Slow 802.11ac drivers (Bootcamp Win 10 x64)

Question

Level 1

10 points

Slow 802.11ac drivers (Bootcamp Win 10 x64)

Hello,

I read and recognized that the latest Broadcom 802.11ac drivers for my MacBook Air (early 2014) are making wlan very slow (I think I got that driver update automatically through Windows Update). I had around only 5 MB/s (and jumping up and down a lot) when copying files over wlan. Then I downgraded to any 6.34.xxx drivers found in the internet and wlan speed is good and constant again at around 50 MB/s. But I think that drivers are really old now and maybe not optimal.

Could anyone confirm which is the latest good working driver version for Bootcamp Win 10 x64 and where can I download that drivers?

MacBook Air, Windows 10

Posted on Mar 15, 2017 9:42 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Jan 22, 2018 12:23 PM in response to mensa84

If you network card is a Broadcom 802.11ac then you should to install this driver: http://www.station-drivers.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=353&func=f ileinfo&id=1985&lang=en

The driver provided by Bootcamp is really bad. I had the same issue and I resolved it installing newer driver found by Google with the search "broadcom BCM43XX driver 7.35".

Reply

Answer 2

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Feb 1, 2018 4:45 AM in response to emiliogpa

If the drivers have been modified, can you trust the version number? However, if you are satisfied with them, please use them.

Apple Software Update provides updated versions of Bootcamp drivers, after a specific BC drivers package has been released.

Reply

Answer 3

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Jan 22, 2018 12:32 PM in response to emiliogpa

Installing 'old' drivers from an unverified source can be problematic.

Think of KRACKAttack. There is a reason for new updated drivers and security patches. 😉

Reply

Answer 4

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Mar 16, 2017 9:16 AM in response to mensa84

mensa84 wrote:

Hi,

thanks for your answer.

Is it possible to disable the Windows Update only for certain devices? I don't think so, or?

Please see the following two links to manage specific driver updates.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2500967/how-to-stop-windows-7-automatic ally-installing-drivers

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/take-back-control-driver-updates-windows-10/

I created a new Bootcamp install stick under Mac OS and now I can find Windows 8 and Windos 7 drivers on the USB Stick. As I am running Windows 10, I think I should use Windows 8 drivers, correct?

The Windows 8 drivers are the newer ones, but in 5 GHz band I get with windows 8 drivers only around 30 MB/s throughput and with Windows 7 drivers I get 50 MB/s. So should I really use the older drivers? Why does Apple use bad/broken Win 8 drivers? Or aren't they for Windows 10?

There are two separate sets of drivers - BC5 - W7/W8.1, and BC6 - W10.

W7/W8.1 drivers can be downloaded from Install Windows 7 and earlier on your Mac using Boot Camp - Apple Support, and these support W7/W8.1 as noted in the System Requirements for each specific Mac model's download.

BC6 drivers can be download using BC Assistant as follows.

Reply

Answer 5

Dec 17, 2017 10:32 AM in response to mensa84

Where are you getting the 6.34 drivers? The only ones I've been able to install leave me with a 'This device cannot start' code 10 error. If you're using Brigadier, which model did you use to request the bootcamp distribution?

Reply

Answer 6

mensa84 Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 16, 2017 7:52 AM in response to Loner T

Hi,

thanks for your answer.

Is it possible to disable the Windows Update only for certain devices? I don't think so, or?

I created a new Bootcamp install stick under Mac OS and now I can find Windows 8 and Windos 7 drivers on the USB Stick. As I am running Windows 10, I think I should use Windows 8 drivers, correct?

The Windows 8 drivers are the newer ones, but in 5 GHz band I get with windows 8 drivers only around 30 MB/s throughput and with Windows 7 drivers I get 50 MB/s. So should I really use the older drivers? Why does Apple use bad/broken Win 8 drivers? Or aren't they for Windows 10?

Windows 7 driver from Bootcamp install stick:

Windows 8 driver from Bootcamp instal stick:

Reply

Answer 7

mensa84 Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 16, 2017 9:52 AM in response to Loner T

Yes, I have an Asus RT-AC3200 with Tomato Shibby firmware on it (also tried stock firmware and also a Synology RT2600ac Router - everyhwere the same problem: WAN -> WLAN slow (30 Megabit/s); LAN -> WLAN fast (105 Megabit/s).

"Wireless Network Mode" is set to "Auto". But what does it matter? My internal Wlan speed is good with 105 Megabit/s in 2.4 GHz.

Reply

Answer 8

mensa84 Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 17, 2017 2:02 AM in response to Loner T

Good morning and thanks for all your help!

I ran some iperf3 tests now:

PC (LAN) to PC (LAN):

MacBook (5 GHz WLAN) to PC (LAN):

MacBook (2.4 GHz WLAN) to PC (LAN):

So as it seems both WLANs should be faster than my WAN connection (80/20 Mbit/s).

I also tried to do iperf3 tests to all public servers in Europe, but I got only around 10 MBit/s on all servers. Maybe that servers are too slow? Cause I get much higher speeds at speedtest.net or downloads.

How should I test my WAN speed then and find out what is the problem with 2.4 GHz? iperf says there is no problem with 2.4 GHz WLAN internal, right?

I installed Wireshark, but I don't have any experience how to use that program and locate problems 😟

Reply

Answer 9

Feb 1, 2018 2:33 AM in response to Loner T

The drivers of the link are newer than the offered by bootcamp. The drivers are certified too.

The drivers offered by bootcamp not working nothing well.

Reply

Answer 10

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Mar 16, 2017 6:27 AM in response to mensa84

The standard Windows Update drivers can cause problems. If you use the BC drivers and they give you the speed you expect/need, I suggest disabling Windows Update for the wireless card.

If you chase the version number, it is a trade-off between stability and bugs. 😉

Reply

Answer 11

mensa84 Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 16, 2017 9:22 AM in response to Loner T

Thank you, then I installed the correct drivers I think.

But I was not able to deactivate for only 1 device automatic driver update, cause the network card is not shown under "devices and printers".

Strange is also, that I get from LAN to WLAN throughput of around 105 Megabit/s (in 2.4 GHz band) but from WAN to WLAN only around 30 Megabit/s (also in 2.4 GHz band). But my internet connection is 80 Megabit/s and I also reach the at speedtests, when I am connected via 5 GHz band, but not in 2.4 GHz band. My wlan can't be the problem, cause internal it is also fast enough (105 Megabit/s).

I already tried different routers and a lot of different settings.

Reply

Answer 12

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Mar 16, 2017 9:58 AM in response to mensa84

You can run two tests.

1. iPerf client and server both on your internal WLAN and test speed.

2. iPerf client on your Mac, public iPerf server and test speed.

Usually firewalls at the gateways can slow throughput.

Reply

Answer 13

mensa84 Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 16, 2017 10:15 AM in response to Loner T

Please read my posts carefully again.

5 GHz band:

WAN -> WLAN: 80 Megabit/s

LAN -> WLAN: 450 Megabit/s

2.4 GHz band:

WAN -> WLAN: 30 Megabit/s

LAN -> WLAN: 105 Megabit/s

So the problem can't be the WLAN, or? Even at 2.4 GHz it is internal faster (105 Megabit/s) than my internet connection offers (80 Megabit/s). I don't understand why the WAN -> WLAN throughput is only at 2.4 GHz so bad. I am trying since 5 days around now. Nothing was changed and until last week it worked without problems.

I already tried 3 different routers and also an other USB WLAN dongle, nothing helps 😟 I just don't understand it.

I even went down in the cellar (in a bomb shelter) with my router corded to a long Cat6 cable where no other interference is and also there is the same problem.

Reply

Answer 14

Loner T

Level 9

59,536 points

Mar 16, 2017 11:43 AM in response to mensa84

Your topology should be

WAN -> Router - WLAN1 (2.4G)

WAN -> Router - WLAN2 (5G)

WAN -> Ethernet - LAN (Gigabit)

The Tx Rate of 450Mbps or 105Mbps on WLANs is not as significant as TCP/UDP packets. How are you calculating 80Mbps and 30Mbps? What tools are you using? If you see significant packet drops, the speed could be gigabit, but throughput would be very low.

File copy can use FTP, SFTP/SCP, HTTP, TFTP and each protocol will behave differently.

Is this behavior the same on both Windows and OS X?

Reply

Answer 15

mensa84 Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 16, 2017 11:53 AM in response to Loner T

Yes, that's my topology. The router does even have WLAN3 (also 5 GHz), but no real need of that.

Yes, it is exactly the same behavior in Windows an OS X.

File copy tests are with a 2 GB file from a Samba Share on a NAS (can send via LAN up to 880 Megabit/s).

I always test my WAN download speed at speedtest.net. So 80 Megabit download (5 GHz) and 30 Megabit (2.4 GHz) are the results from there.

How should I do the checks, that I can locate the problem?

Reply