Software or Hardware? What's the Problem?

[CrazyMrB]

I've had a lot of problems with my current build, and internet access is one of them. It took me ~15mins (including a reboot) to get to the post new thread page. I have a 3.0 mbps cable connection. My AIM randomly logs off then forces itself back on. 50-60% of the time I can't actually go directly to a website without repeatedly hitting refresh just to get the page to load. Sometimes Firefox won't work while, at the same time, IE will, and other times it's reversed. Funny enough, the whole time, limewire can be downloading with no problems at all.

So I'm down to this question, is my problem a bad nic or is my software fudged up? I have other computers on the home network and they run fine, so it's not the modem or router. The cat5 is the same that I used on my old computer and it worked fine with it.

Thanks for any help,
Frustrated B

Specs:
PD 805 stock
1 GB 667 @ 533 (underclocked to be certain that it wasn't interfering)
ECS C19-A (using onboard nic)
SB Audigy
ATI x800 xl pcie
handful of drives on a 450W PSU

 

[Blauman]

well if limewire still downloads then the connection on your PC is fine, but it sounds like you have some sort of goofy software issue. You could also just try another NIC to rule that out. Try swapping a NIC from a PC that you know works and give that a try for a couple of days.