Wifi/Sound/Graphics Problems

Question

EDIT: New problems have recently arisen. So instead of expecting people to read the old and then the new, here's a run down of all the issues currently affecting my computer:

1. Fluctuating download speeds over Wifi (upload speed is more stable)
2. Sound cuts out intermittently
3. Graphics seems to skip frames (move mouse/type, occasional lag before changes appear on screen)

This all makes me think either CPU or motherboard now. I'm leaning more towards the motherboard; it would suggest to me that the data buses are failing. On the other hand, if the CPU is messing up, I'm not sure I could tell the difference.

Hoping someone can tell me if either of these makes sense as the root of all these issues. I'd rather not buy a new CPU/mobo and find out it's not the issue.

Old post: I came back from college and brought my desktop computer. Family recently switched to Verizon FIOS and got a new router because of it. Unfortunately, my connection to the new wifi network is awful, with the download speeds (tested through speedtest.net) fluctuating wildly and often dropping below 1.5 Mbps. A laptop in the same room gets 20 Mbps. I've tried a new wireless card, thinking that mine got damaged in the move home but no luck.

Here's where it gets weird: if I place the laptop near the computer, the laptop's download speeds often suffer greatly. Pulling the laptop away always fixes this. So now I'm under the impression that there's something in the computer (which I built a year ago and has had 0 issues up to this point) is causing an insane amount of wireless interference.

Also bizarre: the upload speeds seem unaffected by this problem. On the laptop and desktop, upload speeds are generally around 5 Mpbs.

Any ideas as to what could be causing this and how to test said theories would be fantastic.

Answer 1

This is basically a way to troubleshoot the issue, and not a solution, but since that is what you are asking for...

1. Get InSSIDer
2. Run it, and slowly move your laptop around.
   • if you see the signal strength fading, that is the problem there
   • If you do not see the signal fading, then there is a different problem
3. See if the power status of the other computer changes anything
4. See if moving the computer changes anything

Let me know if any of these reveal the issue.

Answer 2

It's quite possible he's just TOO CLOSE!

His laptop's radio is being saturated and the signal is distorted, so it's doing a lot of resync and resend.

Put the router over there... or over THERE.

High power radio transmitters will overdrive a nearby receiver (especially a sensitive one) and cause signal disruptions. Put them on high shelves, bookcases or someplace away from a typical connection spot. A few feet at least.

Answer 3

For some closure, it turns out it was an issue with one of my network drivers. Updating the drivers for my wifi adapter fixed the issue.