If you are like me and have been experiencing random lag, infuriating disconnects, and problems with the Internet that appear to be originating at your local ends and not just because of the usual Level 3 and DDoSing stuff:
YOU MIGHT HAVE A BAD CABLE MODEM
Today I learned about the Intel Puma 6 chipset, which was used on a lot of home cable modems distributed through Time Warner, Spectrum, Cox, Comcast, and other ISPs. There was a known bug in this chipset even when it was released in 2015, but most ISPs just kind of.... pretended it didn't exist? And hoped people wouldn't notice.
Business users probably didn't see any problem, nor did the majority of users who use their internet for basic things like web surfing and checking email. The problems only become more apparent with a super user (read: gamers and streamers) who hammers at the modem near the CPU's max capacity, at which point the CPU would choke and start having major latency issues.
Today my ISP swapped out my old modem with the bad chipset (check this website for a list of all known models that have the bad Intel Puma 6 chipset) with a newer modem on a Broadcom chipset. Note that Intel and the modem manufacturers released a firmware update, but that didn't really solve the problem.
It's only been a few hours, but so far I have not:
- Lost a craft due to lag
- Rubber banded in an instance due to lag
- Gotten a 90002 out of nowhere
This probably won't solve everyone's internet problems. It probably won't even solve all of my problems. But for a problem with so many potential sources, it's nice to know that at least one is a real legit problem with the hardware and I'm not just going crazy!
Here is a technical discussion of the TCP lag spikes this modem experiences.
Attention players who are on a cable internet connection!
Printable View
-
03-21-2019, 10:13 AMCatwhoAttention players who are on a cable internet connection!
-
03-21-2019, 12:20 PMDualgunner
Is there any way to get Cox to swap out my TG2472 with a better model then, I wonder...
I haven't had any extremely bad issues regarding the internets, personally, but it's good to know that the chipset is a good first culprit if something ever does. -
03-21-2019, 12:32 PMTitaniaZero
Too bad this doesn't help with my issues. My Modem is way older than this issue. Ah well. Good thing to warn those that have newer ones.
-
03-21-2019, 12:46 PMCatwho
So I took my old modem into Charter's physical office, prepared for battle .... and they just swapped it. Got a sweet Technicolor 4400 which has a Broadcom chipset. Free. No questions asks.
They presumably set the old Arris TM16024 on fire.
Also, if your modem is old - ask for a replacement anyway! Consumer grade network equipment is only rated for 3 years anyway. Can't hurt to ask, you might just get a new modem out of the deal! -
03-21-2019, 01:25 PMCallinon
All the more reason to buy your own cable modem and stop renting one from your ISP. You're literally paying them monthly for something that'd cost you like $150 to just buy yourself. In 6 months it's paid for itself.
-
03-21-2019, 01:58 PMShamo_Lomenzo
You may have just solved a problem I had in another game. It's P2P and if I host, I lose other clients likes crazy. I think I have the exact modem in the picture.
Holy crap. I was Googling this problem all day. -
03-21-2019, 02:23 PMAeloria
I started having issues back in December and then they seemingly got better I had cox out so many times, sadly they have resurfaced lately. So not sure if this has happened with others.. Apparently my modem is on the list so I'm going to have to deal with Cox some more. This gives me some hope that there is a possible solution, but this would certainly explain the issues I've experienced when they are happening.
-
03-21-2019, 10:47 PMCatwhoI purchased mine from the ISP as part of the installation package, which is why I was expecting to have to buy a new one. But no, they just accepted the trade in without fuss.Quote:
Originally Posted by Callinon
-
03-22-2019, 12:55 AMDerio
Its far better to buy your own cable modem than rent from the ISP. I was having this problem until I switch to a nighthawk modem and the problems are gone.
-
03-22-2019, 06:43 AMenthauptetFYI Your outdoor connections may need to be replaced too, they don't last that long, especially if you live in a watery area.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aeloria
-
03-22-2019, 07:43 AMUnrealTai
We used to get D/C in pvp all the time, wasnt the modem or isp. (trust me i had filed with the fcc to fix the connection at one point for “other” reasons and had charter out here with 3 vans and 8 people to finally get that part fixed) Ofc normal users never would have noticed.
Originally had a 200$ asus router, switched to a nighthawk pro 500 after isp issues was fixed cause still being D/C sometimes, which was expensive but worth every penny.
Speed never drops and never get a dc now even in pvp. Never. -
03-22-2019, 09:51 PMCatwho
I definitely agree, if you are "renting" a modem from your ISP, it's much better to just go ahead and buy your own equipment. ISPs will usually rent out the cheapest pieces of crap that they can buy in bulk, and at this point it's definitely all the piece of junk Puma 6 chip devices that they'll use as rentals.
If your ISP sold you an installation kit, or at the very least gives you the option to purchase your own instead of renting, look into doing this. It'll save you money in the long run (a $10 a month rental fee is $360 over three years, compared to a $100 one time purchase that will also least for 3 years in most cases) and you can choose a recommended piece of equipment instead of getting told to use a known defective modem.
That said - if your ISP sold you the kit with the bad devices, and you come in brandishing a list of the lawsuit ready ones like I did, they will probably replace it for free.