How to fix buggy MediaTek RZ717 drivers in Windows

Framework Laptop 13
1

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.

  1. Open Device Manager
  2. Expand Network adaptors
  3. Right click on the RZ717 WiFi 7 160MHz device and click Properties
  4. Click on the Driver tab
  5. Select the property Matching device Id from the properties dropdown
  6. Right click on the value and click Copy

Search the catalog or this value on the catalog. On my system, this value is PCI\VEN_14C3&DEV_0717&SUBSYS_071714C3.

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:

  1. Double click on the .cab file to open it
  2. Copy all of the files inside and paste them in the folder outside
  3. In Device Manager, right click on the device
  4. Click Update Driver
  5. Click Browse my computer for drivers
  6. Browse to the folder that you created
  7. Click next
  8. Restart if prompted

I’m not sure why Windows Update didn’t iinstall this driver.

2

Thank you very much! This seems to have solved my Wifi issues: Download was fine, upload was 5Mbit max.

1 Like
3

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

4

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”.

5

True.

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.