Saturday, March 4th 2023
Intel Releases Windows Workaround and Patch for Ethernet Stuttering and Disconnects
At the end of January, we reported on issues with Intel's i226-V 2.5 Gbps Ethernet controllers, which are used on a wide range of motherboards with both Intel and AMD CPUs, where users were having issues with stuttering and connections dropping. Intel has now released a workaround and a patch for the issue, not only for the i226, but also the i225 and the Killer E3100 2.5 Gbps network controller. What the workaround does, is disable the Energy-Efficient Ethernet mode, or EEE as it's also known as. EEE is only supposed to kick in when an Ethernet connection is idle and it's said to reduce power consumption by up to 50 percent.
However, in this case, it seems like EEE kicks in even when the Ethernet connection is active, which is causing the stuttering and connection dropouts. The patch disables EEE for all speeds above 100 Mbps, but it's also possible to disable EEE manually in the device settings in Windows. MSI is the first motherboard manufacturer to have released an updated driver on its site, but as this isn't a final solution to the problem, it's unlikely that this is the last we'll hear about the issue. Intel is apparently working on finding the root cause of the problem, but it's unclear if it's going to be possible to patch it in software or if a hardware revision is going to be required in the end.
Update Mar 4th: User @lovingbenji reports that on his system this new driver version does not fix the disconnect issue.
Sources:
Intel Community, via Tom's Hardware, MSI driver update
However, in this case, it seems like EEE kicks in even when the Ethernet connection is active, which is causing the stuttering and connection dropouts. The patch disables EEE for all speeds above 100 Mbps, but it's also possible to disable EEE manually in the device settings in Windows. MSI is the first motherboard manufacturer to have released an updated driver on its site, but as this isn't a final solution to the problem, it's unlikely that this is the last we'll hear about the issue. Intel is apparently working on finding the root cause of the problem, but it's unclear if it's going to be possible to patch it in software or if a hardware revision is going to be required in the end.
73 Comments on Intel Releases Windows Workaround and Patch for Ethernet Stuttering and Disconnects
SGX
both of these were within 2 years.
None of these have anything to do with an ethernet chip what?
As far as I know SGX wasn't disabled like TSX was, it was removed from subsequent generations after 10th gen Core.
Some people say that everything went downwards when they purchased Rivet Networks (the owners of the Killer series of NICs)
I wonder if that goes for i225 V1 and V2 and V3?
I had a perfectly working board, X470-F that had erratic behaviour in regards of the NIC. One day the NIC stopped working, dissapeared from the BIOS completely and a few weeks later took the whole board with it.
Since then i just stick with Realtek or at least a brand that does have a reputation.
It's like expecting any motherboard manufacturer to keep the chipset driver updated on their page, just get it on AMD's page.
TL;DR: ASUS does not provide the driver updates. The manufacturer of the part provides the driver updates (Realtek/Intel/Mediatek/etc). For audio drivers usually Windows drivers are fine. Do not expect ANY motherboard manufacturer to keep them up to date on their page, it's not their in-house parts and they don't make the drivers for them. This is the case for any motherboard vendor, do not trust the latest version on their page, even if they update it every so often.
ASUS is really good at pushing BIOS updates on AMD boards compared to other manufacturers, but I've heard less than great stuff about the intel side of things. Oh well. I don't think keeping the drivers updated on their page is a reason, though. Other brands don't, either.
God damned Armoury Crate that installs itself by default with no prompts with an option you have to disable in the BIOS tho? Fuck that lmao
my realtek lan on new mobo has been 100% rock solid with 0 issues.
It's confusing.
Armoury Crate is a joke and I was lucky I was reading forum stuff on Asus MB's and came across all the complaints about AC and disabled it in the bios before this virus could infect my PC.