[SOLVED] Stressing GPU causes packet loss and network dropping over WiFi

[sorgloomer]

Hi all,

I just purchased an Asus ZenBook Pro 15 UX550GD laptop, and I am experiencing strange issues. When the notebook charger is plugged in and I stress the GPU to 100% (either using furmark or playing any game) I suddenly start to have a terrible packet loss rate. Online games are unplayable, "ping -n 99999 google.com" starts printing many "Request timed out" messages. As soon as I close the game or unplug the charger, ping and speedtest gets back to normal. This is all running on the same machine (speedtest, ping, furmark, any game), reproduced on 3 different wifi networks. Same games, same experiment works without an issue on my MSI GP70 2PE Leopard right next to it. I contacted our local Asus service (the only certified one in Hungary which offers warranty service), and after 3 weeks they sent the laptop back as "fixed", but I still do not see any improvement. I guess I will have to continue debugging it myself...

See that dip in WiFi throughput? While running Speedtest, the dip started when I fired up FurMark, and the speed got back when I closed it.

I have found a similar post from 2012, although the two systems doesn't have much in common except for the GPU and CPU manufacturers being NVidia and Intel. See http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/362191-33-graphics-card-stress-lose-wireless-internet-connection

Did anyone else have this issue before?



------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 11/7/2018, 12:02:42
Machine name: DESKTOP-B1GNLIL
Machine Id: {6771F953-98F2-4555-8B61-3FE499EB1756}
Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64-bit (10.0, Build 17134) (17134.rs4_release.180410-1804)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
System Model: ZenBook Pro 15 UX550GD
BIOS: UX550GD.300 (type: UEFI)
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8750H CPU @ 2.20GHz (12 CPUs), ~2.2GHz
Memory: 16384MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 16236MB RAM
Page File: 9226MB used, 9952MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 12
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
System DPI Setting: 120 DPI (125 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: UnKnown
Miracast: Available, with HDCP
Microsoft Graphics Hybrid: Supported
DxDiag Version: 10.00.17134.0001 64bit Unicode

...

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: Intel(R) UHD Graphics 630
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Intel(R) UHD Graphics Family
DAC type: Internal
Device Type: Full Device (POST)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_3E9B&SUBSYS_10211043&REV_00
Device Status: 0180200A [DN_DRIVER_LOADED|DN_STARTED|DN_DISABLEABLE|DN_NT_ENUMERATOR|DN_NT_DRIVER]
Device Problem Code: No Problem
Driver Problem Code: Unknown
Display Memory: 8245 MB
Dedicated Memory: 128 MB
Shared Memory: 8117 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
HDR Support: Not Supported
Display Topology: Internal

...

Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce GTX 1050
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Type: Full Device
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_1C8D&SUBSYS_10211043&REV_A1
Device Status: 0180200A [DN_DRIVER_LOADED|DN_STARTED|DN_DISABLEABLE|DN_NT_ENUMERATOR|DN_NT_DRIVER]
Device Problem Code: No Problem
Driver Problem Code: Unknown
Display Memory: 12136 MB
Dedicated Memory: 4019 MB
Shared Memory: 8117 MB
Current Mode: Unknown
HDR Support: Unknown
Display Topology: Unknown

...

Intel(R) Wireless-AC 9560

 

[ChumP]

Well, I have a friend with an Asus laptop that has similar problems. When he's doing an intensive task he's dropping wifi signal and some of the USB devices stop working during that.
I'm thinking there's a power delivery problem on some of their laptops or maybe there's a charger/psu issue.

 

[sorgloomer]

Hi all, I've got some news. I convinced Asus to replace my laptop altogether, and guess what, the replacement has the same issue. I continued investigating and found a software workaround.

First, I made some videos about the issue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXV73RwWcFc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDczfXtqzM8

So a few months have passed since my purchase, when I ran into a forum thread, where somebody had the same issue with an MSI GS60 2PC-003, and provided a software workaround. That worked for me, so let me cross-post that here.

-On Windows, go to "Device Manager>Network adapters>Intel(R) Wireless AC 9560>Properties>Advanced" (or any other wireless adapter that you have)
-Set both "Channel Width for 2.4GHz" and "Channel Width for 5GHz" from "Auto" to "20 MHz Only"

And that's all. I switched this setting on-off for a half a dozen times, I am confident that this setting prevented the WiFi being dropped for me, although I still don't know what is it supposed to toggle (other than working/not working 😛)

Original forum: https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=249580.100

Some threads that seem to relate:

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/362191-33-graphics-card-stress-lose-wireless-internet-connection
https://rog.asus.com/forum/showthread.php?104381-GL702ZC-lag-and-FPS-issues-with-online-gaming-only