Help with ping spikes

[bassvax]

Long one here

Since Dec 3 or 4 I have been having ping spikes of 300ms-6000ms lasting 2-5 seconds and occurring at 10-20 second intervals. This greatly effects gameplay. Normally this would not be a problem, but I have joined a team and compete on what I call a semi-professional basis. The game in question is Unreal Tournament. I cannot be an effective and reliable player if this continues.

Given the date of initial probs...I called my ISP (cable modem) to see if they were experiencing probs, updating, replacing equipment or in some way being effected by the @Home fiasco. All replies were negative (3 calls total made..diff peeps each time). A short, less than a minute, ping test by the ISP did not register the ping spikes. Of course, I was told it was my system...

What they didn't know was that I had already shaken down my system pretty good before calling them:

Disconnected all items, cleaned and reconnected correctly.
Re-installed NIC
Confirmed Network Properties
Reformatted a partition and re-installed the game (& only that game) to an empty HD partition
Initially I thought it was video related because of the screen freezes and such, but after checking all video related items and reinstalling the drivers....I thought to use the Net Stat command within the UT game to monitor my ping...it is then that I realized the spikes coinciding with the screen freezes. The Stat Net utility refreshes every second (or less) so it catches pings that do not register on the player roster that appears at time of death (lol).
I ran ping tests to my son's house (Cable modem with diff ISP) same spiking was occurring.
Last night I completely dismantled the system, removing all peripherals, fdisked, formatted and reinstalled everything with nice new upgrades to some software. I put the game on its own partition and I am still having the same spike probs....

One suggestion from ISP Techie was to make sure the 10/100 NIC was set to 10T Half-duplex..I changed it from Auto to Half and it is still a prob. He said that the polling of the Auto setting might be the interference.

One last suggestion was to look for IRQ conflicts...there are none listed in the DM, but the SoundBlaster Live Platinum 5.1 and the NIC were using the same IRQ (4). When I reinstalled everything I replaced the sound card into the slot it originally occupied (Slot 2) and inserted the NIC into Slot 5 which was a change from the original (Slot 3). Now the sound card and NIC are on IRQ 10 and while there is no DM error, I have received the following error 3-4 times within the last 2 hours:

Windows

The system has detected a conflict for IP address xx.xxx.xxx.xxx with the system having hardware address 00:50:DA:2B:39:47.

::ya didn't really thing I would publish my IP did ya?::

Now, while I know that numbers like that don't mean a whole lot to us folk, maybe someone will recognize the format and be able to help me identify which piece of hardware is associated with that address.

I have a match tonight and I have told the team I may not be able to play if this persists. I will be calling my ISP again...I read in a gaming forum about a guy with a similar prob around the same date and he found out that his ISP was piggy-backing with some @Home equipment...they admitted it and fixed the prob.

Any takers? Thanks for getting your daily wordage in from my thesis.

System:

Win 98SE (all updates) & DX 8.1
AMD 1.0GHz T-Bird (not OC'd)
ASUS A7V133 (KT133A) Orig 4in1 & BIOS rev (n need to fix-ain't broke)
ASUS V7100 Pure 32MB GeForce 2 MX 400 (Using Nvidia Det's 23.11)
2-256MB sticks of Crucial CL-2 PC133 sticks
IBM Deskstar 46.1GB 7200 ATA100 HD (not using Promise controller on mobo)
MS Intellieye Mouse
MS Internet KB
SMC 10/100 EZ NIC (1211 series) basic RJ-45 connect only
Their Scientific Atlanta Model# DPX110 cable modem
Soundblaster Live Platinum 5.1
Havent even installed Norton SystemWorks 2001 yet.

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[This message has been edited by bassvax (edited 12-09-2001).]

[Gallaeglagh]

From what I understand about these ping spikes is that they're often caused by the modem readjusting to the line conditions. And given what's going on with @Home that doesn't sound too surprising.

Is there a way to temporary limit your modems connection?

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"It's all one song," Neil Young

[Whyzman]

Bassvax,

I also have the ASUS A7V133 and have had a "great deal of fun" setting things up! The card placement on this board is critical as some slots "hardware share." This goes beyond IRQ sharing...

e.g., if you look on page 29 of the manual you will see the Interrupt Request Table. Under INT-A note that the AGP hardware shares with PCI slot 1. INT-B...Since you are not using the Promise ATA I would say you are Okay using slot 2 for the SB (note that if you were using the ATA, Slot 2 hardware shares with the Promise Controller, not a good situation.

Anyway, I point this out to say this: I would strongly suggest that you pay the dime and call ASUS Tech-Support and get their take on your card placement. It obviously is critical to not having the components interferring with each other "coming out of the gate." My experience has been that the NIC, Modem, and SB play King of the Hill on our MB. I wound up yanking the NIC (didn't really need right now) to smooth things out with the other players (modem and SB).

Also, there were some known issues with the BIOS...I think mine started at v.1002 and they're now at final v.1007....I think. Read where there are some problems with v.1007 however. I have v.1005 on mine and I seem to be doing Okay. The 4 in 1's have gone through quite a few revisions also, might be some glitches that are showing up...might want to consider updating there also.

Well, I've rattled on here a bit...to get to my original point...I'd call ASUS and get their take on the card placement. While you've got them, you then might want to get their take on the BIOS updates and 4in1's...along with the preferred driver for the SB. (For me, my ATI and SB were also at odds).



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May all your dealings in life be win/win!

Whyzman

[bassvax]

OK gang thanks for the input so far...

I found out why I got that weird error message...my dumb arse transposed the last two digits of the IP..fixed that.

After buying a new NIC and Some nice new CAT 5 I still have the lag problems..

Needless to say I will pounding on the ISP's door again http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

ps-My experience with Detonator 23.11's was not good...freezes slow downs (like I was running Open Glide on dets lol)...I had already did the DX 8.1...so I removed the 23.11's and put the 21.83's back on and I good to go on the video part again.

ps-thanks for the ideas on the cards and such...I fought the IRQ's long enough...slots 4 & 5 share the same...so moving between them made no diff...even after trying to manually set some assignments...Good new...I disabled a couple of the hogs and was able to get the NIC all by itself (aside from the PCI steering which I'm glad is there) for once...and the funny thing is that I ended up putting it in slot 3 where it was originally before the re-format.

I have not worried about the revsions to the BIOS or 4 in 1's...I figure if it aint broke don't fix it...been running them since day one (feb 2001).

I can lower my netspeed within the game, but it makes no diff regarding lag..my actual packet loss only makes it to 5% with maybe a 10% once per hour or so...that I notice anyways.

pss-I disabled SB 16 Emulation, ps/2 mouse port and COM 2 btw (no printer or scanner at the moment and using USB mouse)

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[This message has been edited by bassvax (edited 12-09-2001).]

[iisbob]

I was going to tell you Bass that usually that error you recieved is when you have two PC's on a network that have the same IP address assigned to them ( ie, i've seen this happen with people who bought a hub and the salesman( BestBuy http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif ) told them they could just plug both computers into it and use the same @home settings to surf with both. ) NOT!.

Actually you could do this as long as one of the PC's was off or disconnected from the hub.


This may be a problem with your Modem; i bought my own modem a while back when they offered a price reduction for owning your own ( its a Toshiba PCX1100 ), been awesome compared to that Motorola they issued. I would suggest you take it back to the provider and exchange it to see if that could be the problem.

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iisbob
""I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know."
Mark Twain

[This message has been edited by iisbob (edited 12-09-2001).]

[bassvax]

Thanks iisbob http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Yeah...this time they're gonna switch the modem for me (one way or the other)....After the third call I carried the modem into the techie's office and said let me swap for a diff one to see it this is it...they convinced me that they needed to do some ping tests & etc (their words) before they could justify switching it out....well...Im done with 'em...I have no doubt that the prob lies somewhere in their equipment whether it is their equipment at my house or along the way somewhere...it seems to be getting worse too...

Thanks again all...I'll let you know what it is, if I can get it resolved.

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[bassvax]

Talk to me about IRQ sharing...not the difficult stuff...just one question:

After struggling through yesterday's session and getting the NIC on it's own...the ISP boys are telling me to make sure of no IRQ probs...(not necessarily conflicts now, but sharing at all)...so, the only thing on the IRQ with the NIC is ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering

Is this OK...I mean the steering part is good right...not like another resource consumer just a guide right?

I think they are finally gonna come out and I want to make sure I don't have to pay them for the trip http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Thanks all http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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[Ghost_Hacker]

My 2 cents....

Ping spikes are an indication of routing/heavy traffic problems between you and the server.

Don't let them fool you with talk of NIC polling (I would like to hear what that is http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif) or a system misconfiguration on your end.

edit Try using tracert to see if there is a delay in your network. Type "tracert IPaddress or domain name" at a command prompt and you'll see the responce time of all the routers between you and that IP. About the only solution for ping spikes is either to switch out the cable modem or the cable ISP. If it's packet loss and not high ping times then there won't be much you can do.



[This message has been edited by Ghost_Hacker (edited 12-10-2001).]

[diurnal]

Hey bassvax your working way to hard, i know you got to be streesssed outtt
I worked with satellite crap for a while and know a little bout this sort of thing. So i know cable is much better and reliable, One idea is to try and see if they will recommission you a new gateway. Some gateways are busier than others, but im sure you can find on the net a good gateway.
But if you bought another or replaced anohter cable modem, you would get a recomission gateway or new gatewya. But they could have still gave you a slow gateway.(aka router) THey might have recently got alot of customers or something also. Do they offer DSL in your location, i heard that you get your own bandwidth, instead of sharing it{Cable}. Like a switch instead of a hub. But im just tossing some ideas out, hope it helps


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Sledgehammer will save the day!

[bassvax]

Just an update for all you kind folks that offered assistance:

While the problem is not solved...it has been officially confirmed to be a hardware issue on the part of my ISP...somewhere on the line there is a junction box (I can't recall what the technician called it) that has fowled due most likely to weather.

After 7 phone calls and almost 2 weeks a real technician finally came to my house and confirmed that my cable modem and my computer were up to the task...he did some serious pinging from my pc and finally my ISP officially declares the problem to be on their end.

The sad news is that this problem will only be reported by folks like me that need that steady high speed...surfers dont normally see it...so the problem is highly under-reported. The tech went back to the shop and started searching for other IP's in my area with the same prob...he called to tell me that he found a handful and that he was turning it over to outside maintenance. Being as there are few complainants, they may not rush to spend the $$$ to replace the fowled equipment. He did say it should be a week at the most...we'll see.

Feels good to have won at least a portion of the battle http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I knew my system was strac (straight up) http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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[bassvax]

Just an update for all you kind folks that offered assistance:

While the problem is not solved...it has been officially confirmed to be a hardware issue on the part of my ISP...somewhere on the line there is a junction box (I can't recall what the technician called it) that has fowled due most likely to weather.

After 7 phone calls and almost 2 weeks a real technician finally came to my house and confirmed that my cable modem and my computer were up to the task...he did some serious pinging from my pc and finally my ISP officially declares the problem to be on their end.

The sad news is that this problem will only be reported by folks like me that need that steady high speed...surfers dont normally see it...so the problem is highly under-reported. The tech went back to the shop and started searching for other IP's in my area with the same prob...he called to tell me that he found a handful and that he was turning it over to outside maintenance. Being as there are few complainants, they may not rush to spend the $$$ to replace the fowled equipment. He did say it should be a week at the most...we'll see.

Feels good to have won at least a portion of the battle http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I knew my system was strac (straight up) http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Join the Circus (http://www.helpfromtechs.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi) friday nights.

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[bassvax]

Look at the Internal Server Errors go http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif
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[This message has been edited by bassvax (edited 12-17-2001).]

[BigBlue66]

Hey Bass,

Just an aside here, but noticed you have a Geforce and are using the DET drivers.

Have you ever used Geforce Tweaker or RivaTuner? You can download them at:
www.guru3d.com (http://www.guru3d.com)

Play with it at your own risk. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

BB 66


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Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.
- Pamela Vault Starr

[ranchdog]

guru3d.com is history after today... 12/17/01.

Host Server (Playnet.com) has pulled the plug. Chief Editor has thrown in the towel and says... No Mas.

Was an excellent website to find some excellent drivers. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

RD.

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....How long is a minute... depends on which side of the Bathroom door you're on. ......Indecision may or may not be my problem......
..........

[bassvax]

Final Update http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

All is well...this weekend the ISP called and said to try things now...They replaced a card in one of their servers and wallah..I'm back in business. Been pinging great ever since.

Thanks for all the responses/suggestions http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

I can't remember the exact name for the card...smp smt something like that.

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