protonscr

Gigabit internet makes Steam incredibly unstable

steamopen Steam clientDistro Family: ArchWeb Component
ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#10815 · opened 2024-04-23 by mineLdiver · updated 2024-04-26 · 5 comments · github
MmineLdiver 2024-04-23 github

Your system information

  • Steam client version (build number or date): 1709846872
  • Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Arch Linux
  • Opted into Steam client beta?: No
  • Have you checked for system updates?: Yes
  • Steam Logs: steam-logs.tar.gz
  • GPU: Nvidia 1660 SUPER

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

For whatever reason, Steam has severe issues with 1000 Mb/s internet connection on Arch Linux.
It can take several or tens of minutes to start, and even then it might just crash during that:
image

However, the issues don't end here. If it does successfully start, it can randomly snap into offline mode, preventing any downloads.
And if it does download, it sits at around 40 Mb/s, despite being on a 1000 Mb/s connection. Very, very rarely it goes to about 500 Mb/s.

I know that this is somehow related to the 1000 Mb/s connection because tethering a phone and then starting Steam on mobile data fixes all the issues.

What we have tried:

  1. Both native and flatpak versions of Steam.
  2. Disabling HTTP2 as per https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/10248 but it didn't seem to have a major impact on anything.
  3. Checking if NetworkManager is enabled and running. It is.

Steps for reproducing this issue:

  1. Having a 1000 Mb/s internet connection.
  2. Opening Steam
Ssoleofthesea 2024-04-25 github

For the record I'm running Stream on Arch with a 1gbit connection with no issues, so this bug seems to be due to a dodgy config in the PC, the router, or the Steam server you're connecting to.

Try switching download region as well as booting off a live USB and starting Steam.

MmineLdiver 2024-04-25 github

Changing download region didn't help.

Also tried running Steam in a Windows QEMU VM, and it had exact same issues and the exact same workaround (switching to mobile data) solved it.

Doubt it's something to do with the system, because I did basically the same setup on a different machine with 100 Mb/s connection and it worked flawlessly.

Also previously had Windows 10 before installing Arch on the 1000 Mb/s machine and it didn't have any issues.

Ssoleofthesea 2024-04-25 github

Sounds like an issue with the Ethernet driver then. Do you actually get 1gbit download speed (like on fast.com or something)? Also try manually setting the connection from full duplex to half duplex or vice versa?

MmineLdiver 2024-04-26 github

Yes, everywhere else except Steam the download speed seems to be consistently receiving the gigabit treatment:
image

Steam also rarely goes up to 600 Mb/s, but, again, rarely, compared to everything else.
image

Ssoleofthesea 2024-04-26 github

Again, try setting your Ethernet to 100Mbit and see if the issue persists.

Also, how long ago did this start / has it ever worked under Arch? If it's recent it could be because your ISP is trying to block Steam, just sayin'.

Upstream links