Very inconsistent internet connection

[Hydro]

For a little while now my internet connection has been unreliable at best, and downright demoralizing at worst. This is especially annoying since it’s starting to interfere with my studies, and I’ve been looking for a solution for a while now, but I’ve come to realize that without any specific outside help my situation won’t improve.
I have narrowed the problem down to my pc, and my pc alone, since my laptop and other mobile devices around the house don’t lag out, even when my pc does. I suspect my internet adapter is the problem since after looking around on the internet I’ve come to find that I’m not the only person who has some problem with it.

The details are:

• I use Windows 10, latest version
• I use an ASUS USB AC68 adapter
• The connection when it’s not spiking is very fast, nearing 150 Mb/s, but when it does lagspike, the latency jumps from ~10-30 to +4000ms, and after 1-5 seconds jumps back down to normal. This happens at random.

[phillpower2]

Can you post the brand and model name or number of the power supply (PSU).

Download then run Speccy (free) and post the resultant url for us, details here, this will provide us with information about your computer hardware + any software that you have installed that may explain the present issue/s.

To publish a Speccy profile to the Web:

In Speccy, click File, and then click Publish Snapshot.

In the Publish Snapshot dialog box, click Yes to enable Speccy to proceed.

Speccy publishes the profile and displays a second Publish Snapshot. You can open the URL in your default browser, copy it to the clipboard, or close the dialog box.

[Hydro]

600 Watt Cooler Master RS-600-ACAB-D3 I think is the right component I should denote as the PSU.

Speccy:

http://speccy.piriform.com/results/XULLrJZd6ZOGeIWek63LgYP

[phillpower2]

AVG is a known resource hog so try uninstalling it, restarting the computer and using it as you normally would to test.

How to uninstall AVG here

[COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]If any AV product that you have is a paid for version you should always make sure that you have a copy of the product key kept somewhere safe just in case you ever wish to reinstall it.[/COLOR]

[Hydro]

The situation did improve, this time the lag spikes are less frequent, but when they do happen I still get 1k+ ms latency.

[phillpower2]

For a little while now my internet connection has been unreliable at best,

Couple of questions if I may;

For how long exactly, reason I ask is because Speccy shows that Windows 10 version 2004 was only recently installed;

Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Computer type: Desktop
[COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]Installation Date: 10-9-2020 22:14:15

Was Windows 10 version 2004 a clean install or an update from version 1909, this is important as there could be some important drivers missing.

Do you have the USB wireless adapter in one of the faster USB 3.1 ports (blue).

Have you disabled the USB selective suspend setting “how to” here

There are a couple of other things of note in Speccy but will come back to them rather than overburden you with them all at once.[/COLOR]

[Hydro]

Couple of questions if I may;

For how long exactly, reason I ask is because Speccy shows that Windows 10 version 2004 was only recently installed;

Operating System
Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Computer type: Desktop
[COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]Installation Date: 10-9-2020 22:14:15

Was Windows 10 version 2004 a clean install or an update from version 1909, this is important as there could be some important drivers missing.

Do you have the USB wireless adapter in one of the faster USB 3.1 ports (blue).

Have you disabled the USB selective suspend setting “how to” here

There are a couple of other things of note in Speccy but will come back to them rather than overburden you with them all at once.
[/COLOR]

[COLOR=rgb(226, 80, 65)]

1. The connection issues go way back to before that date. I did also check my drivers afterwards through the device manager and I was told that my drivers were all up to date by windows.
2. All of my USB ports are blue ones, so at least 3.0, I don’t know exactly how to distinguish 3.0 from 3.1 though.
3. I have not disabled that, will change that setting now.

[/color]

[phillpower2]

Was Windows 10 version 2004 a clean install or an update from version 1909, this is important as there could be some important drivers missing.

But was it a clean install of Windows 10 or an in place upgrade, as said it is important that we know, Windows 10 has generic drivers for most devices but the one thing that it cannot provide is chipset drivers for a motherboard as only the manufacturer of the MB is able to provide those and Windows cant check that drivers for a device that it has no drivers for are up to date.

Based on the fact that you have had the issue for a long time both with and without the latest version of Windows 10 installed and while you are using the correct USB ports on the MB I suspect that your original “I suspect my internet adapter is the problem since after looking around on the internet I’ve come to find that I’m not the only person who has some problem with it.” analysis is correct and the best way to confirm it would be to borrow an alternative wireless dongle from a friend or family member and use that to test in your PC, if you are able to do this, be sure to uninstall the present wireless drivers before connecting any other wireless dongle to the computer.

1. All of my USB ports are blue ones

Nope, you actually have two black high speed USB 2.0 ports that are next to the dual purple/green mouse/keyboard PS/2 connecter, try testing the dongle in both USB 2.0 ports.

Can I ask that you do not quote every reply as I have to read the full post to make sure nothing gets missed, thanks.

[Hydro]

I will see if there is any other wifi-adapter I would be able to borrow to confirm my suspicions, although this might take a while.
I just checked the back-side of my pc and did see two black USB 2.0 ports, so it seems I stand corrected. I do however have my adapter connected to the blue USB 3.0 ports

[phillpower2]

Is there some reason why you are unable to tell us if Windows was clean installed or an in place upgrade.

I do however have my adapter connected to the blue USB 3.0 ports

Can you try the USB 2.0 ports as was suggested.

[Hydro]

In the USB 2.0 port the connection does act less reliable than in the USB 3.0 port, but of course that is relative because even in the USB 3.0 port the connection issues do still happen.

[phillpower2]

Trying another USB wireless device is as much as I am able to suggest, being that you are not prepared to provide feedback on each of the questions that have been asked I will be chiming out now.

[Hydro]

Alright, thanks for the help in any case. I will see if I can solve the problem with the new information you provided