MSI PRO Z790-P Bad Wi-Fi Signal and Speed

[ierkamacar]

Hello, I am Erkam. I wish everyone a good day. Yesterday, I upgraded my motherboard from Gigabyte H610M H V2 to MSI PRO Z790-P Wi-Fi DDR4. I installed/updated the BIOS and all drivers. Despite this, my MSI laptop from 2017, which is in the same location, is much higher than the Wi-Fi reception/speed performance of the motherboard in the 2.4/5GHz bands. The motherboard pulls 1 Wi-Fi signal on a 2.4/5GHz connection. I checked the antennas a lot, I even removed them, this time it was the dot symbol, which is the lower level of a signal. The modem is in another room, 10 steps or so, 2 walls in between. Do you think the reception quality of Wi-Fi motherboards is this low or is there something abnormal?
Note: I am using Windows 10 operating system.
Sorry for bad English.
All my respect.

System Specs:
// 13400F // RTX3070 // 650W PSU // 32 GB RAM // 1TB SSD //

 

[doug.hogart153b02d9]

Are you having trouble with the performance of the Wi-Fi other than that number of bars? If so then for your situation you may want to try forcing the PC to use 2.4GHz instead of 5GHz due to the distance, or 5GHz instead of 2.4GHz if you are in a crowded area with lots of other Wi-Fi. I will explain how to do that in a moment. Another thing to check might be whether you have USB3 connections in use near your PC antennas, if so then try to troubleshoot by removing those connections temporarily or change to USB2 connectors. Of course position can make a difference such as if your laptop was up on some desk but the PC was down on the floor with PC case itself between the antennas and the distant WiFi (perhaps try turning it around a little for troubleshooting).

To force the frequency 2.4GHz or 5GHz, go to Device Manager-Network-Intel WiFi-Properties-Advanced-Preferred Band and change from the default to one which prefers the desired frequency. Then save that and wait a little while to see if it makes a difference. If so then chose the setting which works best (typically 2.4GHz for distance or 5GHz if interference or needing speed above 100mbps or so). There are probably ways in Windows that you can check which frequency is currently being used for your WiFi and you could check that (along with the selection I just mentioned) but my experience is with Windows 11 which might be a little different there than Windows 10.

 

[darkhawk]

Have you tried repositioning the WIFI antennas on the back to see if that helps?
Another thing to try is actually getting a good antenna like this : https://www.amazon.com/Eightwood-Antennae-Extension-Computer-Bluetooth/dp/B09XHBFXXH/
Unfortunately, it seems that MSI isn't including an antenna like that on the lower end models, whereas on the higher end models (Ace, Godlike, etc....) I know they do since I have one.
By switching antennas, you remove any interference your PC case, etc....may be causing because of the antenna being in the back.

 

[ierkamacar]

Are you having trouble with the performance of the Wi-Fi other than that number of bars? If so then for your situation you may want to try forcing the PC to use 2.4GHz instead of 5GHz due to the distance, or 5GHz instead of 2.4GHz if you are in a crowded area with lots of other Wi-Fi. I will explain how to do that in a moment. Another thing to check might be whether you have USB3 connections in use near your PC antennas, if so then try to troubleshoot by removing those connections temporarily or change to USB2 connectors. Of course position can make a difference such as if your laptop was up on some desk but the PC was down on the floor with PC case itself between the antennas and the distant WiFi (perhaps try turning it around a little for troubleshooting).

To force the frequency 2.4GHz or 5GHz, go to Device Manager-Network-Intel WiFi-Properties-Advanced-Preferred Band and change from the default to one which prefers the desired frequency. Then save that and wait a little while to see if it makes a difference. If so then chose the setting which works best (typically 2.4GHz for distance or 5GHz if interference or needing speed above 100mbps or so). There are probably ways in Windows that you can check which frequency is currently being used for your WiFi and you could check that (along with the selection I just mentioned) but my experience is with Windows 11 which might be a little different there than Windows 10.

Yes, I'm having problems with speed and ping. I had already forced a 5GHz speed from the modem interface. It was always running at 5GHz. I don't use USB3 connections, all USBs are connected to a USB Type-C multiplexer. In terms of location, the computer case is below and 40-50cm closer to the modem. The laptop is on the table. Thansk for your reply.

 

[ierkamacar]

Have you tried repositioning the WIFI antennas on the back to see if that helps?
Another thing to try is actually getting a good antenna like this : https://www.amazon.com/Eightwood-Antennae-Extension-Computer-Bluetooth/dp/B09XHBFXXH/
Unfortunately, it seems that MSI isn't including an antenna like that on the lower end models, whereas on the higher end models (Ace, Godlike, etc....) I know they do since I have one.
By switching antennas, you remove any interference your PC case, etc....may be causing because of the antenna being in the back.

Yes, I tried repositioning the antennas, but it didn't help. The only thing I can do is rotate the antennas 360 degrees. Honestly, the antenna you suggest is too expensive for me in dollar terms according to the currency of my country. I bought this motherboard trusting MSI brand and I can say that it disappointed me.

 

[P.D&n]

Unfortunately, it seems that MSI isn't including an antenna like that on the lower end models, whereas on the higher end models (Ace, Godlike, etc....) I know they do since I have one.

Lucky they change that.

Yes, I tried repositioning the antennas, but it didn't help. The only thing I can do is rotate the antennas 360 degrees. Honestly, the antenna you suggest is too expensive for me in dollar terms according to the currency of my country. I bought this motherboard trusting MSI brand and I can say that it disappointed me.

Did you choose the big antennas? Bigger isn't allways better. There is rang of db, dbi, dbm antennas that are compatable. But, you will be better of with a smaller one than with the biggest one. It's like connecting a headphone amp to big spreaker. The signal will be weaker. And don't set the receiver not to close to the transmitter.

 

[doug.hogart153b02d9]

I don't use USB3 connections, all USBs are connected to a USB Type-C multiplexer. In terms of location, the computer case is below and 40-50cm closer to the modem. The laptop is on the table.

USB-C is USB3, both have potential interference with wireless typically at 2.4GHz. Did you try temporarily removing the USB(-C) to see if WiFi got better? Since you had already forced 5GHz, did you try changing to force 2.4GHz to see if WiFi got better? Please don't look only at the number of "bars" but rather at the actual performance in whatever is critical to you.

 

[darkhawk]

Yes, I tried repositioning the antennas, but it didn't help. The only thing I can do is rotate the antennas 360 degrees. Honestly, the antenna you suggest is too expensive for me in dollar terms according to the currency of my country. I bought this motherboard trusting MSI brand and I can say that it disappointed me.

Ah, I understand. And yeah, that part of the world, given all the sanctions and such going on around the world, it sucks. But you SHOULD be able to find something similar nearby at a local computer shop, one would think. That's really the best I can suggest, outside of buying a different WIFI module that provides better antennas.
You could consider changing the positioning of the computer so that the signal is more clearly reached (rotate the case so that the back of the case faces towards your router). But if I'm honest, I always have hated WIFI and stick to direct wiring anymore.

 

[P.D&n]

Use a online speed tester, but keep in mind generally you will never get the max speed from your provider. A lot of things are involved in that, I don't want you to explain right now. Use a speed tester as close as possible to you, that will give you a shorter ping but isn't necessarily faster.