The Wifi Testing Thread

[Discussion]

Hi everyone,

I'm making this thread to hopefully pool everyones various tests using different routers and wifi bands.

First off, all of my tests are done with a wired desktop as a host and a wireless Macbook Pro running OSX Mavericks as the client.

Every test I did with b/g routers were barely playable in even the best test cases. Only games that aren't latency dependant (XCOM, Civ, etc) were playable.

However once I swapped to a full 5ghz band N router the experience greatly improved given the increase in bandwidth. Borderlands, a very busy game visually can run at 1080p 60FPS nearly flawlessly with only a few dips and minimal latency.

Realistically, in a working household full of Wifi devices I expect b/g routers to be pretty much useless given the extra in-house bandwidth taken up by avid Netflix / YouTube users.

I assume the majority of users are going to use Steam in-home streaming over Wifi, hopefully we can get a good knowledge base going to help Valve improve the experience.

[HeKis4]

Host :
Powerful enough to run anyhing @ 60 fps/1080p
Default ethernet gigabit port
Connected via PLC on my box (SFR router (french ISP))

Client :
MSI GE60-2OC-X258FR
Wi-Fi b/g/n

It doesn't work at all, the screen is messed up (like only the upper part of the client screen is used, the lower part of the host screen is displayed on the right of the client, the upper on the left... Pretty trippy anyway)
Steam marks it as "slow connection".

[yeti]

Host:
good for 1080p 60fps no probs
connected by Netgear WNDA3100 wifi adpater

Client: Small form factor hp desktop intel core 2 duo 2.66ghz, 5570 low profile gfx card.

Router: Netgear WNDR3700

can stream 720p (1280x720) 60fps with all bells and whistles on (dx11 AA AF max etc) works great :)

Problems happen if I try to increase the resolution. At 1080p i get huge input lag on the controller making games unplayable.

On screen stats say connected at 130mbps. The red line on the graph goes crazy high when i change higher res than 720p.

Going to try and connect through ethernet later and see what happens.

[red fish]

Host:
More than enough horsepower to max any game at 1080p connected with gigabit LAN to my 20 Mb/s internet service.

Client:
iGPU i5 4590S desktop connected through an old Trendnet plug-and-play USB wifi adapter to a EnGenius ESR350 wireless b/g/n router.

Crashed trying to play Black Ops 2 online but that's to be expected.

Perfectly playable 1080p experience in Bit Trip Runner 2 and Arkham Origins.

[Fwiler]

No problems playing 1080p.

Host: PC i5 with Nvidia 760 connected wireless to Airport Extreme

Client: Macbook Pro retina 13" Mavricks wireless to Airport Extreme

[General Ante Pavelić]

here 2 screenshosts (to lame to edit :)) with nv encode - nv decode over 4 km > 5ghz N wireless

2 hops one is PTP (1->1) another PTMP (with 10clients)
client is 1 from 10 on enterprise AP.

host:
Virtual machine Windows 8.1 x64
680gtx

client:
phenom x4 win7 x64
560ti

1080p 60fps
video lag 10-20ms....
ping 3-7ms...

EPIC!

http://imgur.com/7wcklQ9
http://imgur.com/7A56SQa


INFO/QUESTION?

i noticed this like desync with red line... something like vsync or monitor freq problem... sometimes if i change refresh rate and vsync in game or in nvidia driver it syncs.... then red line follows blue with NO DELAY or whatever like in this screen on 1gbps lan..

both client and host = same monitor dell u2412m.... same on windows and linux...


with "desync"
red jumps every 1s or so... i think cause of 58-59fps and missing 60th frame or something like that...

http://imgur.com/3IJlw2m

with "sync"
there are no spikes and its steady < 5ms...


http://imgur.com/BPv8YeS

[[P]hil]

I've had ALOT of problems with DD-WRT running a Netgear WNR3500L and getting nothing but "Slow network" warnings.... BUT I FIGURED IT OUT

Using the live monitoring.. on DD-WRT i noticed the router has no problems putting out up to 60 Mbps wireless bandwidth..... I was using N ONLY and it has some kind of latency issue, altho it sends an incredible amount of bandwidth per second.. it seems to have a slower latency compared to G only wireless setting..

I switched to G only wireless setting, and it cuts the wireless bandwidth in half, from 30-60 Mbps down to around 15-30 Mbps while streaming in HD from my wireless host to my wireless laptop to my TV with NO ISSUES at all... I just played several games on it.. and it sluttered.. SOMETIMES, but on N only wireless it gave the "Slow network" warning all of the time.


I am so glad i have this fixed.. I live in a very dense wireless area.. aka an Apartment complex.. and I couldn't figure out if it was my wireless adaptors.. my router... or what... it turns out it was just the wireless setting.....

I hope this can help people solve some issues that took me a while to figure out. I was changing so many settings and going back and forth with everything..... I never knew that the N standard had some flaws to it... because on paper.. and in your "status" wireless menus.. the transmission bandwidth looks great... If this router ever dies or becomes unreliable, I may just go with one of those Linksys G routers.... I can see why they are so popular now.

[[masni] CYKA CLEANER]

while reading i noticed something...

Guys with 2.4ghz N wireless/some G... all your problems with lag are probably interference with other ap/devices... change channels 1-13, change 40 to 20mhz channel width (thats about 4MB/s instead 8MB/s, on N depending on number of antennas) enough for stream... N probably can handle 2 wireless clients, G one... if u have 2 or more ap-s, channels 1,6,11 are non-overlapping... this is all asumming there is good signal (<-60) with optical sight....

[Askes]

Well, everything always works smoothly with 5ghz no matter the setting. I just don't think there is any way to cut out 2.4ghz lag.

[mangoSeed]

Finally got around to trying this. Not bad at all for a wireless network.

Host: Core i5 4670k @ 4Ghz, GTX 680
Client: Core i5 4460 @ 3.2Ghz, GTX 660
Network (802.11n) : Host - GigE - Asus AC-66U Router - Asus EA-N66 Bridge - GigE - Client

Peak network bandwidth measured with iPerf: 300Mbps

Streaming results (nVida encode + nVidia decode)
Batman AC: 60fps
Input latency: 0.9ms
Display latency: 24ms
Ping: 1.7ms
Bitrate: 26Mbps
Estimated bandwith: 210Mbps

[Cynagen (58/300β)]

Wireless tests

Host: Core i5 4670k @ 4.2Ghz, GTX550Ti, 16GB DDR3 (gigabit ethernet)
Client: Steam Machine (i5 4570, GTX780, 16GB, 802.11n)
Network: Host - GigE - Trendnet Green 5-port GigE switch - pfSense router (old AMD64x2 @ 2.2Ghz, 1GB DDR) GigE - DD-WRT WRT300N (configured as AP only) 10/100Eth<->802.11n - Client

Steam Machine reports decent signal strength, getting sync @ ~150mbps at best, usually ~115 or less, never less than 60mbps.

Streaming results: (nVidia encode + decode)
Injustice: ~40fps
Input latency: 2.5ms
Display latency: 52ms
Ping: 1.6ms
Bitrate: 16Mbps
Estimated bandwidth: 46Mbps

I don't fault the client or host machines, I fault the old WRT300N I still have... it was a weird early Draft-N model router with 10/100 interfaces, but a MIMO capable 802.11n (300Mbps) wireless. Confusing, but it was N when I needed it, now I need it replaced. Just figured I'd share results.

[striker3034]

I just got around to trying this last night. I tested out streaming Far Cry 3. I didn't get technical with it, I was just testing out playability. As far as I could tell, the streaming worked very well. I started off streaming 720p and got a really smooth 60FPS. Since that was working so well, I went ahead and decided to bump it up to 1080p, and still had a very playable 60FPS, however, there was stuttering at points (not enough to make me want to go back to 720p). As far as any latency issues, there didn't seem to be a problem. I was able to make long range shots on moving targets without compensation. I plan on doing more testing with this, with an eventual goal of putting together the cheapest possible streaming rig I can. I don't know the ins and outs of the streaming process, but I know my Host system can play FC3 native max'd no problem, so I'm not sure how much harder it is to encode(?) then stream the game.

Also, what is the most important component in the client system? Is it the CPU? Does the speed and amount of RAM play a large role?

Host:
Sig Rig
(Plays FC3 flawlessly)

Client:
Lenovo Yoga Pro 2
Intel i7-4500U
Integrated 4000 Graphics (I don't think this matters too much?)
8 GB of 1600Mhz
SSD

Network:
Modem/Router all in one, ISP Provided
Host - 10/100 Ethernet
Client - 802.11 N @ 2.4GHz

[CaptainCooked]

So what I have found is that when running my Desktop through wired connection and as long as you have a laptop or note book with N wireless you will be able to play games decently with minimal FPS drops and latency. However if you plan on using your desktop with wifi to stream to a wireless device, gameplay becomes a lot worse. I am using my stock isp router which only has a B/G/N with 2.4-5ghz
desktop specs:
Intel xeon 1230 v3
GTX 770
Fatality Motherboard with gigabit ethernet as well as AC dual band wifi adapter
laptop specs:
core i5
intel HD graphics
Wireless B/G/N 802.11
So if you want a decent wifi streaming experience think about getting a minimum of N wireless router or AC router if you have money to spare, make sure your host PC is connected using an ethernet cord and that your laptop or client has at least N or AC capable wifi.
All my games work well at 1080p at 60fps

[MarcParis]

I've just switched to In-Home Streaming a few weeks ago. After several trials, I managed to have a flawless gaming experience..:)

Here is my setup :
MarcParis Mini-ITX Gaming Computer[forum.hardware.fr]
Ultrabook Asus Zenbook UX302LA[www.notebookcheck.net]
Wifi Router : Netgear R7000

In-Home Streaming settings:

• Host : QuickSync encoder, Router network optimisation
  
• Guest : QuickSync decoder, 30mbps, 1080p

1st Trial : full Wifi AC

• MarcParis ITX Gaming Computer : Wifi AC to Netgear R7000
  
• Ultrabook Laptop : Wifi AC to Netgear R7000
  
• Input Lag : 2ms
  
• Video Lag : 30-40ms
  
• Ping Lag : 4ms
  
• Result : 90% of time, it's fluent...but it faces regular big lag

2nd Trial : Half Wifi AC, Half RJ-45

• MarcParis ITX Gaming Computer : RJ-45 to Netgear R7000
  
• Ultrabook Laptop : Wifi AC to Netgear R7000
  
• Input Lag < 1ms
  
• Video Lag : 20-25ms
  
• Ping Lag : 2ms
  
• Result : 99,99% of time, it's perfectly fluent. Minor lags could occur rarely

Here is a sample of the final result :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSRMCT0iXqI

[soulaiman.alhauari]

HOST:
Intel Core i7 920 @stock
12GB RAM 1600 Mhz
Sabertooth X58 with intel NIC
GTX 560TI
Windows Server 2012 Essentials

Guest:
Lenovo T400
Core2DUO P8600
4GB RAM
Connected with intel wifi bgn dual band over a 5Ghz network

Router: standard router for Telenet Business Solutions

All games are very playable as long as I have a good signal. FPS is between 35+
Very little input lag
Streaming at full HD on host and it is connected with gigabit

[LiVolsi]

HOST:
Intel Core i7 3960X @ 4.9Ghz under custom water loop
16GB RAM 2133 Mhz
Asus Rampage Extreme IV
Nvidia GTX 780TI Kingpin
Nvidia GTX 680
Windows 8.1

GUEST:
LG G3 using Limelight w MOGA Controller w HID drivers

Router:
ASUS RT-AC66U w Extended Db Antennas

Games Tested:
BF4
Titanfall


Gamestream @ 720p @ 60 fps is flawless
Gamestream @ 1080p @ 60 fps is great but it studders frequently enough for it to be annoying especially in high action situations. I am in the same room as the router for this test. AMAZING TECHNOLOGY!!