I have an HP desktop running Windows 11 Home with a 2 Gbps internet connection. Other devices in the house typically get 300–500 Mbps over Wi‑Fi, but this PC is limited to roughly 32 Mbps over both Ethernet and Wi‑Fi. Online games have also started experiencing noticeable lag.
The problem is unusual because the connection briefly improves after rebooting. If I run a speed test immediately, I may see around 120–130 Mbps, but within three to five minutes the speed falls back to approximately 30–32 Mbps and remains there until the next reboot. This started sometime after the PC was initially receiving much faster speeds several months ago.
I have restarted both the PC and router, performed a Windows network reset, and changed adapter settings such as disabling Green Ethernet. The Realtek Gaming GbE Family Controller and Intel Wi‑Fi 6 AX201 drivers have both been updated directly from the manufacturers. What could be causing the speed to drop after a few minutes, and what should I try next?
1 Answer
Install the complete driver package from HP’s support page for the exact desktop model, rather than relying only on the individual Realtek and Intel downloads. Update the chipset, Ethernet, Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, graphics, audio, and any other available system drivers. Run each installer as administrator and reboot after the installations. Since the issue affects both wired and wireless connections, a chipset or system-level driver could be involved.
I installed the available drivers and the behavior is unchanged. The connection works better immediately after reboot, then drops back to roughly 30–32 Mbps after about three to five minutes.