Anyone had issues with Realtek Ethernet controllers?

pctech · Aug 20, 2012, 00:27:36

When I had my last system built by Mesh I originally selected an Asus board with Intel chipset.

The board had an Ethernet controller chip manufactured by Realtek.

After about 9 months I noticed I was getting random server not found messages.

I did the usual such as putting the IPs for the nameservers directly into Windows, replacing the cable and so on.

Until one day it stopped working completely, tried removing and reinstalling the drivers, resetting the TCP/IP stack and clearing the caches and even reinstalled Windows, nothing

Went back to Mesh who swapped the board for another Asus one but this time with an Nvidia chipset (including Ethernet controller) which has behaved as good as gold ever since.

My new system is using a Gigabyte board with an Intel chipset and a Realtek ethernet controller, I did raise my eyebrows at this when ordering but thought they must have sorted the issue out in six years and had to be more conservative money wise with my new one.

Anyway I'm seeing similar things now, I've reset the TCP/IP stack in the hope its just a gremlin that's snuck in during the image loading but wonder if anyone else has had this issue.

Using Win 7 Pro 64-bit.

Ray · Aug 20, 2012, 08:38:27

I've been using Asus boards with Realtek Nics on board for several years, Mitch, never had a problem with one yet.

talos · Aug 20, 2012, 11:11:53

Quote from: Ray on Aug 20, 2012, 08:38:27
I've been using Asus boards with Realtek Nics on board for several years, Mitch, never had a problem with one yet.

Same here, you may have had a rougue but I doubt you could have had 2

pctech · Aug 20, 2012, 11:14:29

Trying to see if I can pay the difference and got the board swapped for a different one with a Qualcomm controller.

zappaDPJ · Aug 20, 2012, 12:38:28

I've never seen or heard of an issue as described with any network hardware. I have often seen similar symptoms caused by old or wrongly configured network card drivers and firewalls though.

pctech · Aug 20, 2012, 15:24:52

I'll see what I can do with the drivers but all I'll say is this is how the issue started last time.

pctech · Aug 20, 2012, 17:14:59

Will have a fiddle with drivers later.

Gary · Aug 20, 2012, 18:08:45

Why don't you see if there are any issues mentioned on any forums for that board, also are you using a similar software firewall with this board? I had similar NIC's in the past with no issues, in fact back then Nvidia boards caused more problems with some earlier chipsets. It used to be the case never to accept Windows Update driver patches, but always use ones from your boards manufacturer directly, sometimes MS updates screwed things up driver wise.

pctech · Aug 21, 2012, 12:00:10

Downloaded drivers from realtek and it seems more stable now.

Just using the Windows firewall as have one on the router.

Gary · Aug 21, 2012, 15:56:03

Quote from: pctech on Aug 21, 2012, 12:00:10
Downloaded drivers from realtek and it seems more stable now.

Just using the Windows firewall as have one on the router.

Hope all stays stable

pctech · Aug 21, 2012, 16:02:47

Cheers me too

pctech · Aug 25, 2012, 21:12:14

Well after much messing about it appears that its nothing to do with the controller and its my ISP's DNS that sometimes isn't responding so got openDNS set in the router at the minute and the faults have disappeared from event viewer.