example to work with:
I could play Counter-Strike: Source just fine last week with a great ping (usually around 30). Then I upgraded my machine:
- AOpen Aeolus 6800 GT video card (ForceWare 84.21)
- DFI LanParty UT nF4 Ultra-D motherboard (nForce4 AMD Edition - Windows XP/2000 (32-Bit) 6.70)
- Athlon 64 3200+ processor
- 1 gigabyte of the best Corsair memory money can buy
- Antec 450 watt power supply (more than enough to power 1 video card)
- 74GB WD Raptor hard drive (freshly defragmented)
I just set everything up; no overclocking; standard install of Windows XP with SP2; a fresh Steam install. I have done tests from DSL reports on my Cable line, and I am having no troubles with the connection. Great QOS, great upload and download bandwidth.
My friend was over at my house, and on my wireless internet connection (Linksys WRT54G v2.0 Router - firmware v4.20.7) playing CS:S from his laptop after freshly purchasing and downloading it. He's running Windows XP, and he had a ping around 30. I was on my desktop (Linksys WMP54G v4.0 PCI card - driver 3.0.3.0) with a ping of around 500+. It almost neared 1000 a couple of times.
So far:
1.) I tried turning off Windows XP SP2 Firewall
2.) I tried removing the "hl2" entry from the firewall exceptions list and redetecting it
3.) I tried slowing down Steam's connection to "56K"
4.) I tried opening the proper ports on my router
5.) I have tried bypassing the firewall
6.) I have updated my router’s firmware to the utmost
7.) I have opened the connection up completely
8.) I have tried combining all of these steps together
9.) I disabled the onboard network controllers
10.) I disabled "AMD Cool'n'Quiet"
In CS:S, I get a frame rate of around 60 - 70 FPS at 1600x1200, but my ping is between 500 and 1000. I have great frame rates no matter what the resolution (the "net_graph 3" command from the console is telling me around 120 FPS at 1024x768). "net_graph 3" is also telling me I have crazy packet loss (around 40 or 50) at 1024x768 (or any resolution for that matter).
The only glimmer of hope comes when I run the game windowed at 1024x768 with the "net_graph_3" on. I can connect to a game server with a ping above 300, as usual, but when I switch out of the CS:S window (into notepad for example) I notice that my ping would drop to around 30 - 50 and the packet loss would go away completely. When I switch back in, the ping skyrockets almost immediately and my packet loss does as well.
Thank you in advance for any thoughts or suggestions you can make.
My problem is that I get a crazy high ping after connecting to any online gaming server, no matter what the game (specifically Counter-Strike: Source and Age of Empires III). Below is a perfect example to work with:
I could play Counter-Strike: Source just fine last week with a great ping (usually around 30). Then I upgraded my machine:
- AOpen Aeolus 6800 GT video card (ForceWare 84.21)
- DFI LanParty UT nF4 Ultra-D motherboard (nForce4 AMD Edition - Windows XP/2000 (32-Bit) 6.70)
- Athlon 64 3200+ processor
- 1 gigabyte of the best Corsair memory money can buy
- Antec 450 watt power supply (more than enough to power 1 video card)
- 74GB WD Raptor hard drive (freshly defragmented)
I just set everything up; no overclocking; standard install of Windows XP with SP2; a fresh Steam install. I have done tests from DSL reports on my Cable line, and I am having no troubles with the connection. Great QOS, great upload and download bandwidth.
My friend was over at my house, and on my wireless internet connection (Linksys WRT54G v2.0 Router - firmware v4.20.7) playing CS:S from his laptop after freshly purchasing and downloading it. He's running Windows XP, and he had a ping around 30. I was on my desktop (Linksys WMP54G v4.0 PCI card - driver 3.0.3.0) with a ping of around 500+. It almost neared 1000 a couple of times.
So far:
1.) I tried turning off Windows XP SP2 Firewall
2.) I tried removing the "hl2" entry from the firewall exceptions list and redetecting it
3.) I tried slowing down Steam's connection to "56K"
4.) I tried opening the proper ports on my router
5.) I have tried bypassing the firewall
6.) I have updated my router’s firmware to the utmost
7.) I have opened the connection up completely
8.) I have tried combining all of these steps together
9.) I disabled the onboard network controllers
10.) I disabled "AMD Cool'n'Quiet"
In CS:S, I get a frame rate of around 60 - 70 FPS at 1600x1200, but my ping is between 500 and 1000. I have great frame rates no matter what the resolution (the "net_graph 3" command from the console is telling me around 120 FPS at 1024x768). "net_graph 3" is also telling me I have crazy packet loss (around 40 or 50) at 1024x768 (or any resolution for that matter).
The only glimmer of hope comes when I run the game windowed at 1024x768 with the "net_graph_3" on. I can connect to a game server with a ping above 300, as usual, but when I switch out of the CS:S window (into notepad for example) I notice that my ping would drop to around 30 - 50 and the packet loss would go away completely. When I switch back in, the ping skyrockets almost immediately and my packet loss does as well.
Thank you in advance for any thoughts or suggestions you can make.
ASKER
I found the following on a web site:
768k
rate 20000
cl_cmdrate 40
cl_updaterate 35
cl_rate 9999 *OR* 20000
cl_cmdbackup 2
So I set mine accordingly, but to no avail.
** Last night I took my computer up to the router and hardwired it in. I was able to run at 1600x1200 with no lag or packet loss. **
So now my predicament becomes, how do I run online games well over wireless. What tweaks do I need to change my connection settings. I get connected and stay connected. Do I need to change my RTS Threshold, etc.?
768k
rate 20000
cl_cmdrate 40
cl_updaterate 35
cl_rate 9999 *OR* 20000
cl_cmdbackup 2
So I set mine accordingly, but to no avail.
** Last night I took my computer up to the router and hardwired it in. I was able to run at 1600x1200 with no lag or packet loss. **
So now my predicament becomes, how do I run online games well over wireless. What tweaks do I need to change my connection settings. I get connected and stay connected. Do I need to change my RTS Threshold, etc.?
What wireless protocol are you running?
Now make of Access Point/Wireless Router and wireless NIC adapter in the PC become important as do firmware version in each.
So next questions:
.11b? .11g?
Access Point/Router - Make, Model & Firmware version
WiFi card in your desktop - Make & Firmware
TBH I can tell you now that the hard wired connection will always surpass the WiFi alternative & CS usually shows this more that most online games (WoW as well). What we need to do is get the wireless connection as good as possible and then tweak CS to accomodate that.
Now make of Access Point/Wireless Router and wireless NIC adapter in the PC become important as do firmware version in each.
So next questions:
.11b? .11g?
Access Point/Router - Make, Model & Firmware version
WiFi card in your desktop - Make & Firmware
TBH I can tell you now that the hard wired connection will always surpass the WiFi alternative & CS usually shows this more that most online games (WoW as well). What we need to do is get the wireless connection as good as possible and then tweak CS to accomodate that.
ASKER
MASQUERAID, all of the info you're asking about is in the original post.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
I moved the router to the same floor as the computer - the basement. The router is approximately 40 feet away through 1 wall, and I am about 8 feet from having line-of-sight to the router. I still get a rediculously high ping, so last night, I plugged the computer directly into the router with a 50 foot Cat6e network cable, and I had a ping of 30 or less to every server I connected to. As much as I practically willed this to not be a wireless networking issue, I am convinced now that it is, and that there is no alleviating the problem. If you can recommend anything else to help my wireless connection, I am open to any suggestions. Otherwise, I may be looking at purchasing a new MIMO router or getting a Linksys high gain antenna or signal booster. For anyone else with this problem, the only way to play online games with good QoS is a direct line to the router.
Would still pursue the settings your friend was using on their CS gaming in your original question, if they had low ping but were using your router then there is still hope you can get your packet loss reduced.
Another alternative (not for the faint hearted!) would be to flash to a modded firmware. Lots of CS:S players are using DD-WRT on their v2. WRT's http://www.testmy.net/forum/t-12222 but check the warnings first.
Another alternative (not for the faint hearted!) would be to flash to a modded firmware. Lots of CS:S players are using DD-WRT on their v2. WRT's http://www.testmy.net/forum/t-12222 but check the warnings first.
ASKER
So the way I solved it was to open the Steam client > "My Games" tab > right-click "Counter-Strike: Source" > Properties > "General" tab > "Set launch options" button > type: +clientport 27006
I guess it's a known issue with Linksys routers. I don't know why Valve didn't tell me that. Oh well, whatever. It works! Yay!
I guess it's a known issue with Linksys routers. I don't know why Valve didn't tell me that. Oh well, whatever. It works! Yay!
Good news!
>>I guess it's a known issue with Linksys routers.
Yes it is, check here ... http:Q_21796420.html#16355146
M :o)
>>I guess it's a known issue with Linksys routers.
Yes it is, check here ... http:Q_21796420.html#16355146
M :o)
Are you hardwired to your wireless router (CAT5)?
When you say "I tried opening the proper ports on my router" are you using a fixed IP address on your LAN?
You're getting a great fps result so the game is running with no problem on your machine (like you'ld expect with that spec) Assume this is a clean install with no mods and no chance you have spyware or other nasties tying to borrow bandwidth.
The fact your friend's laptop is getting out with a low ping suggest that this is down to either:
Local PC
Installation problems
or
Installation settings
Have you tried looking at config files (especially cl_update rate, cl_cmdrate & PB)?