Latency / Ping Spikes in CS:GO and other games

[propshafter]

TLDR version: I think in-game voice might be causing ping spike issues in multiplayer games.

So like a lot of people, I've been getting horrible ping spikes in CS:GO, where it jumps from 20-30 to over 200 every few seconds.

I never got this issue until I installed Windows 8.1 a week ago, then I did some googling and tried several fixes (including http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1043281) which fixed the issue temporarily, until this evening when it started to occur again - but only earlier today it worked perfectly fine. The only change which might may have affected it is that I set up my microphone for the first time to use over the Steam chat service while playing Spintires (which didn't have any issues).

So I downloaded Microsoft Network Monitor (http://www.microsoft.com/en-au/download/details.aspx?id=4865) and ran it while playing - and it shows that the game is sending and receiving RTP packets (audio data, also used for VOIP services) every few seconds (which matches up with the frequency of the ping spikes), even though my microphone is now unplugged and in-game voice is disabled (as is twitch for good measure). There are no other services using the network at all. Example from TF2: http://s14.postimg.org/7wkl7bn3k/TF2_capture.jpg

I know it's NOT caused by the following issues:
- Computer being slow - I get zero lag when playing offline, and my pc is up to date
- Wireless connection - I get the same issue on both ethernet and wireless
- CS:GO only - I tested TF2 while running Network Monitor and it does the same thing
- Server latency - the server shows low ping in the menu before I connect to it
- Background processes - looking at Resource Monitor shows nothing else hogging any memory or CPU
- Slow internet - general surfing and Youtube etc work fine

So my question is: is there another way to completely prevent Steam from attempting to send and receive voice data? Or block all RTP packets in Win 8.1? (like here for XP: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/813878).

I realise I might be barking up the wrong tree, but it's worth investigation to rule this out at the very least.

[propshafter]

Ok well I just did some more research and testing (tried community and non-VAC servers but they showed no improvement), but may have found an answer: I disabled the graphics card audio controllers in Device Manager on the advice of this article: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=225142771. I have an NVIDIA GTX 550, it has a HDMI port but I'm using DVI, running sound of the motherboard. Now it works fine. I checked Network Monitor again and it still shows the RTP packets - this issue might still be linked but it's hard to tell.

So hopefully this is actually solved now, and it's not just a coincidence caused by my dodgy Australian internet connection. Thanks for your help :^)

[Bjiste]

I have the exact same issue, also just moved to Win 8.1

Didn't help me though... :-(

[Tom The Cat]

1

[DarkDevel]

i have the same problems and i have win7 i have a 100up/down connection speed the normal ping is 12 but every 30 sec it will drop to 46-194 i have seen it while in game while i had the dev console on

[Bjiste]

I notice that if I reboot I generally don't have the issue. If I start another game or Alt-Tab, it's back again...

[Bjiste]

Hi, just wanted to let you guys now this fixed the issue for me:

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1043281

I'm on Windows 8.1

[3rice_maker]

mines a regular 29 but jumps to 950 so idk y yall are crying about this problem its nothing

[Bjiste]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Bjiste:

Hi, just wanted to let you guys now this fixed the issue for me:

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1043281

I'm on Windows 8.1

Did NOT fix the issue I'm afraid :-(

[tv/icyyemo]

:3

[EMPTYZOMBIEKILLA]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Bjiste:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Bjiste:

Hi, just wanted to let you guys now this fixed the issue for me:

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1043281

I'm on Windows 8.1

Did NOT fix the issue I'm afraid :-(

same

[Identity]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Philthy_Beast:

Ok well I just did some more research and testing (tried community and non-VAC servers but they showed no improvement), but may have found an answer: I disabled the graphics card audio controllers in Device Manager on the advice of this article: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=225142771. I have an NVIDIA GTX 550, it has a HDMI port but I'm using DVI, running sound of the motherboard. Now it works fine. I checked Network Monitor again and it still shows the RTP packets - this issue might still be linked but it's hard to tell.

So hopefully this is actually solved now, and it's not just a coincidence caused by my dodgy Australian internet connection. Thanks for your help :^)

Thank you, this was the solution for me

[HAMnCheese]

Been doing some research and a lot of people are saying its a wireless issue. Here is a fix that worked for me... so far... Download wifi analyzer on an android device. Check to see all the local connections and their channels. Log into your router setting and change to a channel that no one is using. I also moved my wireless adapter from behind my desktop to the front (not sure if that makes any difference).

[Lil Ducky]

I think this fixed my ♥♥♥♥. So much love. If not then I will delete this comment. If I can find it. ;)

[Bjiste]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Xalted:

Been doing some research and a lot of people are saying its a wireless issue. Here is a fix that worked for me... so far... Download wifi analyzer on an android device. Check to see all the local connections and their channels. Log into your router setting and change to a channel that no one is using. I also moved my wireless adapter from behind my desktop to the front (not sure if that makes any difference).

Unfortunately I also have the issue when playing wired :s

[5tr4nGe]

This just happened to me in DM, random spikes from ~80 ping (i have potato internet i know) to over 500 ping at times. it got so bad i ended up quitting it would happen every 2-3 minutes or so.