Significantly Different Wireless Speeds on Two PCs Using Same Wireless Adapter

[Canesfan]

So, using a Netgear WNA100 USB-style wireless adapter on my desktop, I am connected to a wireless network the next room over. My speeds vary from 5-20MB/s depending on usage by other devices on the network. I thought this might be an interference problem, or that the adapter might be getting old, but I hooked up the same wireless adapter to my laptop (with its native WiFi disabled) and got reliable 50-60MB/s connection without moving the wireless adapter itself. The laptop achieves 65-70MB/s when plugged directly into the router.

I updated the drivers for the adapter on both computers (laptop on Windows 8.1, desktop on Windows 10) and saw the same results. The laptop is a week old, and the desktop was formatted during the Windows 10 upgrade about a week ago as well. On previous wireless networks before my move, the adapter was capable of significantly higher speeds as well, and at a greater distance. I'm considering changing to a powerline adapter ethernet connection for my desktop due to the speed problem, but am hesitant to spend that kind of money unless it is absolutely necessary to achieve the speeds I should be getting- (50-60MB/s).\

Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this difference?

[Corewarp3]

Not sure if this will help but.

Wi-Fi is not distributed evenly in a room. Put your laptop in the exact same location as your desktop and try the test again.

Here's video that'll explain it better than I ever could: [media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZk0ksn0Yak[/media]

This one is also good for more knowledge, but probably won't help you.
[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr0AfBO1O20[/media]

[Canesfan]

Well, I should've clarified, my wireless adapter is USB-based, but it's actually a receiver at the end of a long cord. When I tested the adapter on my laptop and desktop, the receiver was in 100% exactly the same location. Only the USB plug end moved.

[Demache]

[QUOTE=Canesfan;48496791]Well, I should've clarified, my wireless adapter is USB-based, but it's actually a receiver at the end of a long cord. When I tested the adapter on my laptop and desktop, the receiver was in 100% exactly the same location. Only the USB plug end moved.[/QUOTE]

Electrical noise can travel through the cable to the adapter. Its actually a nasty problem with the RTLSDR radio tuners. Its possible that one PC is creating more noise than the other.

[daigennki]

What's the specs of the desktop? I think that the performance of the PC itself can also affect internet speeds, although I would imagine the desktop you're using isn't of low performance. And it might sound ridiculous, but maybe you could temporarily plug your desktop into the router via Ethernet and see if that's any different than your laptop on Ethernet?

[Taipan]

Try a different USB port like front USB instead of back and vice versa.

[Deunan]

Are both the same kind of USB ports (2 vs 3 etc)