MMO Network Issue?

coreymj78

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Apr 17, 2015
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So I've experienced this issue for some time with different hardware, system configurations, and in multiple games as well, specifically MMO games. It's a very specific issue, and I am convinced now that it is network related.

Problem. In any MMO I play (doesn't matter which one), I get an irregular, but constant stuttering, but only when I'm around more than a few other real players, or sometimes when I'm around a lot of NPCs at once. It does not occur when going out into the world alone or when there aren't many players or NPCs in one place. It may also occur around complex structures, but not certain. All I know is it happens as soon as I get close to cities, towns, or anywhere there's a lot going on. This is completely unrelated to FPS as my FPS has always been high and does not fluctuate much.

Not the system. My system is a gaming rig (see my specs below), meaning I've completely optimized it for gaming. This is a bare-bones PC. No bells and whistles, no Aero, no extra software or services, minimum processes, nothing. Just the games. I'm completely anal about that. I've gone through many guides on tweaking, optimizing, and turning off the unnecessaries. So I don't believe it is software / system related.

Not the hardware. I also don't believe it is hardware related because this same issue has been consistent using a different CPU, motherboard, and video card. After I upgraded these major components, the problem persisted. I've obviously tried endless graphics card settings, overclocks, etc. It happened with old hardware, graphics card, and my old modem and router. I only get this issue with MMO games. Here are some games I've experienced this in: ESO, SWTOR, Rift, Neverwinter, STO, LOTRO, Wildstar, and many others.

Conclusion. Now, here is what finally convinced me it is network related. After tossing my old WRT54GL Linksys router and modem, I thought i'd try the Motorola SBG6580 SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 Modem/Router combo. I later learned that the modem/router combo's aren't the greatest, but what's funny is, immediately after switching to the SBG6580, the problem was gone. I mean gone. I could walk through cities / towns just fine with no stutter at all. Then several days later, the problem returned and I have no idea why. I tried tweaking router settings to no avail. Well, someone told me the modem/router combos are crap, so I decided to go with a faster modem and separate router. Two modems and routers later, here I am with the same issue.

I have one of the top Surfboard modems, which was recommended for Comcast internet, and the Belkin AC1200 router, one of the newest, fastest routers out there. I upgraded to the 120 Mbps "Blast" internet package with Comcast, and it actually amounts to about 126 Mbps when running an actual speed test online. Same issues with MMO games though. I am completely at a loss at this point. I've done so much research, upgraded major hardware components, swopped out components, tweaked my Windows system, all to no avail. I've got the same issue with multiple games.

Here are my full specs:

Ram: CORSAIR Vengeance LP 8GB
PSU: CORSAIR CX series CX500
Graphics: HIS iPower IceQ X² Boost Radeon R9 270 2GB 256-Bit GDDR5
CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 Haswell Quad-Core 3.2GHz
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO
MB: GIGABYTE GA-Z97X-SLI
HD1: Samsung Electronics 840 EVO-Series 120GB SSD
HD2: Seagate Barracuda 7200 1TB 7200RPM HDD
Modem: Motorola Surfboard SB6141 300 Mbps DOCSIS 3.0
Router: Belkin AC1200 900 Mbps F9K1113


Please, any feedback or suggestions at all is much appreciated. Let me know if there is any further system or network information I can provide. Thanks!


 


This is a problem that is inherent to pretty much every MMORPG on the market. It's nothing new, and there's really nothing that can be done about it.
 

coreymj78

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Apr 17, 2015
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This is a problem that is inherent to pretty much every MMORPG on the market. It's nothing new, and there's really nothing that can be done about it.

Then why did the problem go away completely with the new router/modem and then return?

Are you wireless or wired?
Have you tried contacting the MMOs customer support? they may be able to give your IP address to run a TraceRT to diagnose.
Give us this result as well.
http://www.pingtest.net/
Specifically what MMOs might help us as well.

1. Wired.

2. I get canned replies, but I will ask for the TraceRT.

3.

4. Let's use ESO to test, as that's what I'm playing now. The in-game displayed ping usually hovers around 60.
 

coreymj78

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Apr 17, 2015
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4,510


your help is so enlightening. And it did go away. It was gone completely. I'm not crazy. There was no stutter whatsoever no matter where I was, whether I was walking through cities or not. Anyway, does anyone else have any feedback or experience with this issue? Any feedback, real feedback that is, is much appreciated.