Endless Buffering

[BackwoodsBob]

My computer is making me nuts.
Is there any setting in BIOS that one could screw up that would cause endless buffering?
I stream, or try to stream, t.v. pretty much constantly. It helps me sleep at night, sometimes.
I have my CPU o.c.'d about 20%. I have my memory set to the XMP profile that my board supports.
I have my LLC set to Regular.
I don't have my GPU o.c.'d at all.
My games run fine and the silly thing seems to run perfect, except for sometimes endless buffering.
The streaming service works fine during hours with the most bandwith usage, most of the time. But every few hours it will start buffering, and buffering, and buffering. If it matters, I am streaming my cable providers website on a hard line. I have a whopping 25 ish Mbps connection speed.
I have undone the overclock, just to see if that helps, I don't think it will, but I am trying to make sure I have left no stone unturned before I bite someones head off at the cable company, which also provides my internet service.
Whats even worse is that they AGREE that it is beyond stupid that I can't stream their t.v. service on their internet connection without endless buffering.
TIA!

 

[Frick]

That kind of thing is usually a network problem. Wireless or wired? If wireless, it could be a sign of a dying router, or a bad NIC.

 

[BackwoodsBob]

That kind of thing is usually a network problem. Wireless or wired? If wireless, it could be a sign of a dying router, or a bad NIC.

wired. I figured it was connection. Not trying to work on assumptions. I will leave it unclocked for a day or two and see if there is any change. Trying to look past the usual.

 

[jsfitz54]

wired. I figured it was connection. Not trying to work on assumptions. I will leave it unclocked for a day or two and see if there is any change. Trying to look past the usual.

Is this a Cable or DSL setup?

Try adjusting the MTU size using this guide: https://homenetworkgeek.com/mtu-size/

You could also try clearing your IP Stack from CMD as Administrator: (Copy n Paste) netsh int ip reset
then reboot and reapply wireless settings.

 

[Nater]

Start the process of elimination. Run PC at stock. Go direct PC--> Modem. (get rid of any routers or switches in between). Swap NIC's. Unplug the microwave. Ya literally gotta start at zero sometimes to find the culprit.

I ended up ditching my older 802.11n router and going WiFi6. Direct 4K streams from my PC to TV just wouldn't play nice.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

What service? I just solved an issue with Plex live streams buffering like crazy turned out to be an Addon (HTTPS EVerywhere - EFF.org) after hours of checking everything else it turns out the stream dont like being forced to use HTTPS.

 

[BackwoodsBob]

Is this a Cable or DSL setup?

Try adjusting the MTU size using this guide: https://homenetworkgeek.com/mtu-size/

You could also try clearing your IP Stack from CMD as Administrator: (Copy n Paste) netsh int ip reset
then reboot and reapply wireless settings.

Cat 5 - router - modem. I know that as LAN. DSL to me is a dedicated dial up connection. I get my Inet through my cable provider so it comes through the same COAX.
Honestly, I thought IP stack had something to do with servers. Should I be embarrassed yet? Can you explain in real, real simple terms what that is?

Start the process of elimination. Run PC at stock. Go direct PC--> Modem. (get rid of any routers or switches in between). Swap NIC's. Unplug the microwave. Ya literally gotta start at zero sometimes to find the culprit.

I ended up ditching my older 802.11n router and going WiFi6. Direct 4K streams from my PC to TV just wouldn't play nice.

I returned to stock settings. 3.9 is sooooooooo much slower than the 4.6 I had it at. Maybe it is psychosomatic. I just got a brand new router from Cable Co. rated at 1Tbs. Hadn't thought about eliminating router completely. That is going to absolutely SUCK for everyone else in the house. How do I not make it F Dup for everyone else? My modem only has the one cat 5 port.
Can you please define and explain NICs? No idea what that is. All google shows is crime stuff

What service? I just solved an issue with Plex live streams buffering like crazy turned out to be an Addon (HTTPS EVerywhere - EFF.org) after hours of checking everything else it turns out the stream dont like being forced to use HTTPS.

Spectrum. Hadn't thought about addons. I have exactly 3. One is from my antivirus. Interestingly enough, the other two have to do with streaming. Next time it starts endlessly buffering, I will disable them one at a time and see what happens. Good Idea! I might never have thought of that.

 

[newtekie1]

Are you just leaving the stream sit on the same channel for a long while or are you changing around what you are viewing? And if it starts to buffer and you switch to something else, does it endlessly buffer with the new channel or does the new content play regularly?

 

[jsfitz54]

Cat 5 - router - modem. I know that as LAN. I get my Internet through my cable provider so it comes through the same COAX.
Honestly, I thought IP stack had something to do with servers. Should I be embarrassed yet? Can you explain in real, real simple terms what that is?

Do this first on your PC:
You could also try clearing your IP Stack from CMD as Administrator: (Copy n Paste) netsh int ip reset
then reboot and reapply wireless settings as needed.

Can you please define and explain NICs? No idea what that is.
Network Card either built in or as an add-on card.

Spectrum. Hadn't thought about addons. I have exactly 3. One is from my antivirus. Interestingly enough, the other two have to do with streaming. Next time it starts endlessly buffering, I will disable them one at a time and see what happens. Good Idea! I might never have thought of that.
On your router set the MTU to 1470.

And try rebooting your Spectrum Modem.

 

[Divide Overflow]

Might want to check your power and sleep settings to ensure nothing is being switched off if thinks it's idle for too long.
Along with the general settings, check the following:
Device Manager > Network adapters > your network card
Properties > Power Management
Make sure Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power is not checked.

 

[BackwoodsBob]

Cat 5 - router - modem. I know that as LAN. I get my Internet through my cable provider so it comes through the same COAX.
Honestly, I thought IP stack had something to do with servers. Should I be embarrassed yet? Can you explain in real, real simple terms what that is?

Do this first on your PC:
You could also try clearing your IP Stack from CMD as Administrator: (Copy n Paste) netsh int ip reset
then reboot and reapply wireless settings as needed.

Can you please define and explain NICs? No idea what that is.
Network Card either built in or as an add-on card.

Spectrum. Hadn't thought about addons. I have exactly 3. One is from my antivirus. Interestingly enough, the other two have to do with streaming. Next time it starts endlessly buffering, I will disable them one at a time and see what happens. Good Idea! I might never have thought of that.
On your router set the MTU to 1490.

And try rebooting your Spectrum Modem.

I will check the MTU but I don't understand the directions. I have reset the modem and the router several times.
I built this computer, so the network card has to be built in.

Might want to check your power and sleep settings to ensure nothing is being switched off if thinks it's idle for too long.
Along with the general settings, check the following:
Device Manager > Network adapters > your network card
Properties > Power Management
Make sure Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power is not checked.

Oh yeah. I did that ages ago. I never shut this thing off.

Are you just leaving the stream sit on the same channel for a long while or are you changing around what you are viewing? And if it starts to buffer and you switch to something else, does it endlessly buffer with the new channel or does the new content play regularly?

Yes the stream sits on the same channel. For hours. It decides to start buffering anywhere from as soon as I change channels to several hours. Currently the channel I am watching has started the endless buffering thing about once every 2 hours. If I switch channels and switchback, it clears that up.
The big problem is how it effects my PTSD I sleep with the tv streaming as the light and noise help me stay asleep. As soon as it starts endless buffering, I wake up. Currently I have about 6 hours sleep for the week. I can never get back to sleep. I have tried other streaming services, Discovery channel works all night sometimes, as does the on demand service. Sometimes.
So sometimes I get more than 2 or 3 hours of sleep a night. Sometimes.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Some stream servers are garbage
List where you're streaming from.

 

[newtekie1]

Yes the stream sits on the same channel. For hours. It decides to start buffering anywhere from as soon as I change channels to several hours. Currently the channel I am watching has started the endless buffering thing about once every 2 hours. If I switch channels and switchback, it clears that up.

I'd almost guarantee you that is the steaming provider timing out your connection due to inactivity. Comcast does the same thing to me if I leave one of my computers streaming for too long on the same channel. I'm kind of like you, I like to fall asleep with the TV on and when the sound stops and the buffering starts, it wakes me up.

 

[Caring1]

Bandwidth can drop during peak times once everyone is home from work and online, it depends how many properties are connected to the node in your area.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

Bandwidth can drop during peak times once everyone is home from work and online, it depends how many properties are connected to the node in your area.

twitch does this depending what prime time is for the streamer.

 

[jsfitz54]

I will check the MTU but I don't understand the directions. I have reset the modem and the router several times.
I built this computer, so the network card has to be built in.

Log into your router and look under the WAN tab and see if MTU is set to 1500. Change 1500 to 1470 and apply/save setting.
EDIT: not 1490 but 1470. (this is for Spectrum)

What exactly does netsh int ip reset reset?

Having got this problem and found this solution I think I should perhaps try netsh int ip reset reset command but I am afraid it can reset some important settings and disable me from reaching the s...

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