XP network SLOOOOOOWWWWW

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Hi guys. Doing my netwrok over. Added a duron 1 gig WC3 gaming machine to setup. One of those one cdrom micro case deals and all. Anyhow its nforce1-main rig Nforce2 deluxe. Both asus. Used to be that this one and the k7s5a networking was FAST> I could view a dvd from the other pc on this one in real time with 0 skip. Now even a mp3 cause skip and will take 30sec. to start playing. Workgroups are the same MSHOME on both. IP has been tried as DHCP which works and manual setting which also works but both are terribly slow now. I have no firewall and turned off XP built in one on both rigs. I setup ICS just to ensure it went right. ICS is working but again very slow. I notice my switch keeps blinking from my deluxe (server) is this normal. Is it keeping connection up to date or what? Is it the slow down? I also have only needed tcp/ip protocall for the network cards. So not too many proto's is the problem. QOS is also on. When playing WC3 it shows the bandwidth is only being used by 1%. When moving files same-but in past it was near 100% of the 100mbps. Any tips at all are greatly appreciated-Im lost here on what is slowing me donw soo much.

Recap of specs.
Server
Asus A7N8X deluxe useing the 3com lan built in
256mb x2 for 512mb pc2700 kingston mem cas 2.5
2200+ cpu
ATI radeon 8500
MCP-T audio
WD800JBL drive
Pioneer slot drive dvd-rom
Sony 40x cdr-rw
420watt duel fan psu
Win XP Pro (waiste of $ going pro really-sad) etc

Client
Asus A7n266-VM AA
Duron Morgan core 1gig cpu
Crucial pc2100 cas 2.5 256mb ddr
Geforce2 built in
Integrated sound
Nvidia LAN
Maxtor 10gig HDD
Asus 40x cdrom
WinXP home

This is a pc I built for a friend. Were gonna try it out with some gaming here to stress test it for her (lol she knows about it) but alas at networking it seems a real DOG. Unless its some setting-it cant be that slow. Help networking gurus.:t

[Midknyte]

did you see this sticky? maybe it will help.
http://www.sysopt.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=141019

[$1500-P4 gamer]

I see that setting in the options for Nf1 mobo. Will look on this one (server-NF2) once and let ya know if it helped.:t

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Set it to throughput. Booting other system. will try now-also noticed that somehow when blundering about searching for problem. The bindings added Netbeui and IPX/SPX. Im pretty sure (most games newer so IPX not needed) I only need tcp/ip bound to ethernet-as I use that on mac too and most games take it. that might speed it up some too.

P.S. thanks for the tip-I found it just now when I came back to check my post. LOL right under my face. Kinda like my glasses when Im looking for them!:x :t

[cat5e]

QQS can delay at times and it is good to disable it.

If NetBEUI and IPX are not used get rid of them.

To further improve your TCP/IP Stack try this.

Download DrTCP: http://www.dslreports.com/front/DRTCP021.exe

Run the program, it will show the current settings of TCP/IP parameters. Write them down.

You can change any variable that you want, click Apply, and reboot the computer, if no good; you can always change to your original values.

Start with:

MaxMTU - DSL =1492 Cable = 1500 DialUp = 576

Tcp Receive - 255552 (This is the varaible to play with!)

Window Scaling - Yes

Time Stamping - No

Selective Acks - Yes

Path MTU Discovery - Yes.

Black Hole - NO

Max Duplicate - 2

TTL - 64

.

[$1500-P4 gamer]

Welp seems the same so far. cat5e-nice tips. Im gonna try them this evening. Let you know if it helps- THanks for the suggestions. QOS may very well be problem too-will disable it for sure. Post back soon-got more yard work to do first though.:(

[$1500-P4 gamer]

cat5e-thats a very apropriate name for you. LOL, absolutly wonderfull! Working like a dream NOW. I used the settings and prog you gave me and wham back on track. Moved a 25mb worth of mp3's in like 2-3sec. DVD streaming IN REAL TIME-0 skip like before. Working like it should now. Somthing must have been set wrong by XP "auto" wise on server end but I set both with those settings to be sure.. Oh and I turned of QOS aswell. THanks a milion-saved me tons of time and hair pulling.
The only thing I wanted ask about was this one.

"MaxMTU - DSL =1492 Cable = 1500 DialUp = 576"
Isnt 100mbps faster than DSL. So shouldnt the time to stay allive or whatever be longer? I used 1492 for now. Since other pc is only 50' away tops and not 10-20 miles. Not sure-just thought Id ask what MTU should be. Thanks abunch again!

:t