I just got my Framework 13 Ryzen Ai 300 series laptop, and I’ve found the MediaTek RZ717 Wi-Fi drivers (version 5.4.0.2859) shipped with the first diver bundle to be extremely buggy. They caused HTTPS network connections to time out for https://dropbox.com, https://proton.me, and ironically https://frame.work when the laptop was behind a FortiGate firewall.
If you do a web search for MediaTeck drivers, you’ll get results from questionable sources. The best and only source for drivers is the Microsoft Update Catalog.
To find the right driver, you need to get the Matching Device ID from Device Manager.
Open Device Manager
Expand Network adaptors
Right click on the RZ717 WiFi 7 160MHz device and click Properties
Click on the Driver tab
Select the property Matching device Id from the properties dropdown
From the results, click on the Download button, and then on the .cab link. I recommend creating a folder that matches the driver version and placing the file in there.
To install the driver:
Double click on the .cab file to open it
Copy all of the files inside and paste them in the folder outside
In Device Manager, right click on the device
Click Update Driver
Click Browse my computer for drivers
Browse to the folder that you created
Click next
Restart if prompted
I’m not sure why Windows Update didn’t iinstall this driver.
For me, even after installing the 25.20.3.41 drivers, the speed test results are not great. I have a 1Gbps/600mbps pipe, and the Framework is only getting 465Mbps/333Mbps. The desktop right next to it gets 841Mbps/566Mbps on Wi-Fi
The desktop sitting next to the Framework has a couple of possible reasons for being faster.
First is that the RZ717 only implements channels up to 160 MHz maximum. If the card in your desktop supports 320 MHz channels it has the potential for more speed.
The other is the the desktop likely has a better antenna. A better antenna means better signal to noise ratios, allowing the use of a transmission mode with a higher bit rate; say, 256QAM rather than 64QAM.
I understand the urge to get as much speed as possible. But for most use cases, 465 Mbps falls into the category of “ain’t broke, don’t fix”.
I still don’t get why Windows Update didn’t pick up the newer drivers if the drivers are in the Microsoft update catalog. I was starting to think I had a faulty card.
I just received my Framework 13 (AI 9 HX 370 CPU) and installed win 11 on it last nite, using an ethernet adapter for internet access during this process. After booting into windows the first thing I did was run the framework driver bundle installer, which includes the wifi driver version 5.5.0.3366.
Today I disconnected the ethernet adapter and connected to my local wifi (google nest wifi pro mesh) and I’ve noticed erratic fluctuations in wifi signal as well as intermittent complete disconnection. The signal is just fine on all my other devices, but I reset the network just to be sure and it seems like the laptop is the issue.
I followed the above instructions and installed the latest driver version hosted on the Microsoft catalog (5.5.0.3548) and it seems slightly better, though as I type this I can see the wifi signal fluctuating between 1 and 4 bars.
I disabled and reenabled the wifi adapter and for maybe 5-10 min after doing so I had a rock solid extremely fast connection–I didn’t get to run a speed test, but websites were loading essentially instantly, though now I seem to be back where I was.
I guess I’ll keep troubleshooting and maybe hope for a driver or firmware update, but I have to say this has been a pretty disappointing part of my experience with an otherwise amazing laptop so far
edit: quick update–restarted my laptop again and ran a speed test while the wifi was behaving and got 888 Mbps, so it seems like the connection speed is very good when it’s working. I immediately went to run the test a second time and the wifi disconnected momentarily, interrupting the second run.
Thank you very much Sean for this detailed answer. I have connectivity issue (poor range) with the RZ717 wifi module. I’m losing wifi after only 8 or 9 meters away from the router (wifi 6E).
I upgraded the driver from version 5.5.0.3366 (Framework driver bundle) to 5.6.0.3906 (Microsoft catalog).
Wifi works even though the signal strength seems a bit weak. Speed is close to what i got with my TP link wifi adapter AX1800.
Speed with RZ717 updated driver:
Away from the router: 270 down/55 up Mbps
Close to the router: 775/650 Mbps
