PCIe Interference

[Daisies]

So I'm having this really bizarre issue. I recently upgraded to an Rx 470 8GB from an R9 270x 2GB. I use a wifi adapter. After working out some issues everything was functional (though haven't done any real stress testing or gameplay because I'm working a lot of extra hours), until I realized didn't have an internet connection.

Every time I tried connecting to my main network, my Wifi adapter would hitch or crash and it would say "unable to connect". But, for some reason I can't comprehend, I could connect to the 5GHz band just fine. It was just the default 2.4GHz that was failing. This never happened before.

 

Using the 5GHz would be all fine and dandy, but the entire reason I use wifi is because my router is on the other side of the house, and 5GHz doesn't have any range.

I thought maybe I damaged the adapter while installing the GPU, but I figured out it was the card itself causing the problem by disabling the GPU in device manager, and magically I could connect to my network normally again.

But as soon as I re-enable the adapter loses its connection and defaults back to the 5GHz network.

 

Oh, sometimes trying to connect to the main network also causes the display to glitch (either large artifacts or display cuts for a split second) so its not just the GPU interfering with the adapter, it also goes the other way around. I really don't know what to make of it considering the 270x was much more of a powerhog (even undervolted) so it's not a matter of the motherboard or PSU being overloaded, which would have kind of made sense that certain devices wouldn't be behaving properly.

 

I tried just about everything I can think of to fix it. Did a clean install of drivers, moved the adapter to a farther away PCI slot, reinstalled my adapter drivers, reset my router, even tried changing the 2.4GHz channels in my router which fixed the issue for people that were having it years ago on Nvidia cards. Any suggestions on what the issue is or ways to fix it would be greatly appreciated.

 

Specs:

CPU

AMD FX-4350

RAM

G.Skill Ripjaws 16GB DDR3 1866

Motherboard

MSI 970 GAMING

Wifi Adapter

TP-LINK T9E AC1900

Graphics

Sapphire RX 470 8GB   

PSU

Seasonic SSR-650RM 650W

 

OS

Windows 10 64bit, pre-Fall Creators Update (my router is incompatible with that release so I had to disable updates on all the computers in the house. Another issue I could use help with but much less urgent)

[GoldenSound]

Certainly is an odd issue. I doubt its a power limit thing as wifi adapters use very little.

First port of call would be to re-seat your components. Unplug your GPU and wifi adapter then plug them back in. You'd be surprised how many issues that fixes.

If that fails, then its likely a motherboard issue.
Ensure that the standoffs are installed, that nothing is in contact with something that shouldnt be etc. And failing that, sounds like you'll need to RMA your board

[Jurrunio]

That's weird. First of all nothing on an RX470 runs around 2400MHz, secondly people can use 2400MHz memory and CPUs just fine while 2.4GHz WiFi is in use.

 

What RX470 are you using?

[Daisies]

6 hours ago, GoldenOne said:

Unplug your GPU and wifi adapter then plug them back in.

Tried reseating but will give it another shot when I get home. Could be an issue with the board, but I've had it over 3 years at this point so a little late for an RMA. Pretty sure MSI only has 1 year on their warranties.

 

7 hours ago, Jurrunio said:

What RX470 are you using?

Sapphire Nitro+ 

[Jurrunio]

12 minutes ago, Daisies said:

Tried reseating but will give it another shot when I get home. Could be an issue with the board, but I've had it over 3 years at this point so a little late for an RMA. Pretty sure MSI only has 1 year on their warranties.

 

Sapphire Nitro+ 

the router should have option to change the 2.4GHz wifi's actual frequency a bit, see if changing that helps.

[Daisies]

19 hours ago, Jurrunio said:

the router should have option to change the 2.4GHz wifi's actual frequency a bit, see if changing that helps.

 

On 11/17/2018 at 5:01 PM, Daisies said:

even tried changing the 2.4GHz channels in my router

 

[JesVin]

Hi there, I had EXACTLY the same issue with a Sapphire Rx 470 4GB and an ASUS AC51 Wifi PCIe card. Both slots were too close (the motherboard is an ASUS A320M-K) and I'm afraid the graphics card generates tons of interferences in that band.

 

The definive proof is to put your smartphone next to the graphics DVI/HDMI port and see if your smartphone wifi connection drops constantly. In my case it was clearly the problem. If I pulled appart my smartphne just 10 cm away, it worked correctly. 

 

I evaluated buying external antennas, but too much signal loss and good ones aren't cheap. So I'm afraid your only solutions are: buy an USB WIFI adapter (and put it 1 meter appart from the tower), or use ethernet cable connection.

 

I don't know if this happens with other brands mounting the same Rx. Maybe Sapphire brand (which is the cheapest), is cheap just because its lack of isolation and other details?

 

I gave up.

 

Hope this helps