My wired internet connection is normally steady, but it occasionally drops almost completely for one or two seconds before recovering. The interruptions can happen back-to-back or several minutes apart, and they cause Twitch streams to stutter and online games to freeze or lag badly. I use Xfinity service advertised at around 1 Gbps and previously had no issues. I replaced the modem, router, RG-6 cable, and Ethernet cable after noticing possible damage from my cats, but the problem continued. A clean Windows installation seemed to help temporarily, and I have checked for malware. What else can I test to determine whether the problem is my computer, local network, modem, or ISP connection?
4 Answers
A bandwidth graph dropping to zero does not necessarily mean the connection is losing its full gigabit speed; games and streams are especially sensitive to packet loss and short interruptions. Also try updating or reinstalling the Ethernet driver, disabling Ethernet power-saving features, and testing another LAN port or a different adapter. Avoid relying on a speed test alone, since it may not catch one- or two-second dropouts.
Use continuous pings while reproducing the issue. For example, ping your router's local address in one window and a public address such as 1.1.1.1 in another. If both stop responding, investigate the PC, Ethernet link, or router. If the router continues responding but the public ping fails, the problem is more likely between the router and ISP. Running a traceroute or testing with another device can help narrow it down.
Test another computer or device on the same network when the problem occurs. If multiple devices experience the same brief freezes, the issue is probably with the modem, signal, router, or ISP rather than Windows. If only this PC is affected, focus on its Ethernet adapter, driver, power-saving settings, or motherboard network hardware.
Check the modem's diagnostic or connection-status page for upstream and downstream signal levels, error counts, and event logs. The exact address depends on the modem, and some ISP-provided equipment blocks access. Since the modem and cables have already been replaced, contact the ISP and report recurring brief outages or packet loss rather than only mentioning the Task Manager speed graph. Ask them to check the line and signal levels at the modem.
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