[WiFi] WiFi 10x slower than Windows on the same machine (dual boot)

realoblivion · 2025-02-03 13:26:21

Hi everyone,
I'm writing here because I tried literally everything to fix WiFi but nothing worked. I'll give you some information to let you understand the problem.

First of all some info about the network.. It's a gigabit network and about the WiFi it's 5Ghz and WPA3.
The speed tests were done using speedtest.net and also speedtest-cli. I also tried fast.com and wget.(No differences at all)

Same machine, same network, same distance from the router:

Windows:
Download: 885 Mbps Upload: 483 Mbps
Arch Linux (Linux 6.12.10-arch1-1):
Download: 84 Mbps Upload: 155 Mbps

IMPORTANT: I don't have problems on linux with the ethernet cable which let me reach 1Gbps in download.. The problem is only the WiFi. Also as I said I don't have any problem with the wifi on Windows and neither on my android phone (then I don't think it's a router/network problem)

Follows a list of what I tried without success:

Disabled power management of the wireless card (as you can see below from iwconfig command)

$ cat /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/wifi-powersave-off.conf
# File to be place under /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d
[connection]
# Values are 0 (use default), 1 (ignore/don't touch), 2 (disable) or 3 (enable).
wifi.powersave = 2

Changed some params of the iwlwifi,iwlmvm and cfg80211 modules (as you can see below from the systool commands) [PS: Obv with default params and without changing nothing it's the same]

$ cat /etc/modprobe.d/iwlwifi.conf
options iwlwifi 11n_disable=8 power_save=false power_level=0 uapsd_disable=0 swcrypto=1
options iwlmvm power_scheme=1
options cfg80211 ieee80211_regdom=IT

Also tried as options for iwlwifi disable11_ac=true, disable11_ax=true, disable11_be=true in every possible combination
Disabled PCIe Active State Power Management by adding pcie_aspm=off to kernel parameters
Tried to change router settings: Disabled 2.4Ghz (As of now I have only 5Ghz enabled), disabled 5Ghz and having only 2.4Ghz enabled (The speed was worse in this case), changed security from WPA3 to WPA2 or from WPA3 to WPA2/WPA3 also tried to disable it at all, created two separate networks for 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz (always the same nothing changed)[*/]
Tried Arch Live ISO and it was always the same (I tried also an old iso of the 2018 to see if it was a kernel problem)[*/]
Tried other distro (live) like Ubuntu, Endevaour, Zorin OS, Pop!_OS, Elementary OS (All had the same problem)
Tried to test speed on multiple websites (speedtest.net, fast.com) and also with wget
$ wget -O /dev/null --show-progress https://ash-speed.hetzner.com/10GB.bin
Tried to remove ethernet module to see if there could be a conflict of drivers.. (command below)
Tried to remove and readd wifi module (command below)

$ sudo modprobe --verbose --remove r8169
rmmod r8169
rmmod mdio_devres
rmmod realtek
rmmod libphy
$ sudo ip link set dev wlp3s0 down
$ sudo modprobe --verbose --remove iwlmvm && sudo modprobe --verbose iwlmvm
rmmod iwlmvm
rmmod ptp
rmmod mac80211
rmmod iwlwifi
insmod /lib/modules/6.12.10-arch1-1/kernel/drivers/ptp/ptp.ko.zst
insmod /lib/modules/6.12.10-arch1-1/kernel/net/mac80211/mac80211.ko.zst
insmod /lib/modules/6.12.10-arch1-1/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/iwlwifi.ko.zst 11n_disable=8 power_save=false power_level=0 uapsd_disable=0 swcrypto=1
insmod /lib/modules/6.12.10-arch1-1/kernel/drivers/net/wireless/intel/iwlwifi/mvm/iwlmvm.ko.zst power_scheme=1
$ sudo ip link set dev wlp3s0 up

USEFUL INFO ABOUT MY SYSTEM:

$ lspci -k
03:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation Wireless 8265 / 8275 (rev 78)
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 [Windstorm Peak]
Kernel driver in use: iwlwifi
Kernel modules: iwlwifi
04:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168/8211/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 15)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device 208f
Kernel driver in use: r8169
Kernel modules: r8169

$ sudo lshw -class network
*-network
description: Wireless interface
product: Wireless 8265 / 8275
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:03:00.0
logical name: wlp3s0
version: 78
serial: XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list ethernet physical wireless
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=iwlwifi driverversion=6.12.10-arch1-1 firmware=36.ca7b901d.0 8265-36.ucode ip=192.168.1.28 latency=0 link=yes multicast=yes wireless=IEEE 802.11
resources: irq:137 memory:ec200000-ec201fff
*-network
description: Ethernet interface
product: RTL8111/8168/8211/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
vendor: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:04:00.0
logical name: enp4s0
version: 15
serial: 18:31:bf:1f:ed:2d
capacity: 1Gbit/s
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress msix bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd 1000bt-fd autonegotiation
configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=r8169 driverversion=6.12.10-arch1-1 firmware=rtl8168h-2_0.0.2 02/26/15 latency=0 link=no multicast=yes port=twisted pair
resources: irq:19 ioport:d000(size=256) memory:ec104000-ec104fff memory:ec100000-ec103fff

$ iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.
enp4s0 no wireless extensions.
wlp3s0 IEEE 802.11 ESSID:"enel-WiFi"
Mode:Managed Frequency:5.28 GHz Access Point: XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
Tx-Power=20 dBm
Retry short limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr:off
Power Management:off
Link Quality=70/70 Signal level=-36 dBm
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:83 Missed beacon:0

$ rfkill list all
0: hci0: Bluetooth
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no
1: phy0: Wireless LAN
Soft blocked: no
Hard blocked: no

$ lsmod | grep iwlwifi
iwlwifi 602112 1 iwlmvm
cfg80211 1396736 3 iwlmvm,iwlwifi,mac80211

$ sudo dmesg | grep iwlwifi
[ 5.373082] iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
[ 5.377250] iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Detected crf-id 0xbadcafe, cnv-id 0x10 wfpm id 0x80000000
[ 5.377436] iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: PCI dev 24fd/0010, rev=0x230, rfid=0xd55555d5
[ 5.377444] iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Detected Intel(R) Dual Band Wireless AC 8265
[ 5.413416] iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: loaded firmware version 36.ca7b901d.0 8265-36.ucode op_mode iwlmvm
[ 5.688826] iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: base HW address: xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx, OTP minor version: 0x0
[ 5.764899] iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: iwlmvm doesn't allow to disable HW crypto, check swcrypto module parameter
[ 5.779269] iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0 wlp3s0: renamed from wlan0
[ 6.579451] iwlwifi 0000:03:00.0: Registered PHC clock: iwlwifi-PTP, with index: 0

$ systool -vm iwlwifi
Module = "iwlwifi"
Attributes:
coresize = "602112"
initsize = "0"
initstate = "live"
refcnt = "1"
srcversion = "561400357405AA33153380C"
taint = ""
uevent = <store method only>
Parameters:
11n_disable = "8"
amsdu_size = "0"
bt_coex_active = "Y"
debug = "0"
disable_11ac = "N"
disable_11ax = "N"
disable_11be = "N"
enable_ini = "16"
fw_restart = "Y"
led_mode = "0"
nvm_file = "(null)"
power_level = "0"
power_save = "N"
remove_when_gone = "N"
swcrypto = "1"
uapsd_disable = "0"
Sections:

$ systool -vm iwlmvm
Module = "iwlmvm"
Attributes:
coresize = "757760"
initsize = "0"
initstate = "live"
refcnt = "0"
srcversion = "6D9948DCFB11B64FAEE5493"
taint = ""
uevent = <store method only>
Parameters:
power_scheme = "1"
Sections:

$ systool -vm cfg80211
Module = "cfg80211"
Attributes:
coresize = "1396736"
initsize = "0"
initstate = "live"
refcnt = "3"
srcversion = "5C560CBDBC0D23F88C5DE4C"
taint = ""
uevent = <store method only>
Parameters:
bss_entries_limit = "1000"
cfg80211_disable_40mhz_24ghz= "N"
ieee80211_regdom = "IT"
Sections:

Thank you for reading all and for your future help <3 .

Last edited by realoblivion (2025-02-03 15:26:52)

Lone_Wolf · 2025-02-04 11:28:29

Please post the output of

find /etc/systemd -type l -exec test -f {} \; -print

You have verified windows fast startup/hibernation are disabled as described at https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Dual_b … ibernation ?

realoblivion · 2025-02-04 11:57:24

Lone_Wolf wrote:

Please post the output of
find /etc/systemd -type l -exec test -f {} \; -print
You have verified windows fast startup/hibernation are disabled as described at https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Dual_b … ibernation ?

Disabled fast startup and hibernation, unfortunately nothing has changed. Also disabled fast boot in the BIOS but same result.

Follows the result of the command:

$ find /etc/systemd -type l -exec test -f {} \; -print
/etc/systemd/system/systemd-suspend.service.wants/nvidia-suspend.service
/etc/systemd/system/systemd-suspend.service.wants/nvidia-resume.service
/etc/systemd/system/getty.target.wants/getty@tty1.service
/etc/systemd/system/dbus-org.freedesktop.nm-dispatcher.service
/etc/systemd/system/systemd-hibernate.service.wants/nvidia-hibernate.service
/etc/systemd/system/systemd-hibernate.service.wants/nvidia-resume.service
/etc/systemd/system/network-online.target.wants/NetworkManager-wait-online.service
/etc/systemd/system/sysinit.target.wants/systemd-timesyncd.service
/etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/NetworkManager.service
/etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/remote-fs.target
/etc/systemd/system/dbus-org.freedesktop.timesync1.service
/etc/systemd/system/sockets.target.wants/systemd-userdbd.socket
/etc/systemd/user/default.target.wants/xdg-user-dirs-update.service
/etc/systemd/user/pipewire-session-manager.service
/etc/systemd/user/sockets.target.wants/p11-kit-server.socket
/etc/systemd/user/sockets.target.wants/pipewire.socket
/etc/systemd/user/sockets.target.wants/gnome-keyring-daemon.socket
/etc/systemd/user/sockets.target.wants/pipewire-pulse.socket
/etc/systemd/user/pipewire.service.wants/wireplumber.service

Lone_Wolf · 2025-02-04 21:34:40

No conflicting network services, that's good.

Please execute as root/with root rights

# journalctl -b | curl -F 'file=@-' 0x0.st

It will upload your system journal to a public hosting site and output a link.
Post that link.

realoblivion · 2025-02-05 22:06:06

Lone_Wolf wrote:

No conflicting network services, that's good.
Please execute as root/with root rights
# journalctl -b | curl -F 'file=@-' 0x0.st
It will upload your system journal to a public hosting site and output a link.
Post that link.

This is my journalctl https://0x0.st/8P-C.txt
Thank you for the help!

Lone_Wolf · 2025-02-06 09:02:03

The only thing that stands out is

Feb 05 22:47:52 arch systemd[1]: Hostname set to <arch>.

Try changing that to a more unique name .

Please post the contents of /etc/hostname and /etc/hosts .

A journal from attempts to use the wifi (like running speedtest-cli on it) would also help.

realoblivion · 2025-02-06 19:32:26

Lone_Wolf wrote:

The only thing that stands out is
Feb 05 22:47:52 arch systemd[1]: Hostname set to <arch>.
Try changing that to a more unique name .
Please post the contents of /etc/hostname and /etc/hosts .
A journal from attempts to use the wifi (like running speedtest-cli on it) would also help.

I found the "issue". While checking the router's settings for potential causes I ran into the 802.11 mode.. It was set to "802.11 a/n/ac/ax Mixed" so I did a little research about the wifi standards to brush up my knowledge about that.. As shown in the image below theoretically everything should work fine, as the mixed mode supports up to 802.11ax (which has a maximum link rate from 0.4 - 9608 Mbit/s). As mentioned earlier, I've had no issues on Windows with this same laptop or other devices).

I tried to change the mode from "Mixed" to "802.11ac Only" (the highest available option [image above]). Magically the speedtest on linux reached 678 Mbps in download and 460 Mbps in upload (though still 200 Mbps slower than Windows in Mixed mode).Re-testing Windows after this change showed reduced speeds (678Mbps), matching Linux and other devices too. This suggests that in Mixed mode linux get stuck on the 802.11a mode (which has a maximum link rate of 54 Mbps and in fact as I wrote in the first post the Download on linux didn't go beyond 84Mbps in download.

At this point I think that the linux driver likely struggles with mixed mode 802.11. Is there a way to fix the driver to resolve this? Can we do something?

Last edited by realoblivion (2025-02-06 22:29:04)

seth · 2025-02-07 15:59:21

Please use [code][/code] tags, not "quote" tags. Edit your post in this regard.

Disabled fast startup and hibernation, unfortunately nothing has changed. Also disabled fast boot in the BIOS but same result.

The BIOS setting is irrelevant but you should reboot both OS at least twice (for voodoo reasons) and - if you can - also the AP/router (for stale leases)

I found the "issue"

Please always remember to mark resolved threads by editing your initial posts subject - so others will know that there's no task left, but maybe a solution to find.
Thanks.

theoretically everything should work fine

Yes "should" … welcome to the bbs

At this point I think that the linux driver likely struggles with mixed mode 802.11. Is there a way to fix the driver to resolve this? Can we do something?

Try to add "iwlwifi.disable_11ax=true" to the https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Kernel_parameters (you can check "systool -vm iwlwifi" to see whether it applied)

realoblivion · 2025-02-07 20:23:55

seth wrote:

Please use [code][/code] tags, not "quote" tags. Edit your post in this regard.

I used the "quote" tags to improve readability considering that "code" tags are not affected by other tags (like bold, italic and so on). If you wish I will replace all "quote" tags in my previous posts with "code".

seth wrote:

The BIOS setting is irrelevant but you should reboot both OS at least twice (for voodoo reasons) and - if you can - also the AP/router (for stale leases)

Fast startup, hibernation and fast boot in the bios are still disabled since when I replied, 3 days ago, that I have been disabled them. Since then I rebooted both OS more than twice and also the router too.

seth wrote:

Please always remember to mark resolved threads by editing your initial posts subject - so others will know that there's no task left, but maybe a solution to find.
Thanks.

I'd really like to mark resolved my thread but, right now, it's far from being resolved.. Editing the "802.11 Mode" router's setting, let me say, It's a workaround not a solution..
Yeah maybe I should edit the first post and adding what is causing the issue, now that I've found it, to be as clear as possible.

seth wrote:

Try to add "iwlwifi.disable_11ax=true" to the https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Kernel_parameters (you can check "systool -vm iwlwifi" to see whether it applied)

As I wrote in the first post I already tried that but to be sure I tried again and checked with the systool command. (I always checked whenever I modified something as shown in the first post.). No changes at all.

In my opinion, as I wrote in the last post, seems like the wireless card (only on linux) use only the 802.11a mode when the router's setting "802.11 mode" is set on "Mixed" and I don't know why is not switching automatically to the best one (802.11ax - WiFi 6). The situation changes when the setting mentioned a while ago is set on "802.11ac Only" which force the wireless card to use only 802.11ac, this improve the performance on linux but however I'm still not using the full power of my connection.. Secondly as well as the performance get better on linux get a little worse on Windows and also on other devices which are forced too to use the 802.11ac mode, without reaching full power.

Last edited by realoblivion (2025-02-07 20:30:44)

Arch Linux

#1 2025-02-03 13:26:21

[WiFi] WiFi 10x slower than Windows on the same machine (dual boot)

#2 2025-02-04 11:28:29

Re: [WiFi] WiFi 10x slower than Windows on the same machine (dual boot)

#3 2025-02-04 11:57:24

Re: [WiFi] WiFi 10x slower than Windows on the same machine (dual boot)

#4 2025-02-04 21:34:40

Re: [WiFi] WiFi 10x slower than Windows on the same machine (dual boot)

#5 2025-02-05 22:06:06

Re: [WiFi] WiFi 10x slower than Windows on the same machine (dual boot)

#6 2025-02-06 09:02:03

Re: [WiFi] WiFi 10x slower than Windows on the same machine (dual boot)

#7 2025-02-06 19:32:26

Re: [WiFi] WiFi 10x slower than Windows on the same machine (dual boot)

#8 2025-02-07 15:59:21

Re: [WiFi] WiFi 10x slower than Windows on the same machine (dual boot)

#9 2025-02-07 20:23:55

Re: [WiFi] WiFi 10x slower than Windows on the same machine (dual boot)

Board footer