Broadcom Netlink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet driver showing 1.0 Gbps on ethernet status but Device Manager showing 100Mbps max

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csmith67

csmith67

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Hello everyone. I have spent hours trying to figure this one out but I have the Broadcom Netlink (TM) Gigabit Ethernet driver showing 1.0 Gbps in settings under Ethernet status but Device Manager, under speed & duplex, is only showing 10Mbps Full Duplex, 10Mbps Half duplex, 100Mbps Full Duplex and 100Mbps Half Duplex.

Which one is right? I downloaded NetLink®/NetXtreme® I Desktop/Mobile/Server (x64) here:http:// and tried to update the driver manually through device manager and it said it was already up to date. Although, the current driver I am running is 15.6.1.3 and the latest one I downloaded was 17.2.0.2. It's still running at 15.6.1.3.

Would appreciate some input! Thanks! :D

OS: Windows 10
Mobo: Z77 Extreme4
GPU: ASUS GTX 770
CPU: Intel i5 3570k- with Hyper 212 evo
Ram: Ripjaws GSKILL 8GB
PSU: CX750M
HDD Primary: Samsung EVO 120gb
HDD: Toshiba 2 TB
 
Solution
techgeek
You might not have to make it that hard. I would just connect your MacBook to your router. Download something big like a linux ISO or something (unless you have something already on hand). It needs to be a large single file to eliminate hard disk seek times and other system bottlenecks.

Have in on the machine in question and transfer it to the MacBook while you have the Task Manager open and watch the Performance tab with your Ethernet showing. It should show a transfer rate up to 800Mbps or higher if you are in fact connected at 1Gbps. You could also repeat the test in the other direction just for sh!ts and giggles if you like.

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techgeek

techgeek

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Apr 11, 2004
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Rather than looking at what is listed in Device Manager, have you tried to transfer a large file from one computer to another on your network. That is assuming that you have more than one computer with Gigabit ethernet adapter.

If you go this route, you'll want a large single file (something like a large ISO) which should max out your adapter. If it exceeds 100MB/s (100 Mega Bytes / s) then you know you are in fact connected at 1Gbps. If you get something just above 10GB/s then you will know you are limited to 100Mbs.

 
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techgeek

techgeek

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Apr 11, 2004
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I can't think of a practical way to test it other than that. This will give a real world benchmark of your network connection. Unfortunately you can't do it over the internet since (most likely) you don't have a 1Gbps or greater internet connection.

You say you have an older laptop, does that mean it only has a 100Mbps network adapter?
 
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csmith67

csmith67

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Aug 30, 2014
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I did look into my specs of my OLD mid 2010 macbook pro and it does have a Gigabit NIC. I was actually pretty surprised! I downloaded LAN Speed Test (Free) and will test it out through that. Do I just connect my mac to the router and send a file that way? My desktop is already connected. I can look up How-Tos for using the program.
 
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techgeek

techgeek

Splendid
Apr 11, 2004
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You might not have to make it that hard. I would just connect your MacBook to your router. Download something big like a linux ISO or something (unless you have something already on hand). It needs to be a large single file to eliminate hard disk seek times and other system bottlenecks.

Have in on the machine in question and transfer it to the MacBook while you have the Task Manager open and watch the Performance tab with your Ethernet showing. It should show a transfer rate up to 800Mbps or higher if you are in fact connected at 1Gbps. You could also repeat the test in the other direction just for sh!ts and giggles if you like.

 
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Solution
csmith67

csmith67

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Sorry I've been busy was going to get around to replying today. That looks like the most effective way. I'm about to test it that way right now. Will reply when I'm done.




UPDATE: Just did it and my max for a 1GB file was roughly 500Mbps.
 
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csmith67

csmith67

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Just did it and my max for a 1GB file was roughly 500Mbps. Does this mean I have a GB NIC? My modem supports 4GB per line so that's not the bottleneck.
 
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techgeek

techgeek

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Apr 11, 2004
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Well it's certainly faster than 100Mbps. So I'd say that it's connected at 1Gbps. With only a 1GB file though, it would only take like 16 seconds to transfer at 500Mbps, most file transfers start out slow and don't max out the connection for 20 or 30 seconds. To make matters worse, Windows Task Manager averages transfer rates over a given time window, so if the slower early times haven't fed through the filter, they get averaged with the higher rates at the end. If you use a larger file which takes longer to transfer, the early slow rates are pushed through the filter and it averages the constant high rates you get after the connection maxes out.

I would try a larger file that will take over a minute or more if you want a really good test. Though I am satisfied that you aren't connected at 100Mbps.
 
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csmith67

csmith67

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Aug 30, 2014
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I did in fact transfer from my Mac to my PC and got 900+ received on my PC's end. I wonder why I'm sending slower than receiving .

UPDATE: I also copied the file a few times making it 3GB and transferred it to my Mac. Still right below 500.
 
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techgeek

techgeek

Splendid
Apr 11, 2004
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Well I'm satisfied that you are indeed connected at 1GBps. As to why it sends slower, that is hard to say. It also could be that the MacBook receives slower than it sends, it doesn't necessarily mean the problem lies with your NIC on your motherboard. It could also be the cable on either the desktop or the MacBook. Transmit and receive happen on separate pairs in you network cables, so one cable may not be up to par.

 
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