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M2 Pro Ethernet issues?

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Saberon2014

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 26, 2013
140
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Just got my M2 Pro Mini today and it’s a mess. If I ping google.com (or any site) I get maybe a 50-60% packet loss. Wifi is OK. Plugged another PC into the same cable and no issues. Went to a friends house, same issue.

Can someone test with Ethernet and see if you’re getting horrible packet loss?
 
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Saberon2014 said:
Just got my M2 Pro Mini today and it’s a mess. If I ping google.com (or any site) I get maybe a 50-60% packet loss. Wifi is OK. Plugged another PC into the same cable and no issues. Went to a friends house, same issue.

Can someone test with Ethernet and see if you’re getting horrible packet loss?
Click to expand...

could be iCloud private relay

edit: actually it won't be that because iCloud private relay is for Safari only, not ping.

sorry for the unhelpful post
 
Saberon2014 said:
Nope I don’t have it
Click to expand...

if it helps, my 2018 mac mini has had sporadic ethernet issues before, every so often the interface will just go down or have high packet loss. However, currently is the longest time of it not happening so I don't know if it got fixed in firmware/software or if it was a loose connection on the inside.

prior to that, remade the ethernet cable and used different ethernet cables and switches but still had the problem so i never really got to the bottom of it apart from the issue going away. so all in all, it was interesting to read your post, let us know on here what you do find. Internally the ethernet port is very close to the power socket ...
 
Tried that and no luck. It also fails activation many times in a row due to this issue even outside MacOS itself
 
I have this exact problem. Shiny new M2 Pro, it's dropping about 15% of packets:

6 packets transmitted, 5 packets received, 16.7% packet loss

Doesn't happen with a usb-c -> ethernet I had in a drawer somewhere.. Anyone got any suggestions?
 
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Saberon2014 said:
Just called apple and said I needed an exchange cause it’s defective. I’m 5 hours from nearest Apple Store
Click to expand...
Ah, I'll give that a try tomorrow, cheers.

Will they send you a replacement and then you send back the borked one, or do you have to send the broken one to them first?
 
+1 for me, too! Base model M2 Pro Mac mini. Shipped with 13.0, oddly enough. It took me THREE complete clean installs from a Ventura USB installer before the laggy networking has finally seemed to stabilize...
 
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I'd tend to suspect the RJ45 port on the mini.

If I were trying to verify the port is the issue:
Make sure the DNS settings are identical to those on the prior, working machine(s).
If using static IP addresses, make sure you're not using the same address for the two different machines.
If allowing dynamic address assignment by your ISP, make sure the mac is set to dynamic.
Try connecting the cable directly to your cable modem (with no other devices connected, like routers or other pcs).
Try a known good port on the cable modem (one that is ok with other devices).
Try a reboot of the cable modem. Have the ISP reset your cable modem (if rented).
Wonder if the newer machine requires a higher spec Ethernet cable? Cat6 or Cat5e?

I notice faster speeds with wireless compared to Ethernet on my 2013 mbp with my ISP. I've also had a problem every few years with the ISP reassigning my dynamic address to another subscriber's machine, without first changing mine. Results in a lot of missing packets. Also, running a cable from a cable modem to a switch instead of a router can cause a similar issue, since it will divide the single IP address between all devices active on the switch (causing lost packets when multiple devices are attached and active at the same time). I have a cable modem with an integrated Ethernet router and an integrated wireless router to simplify things. Mine has 4 RJ-45 ports, two VoIP ports, and wireless antennas. Some ISPs require additional equipment/charges for use of two wired machines at the same time (strangely does not apply to wireless devices). Mine does charge extra and require equipment above the free basic level cable modem (only supports one Ethernet device at a time).

Also have had short periods of time with ISP in which there were DNS outages (you can change this to another DNS). If the different machines are using different DNS servers or settings that could be the issue.
 
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BlueGhost said:
I'd tend to suspect the RJ45 port on the mini.

If I were trying to verify the port is the issue:
Make sure the DNS settings are identical to those on the prior, working machine(s).
If using static IP addresses, make sure you're not using the same address on two different machines.
If allowing dynamic address assignment by your ISP, make sure the mac is set to dynamic.
Try connecting the cable directly to your cable modem (with no other devices connected, like routers or other pcs).
Try a known good port on the cable modem (one that is ok with other devices).
Try a reboot of the cable modem. Have the ISP reset your cable modem (if rented).
Wonder if the newer machine requires a higher spec Ethernet cable? Cat6 or Cat5e?
Click to expand...
Thanks! Basically did all of this including taking my mini to a friends house and using his internet and cabling. Exact same issue
 
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Got my 2nd base model M2 Pro Mac mini today. (I'm replacing two 2012 minis with two M2 Pro base models. One was delayed in shipping).

First thing I did was wipe & reinstall from USB... and yep, it is also exhibiting this problem! I'm using all the same cables I was using successfully on my other M2 Pro mini mere hours ago. Going to try and reinstall AGAIN, but this problem showing up on 2 out of 2 minis (one of which seems to be OK now!) makes me wonder what the problem really is...
 
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Glad to hear it’s not just me, but frustrating that there’s a real issue here. Keep me posted on your progress
 
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purplefuku said:
+1 for me, too! Base model M2 Pro Mac mini. Shipped with 13.0, oddly enough. It took me THREE complete clean installs from a Ventura USB installer before the laggy networking has finally seemed to stabilize...
Click to expand...
So doing a clean install from usb is better ?
 
Che Castro said:
So doing a clean install from usb is better ?
Click to expand...
I'd give that a shot as a first step. It seems to work better for me after a USB reinstall. And if there's no change, at least you'll have a USB installer for the future!

I really wonder if this is Ventura, though... I recall seeing something about AWDL / Apple Wireless Direct Link (AirDrop, AirPlay, etc) causing high pings & latency over Wi-Fi. (https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2373916/). I wonder if there's still just networking bugs? I'd hate to think that there's a whole batch of minis with bad NICs...
 
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MacProFCP said:
Did you try with an adapter dongle?

Torat would rule out a hardware issue with the RJ45 port.
Click to expand...
Yeah, no. You're absolutely right. Switching over to my USB-C ethernet adapter made the lag go away immediately... Even the "post-reinstall improvement" I was perceiving was NOTHING compared to my other adapter...

Damn. I have just been waiting so, SO long for these machines! I really don't want to have to send TWO back to Apple & hope that I get luckier the second time around, but what can you do? 😭
 
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