Performance optimization for TP-Link AX23 v1

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

I've just installed OpenWrt on my AX23 (v1.2 EU) and here are my initial wired LAN speed test results (my ISP speed is 450-500 Mbps):

Stock Firmware: Rock solid, full advertised speed.
Bufferbloat test: A+ (https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat)

OpenWrt 23.05.5: Functional, but speed is unstable (fluctuating upload/download latency on speedtest.net).
Bufferbloat test results: A/B, indicating some stability issues.

OpenWrt 24.10.0: Significantly worse performance. Speedtest results: 170-220 Mbps.
Bufferbloat test: C.

Note: having trouble enabling the 5GHz radio with 24.10

I have since reverted to the stock firmware using the method described at https://argsnd.github.io/tp-link-stock-firmware-converter

Any ideas will be helpful, is it driver/kernel optimization problem?

2

Since you've reverted, there's not much we can do for you.

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3

I have three AX23 routers. Two of them are in somewhat critical situations where speed and stability are mandatory. I have limited time for testing.
The third AX23 is currently installed with version 23 of the firmware and acts as a Wi-Fi extender, working as intended. (The original firmware does not have this feature.)
Eventually, I'll switch the other two routers to OpenWrt.
In the meantime, reporting on their current performance will help improve the situation.
Hopefully, next time I'll be able to test options of flow offloading, packet steering, and irqbalance.

4

Could you test 23.05-snapshot and 24.10-snapshot?

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5

Update:
tested OpenWrt 24.10.0 again, this time after enabled hardware flow offloading (in firewall interface) everything seems to work perfectly (wired)
Bufferbloat test: A+

Screenshot 2025-03-14 230254
Screenshot 2025-03-14 2302541285×574 86.8 KB

But on wireless (5GHz): speedtest is around half 220mbps
Bufferbloat: unstable in download activity (25ms-100+ms) but stable on upload activity (0-9ms) grade is fluctuate between A-D.

need suggestion regarding wireless.

6

Try setting packet steering to Enabled (All CPUs)?

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7

Thank you..
By enabling it wireless connection has become much more stable.

1000141236
10001412361080×1762 212 KB

I wish I had tested it on the stock firmware just to compare the results. Since the upload activity is almost perfect, why isn’t the download activity performing similarly?

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8

The random huge fluctuations in the graphs degrading game grade are at your provider.
Post links - we want to see histograms too.

@pythonic nope, 7621 is best with defaults, scheduling to spare hyperthread adds millisecond and drops dozens mbps

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9

As I said with wired I got the perfect score (see pic).

Wireless: with packet steering: Enabled (All CPUs)
Latency Download Active is 14-30ms, 0-1ms in upload active.
Changed it to Enabled (default)
Latency Download Active is 25-100ms! 0-9ms on upload active.

So there are definitely a positive change in my situation although I didn't extensively tested it especially when many devices are connected.

Update with links:
Wired:
https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat?test-id=5da1da2b-db56-4ac1-90fc-f943ca5e889a

Wireless: (Hardware flow offloading, packet steering: Enabled (All CPUs) )
https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat?test-id=1ade79aa-58da-4fda-8a14-63b0707d7724

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10

You have to enable WED to have wifi hardware offload. +10ms is normal occurence over wifi, your neighbours likely have one too.

11

Perhaps, however as everyone's use case is different it is worth at least testing the All CPUs option (which replicates the 23.05 packet steering strategy). It definitely seems to help if PPPoE is involved.

12

WED enabled, packet steering: Enabled (All CPUs)
https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat?test-id=eacd5eac-945b-46b8-be84-8340cb6cb75e

WED enabled, packet steering enabled (default)
https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat?test-id=6b8b9319-8607-4e38-b14e-2ffd57bfe73c

Note: The wireless router has dedicated ip/dhcp and behind the main fiber modem "x86 openwrt (wan-pppoe)"
yes, it is double NAT.

13

RT-AX54 w AX client no offloads whatsoever, dumb ap mode. filogic in front of 1500/500 pon
https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat?test-id=3e4062f7-aa91-43f1-9caf-83edb49f1c39
Should be very very similar to yours.

/etc/init.d/packet_steering start
pid 294's current affinity list: 0
pid 294's new affinity list: 0
pid 295's current affinity list: 0
pid 295's new affinity list: 0
pid 1178's current affinity list: 3
pid 1178's new affinity list: 3
pid 1179's current affinity list: 3
pid 1179's new affinity list: 3
pid 1180's current affinity list: 3
pid 1180's new affinity list: 3
pid 1181's current affinity list: 3
pid 1181's new affinity list: 3
pid 1182's current affinity list: 3
pid 1182's new affinity list: 3
pid 1192's current affinity list: 3
pid 1192's new affinity list: 3
14

I found that 1.) having set WED and 2.) verifying Packet Steering (All CPUs) with 3.) HW offloading brings my 7621 802.11ax devices 400+ Mbps speed test results running this on 5.4 GHz at 80 MHz bandwidth (in a rather congested area).

I tested based on your discussion with the OP. I confirm their results above that improvements are observed.

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15

I think it depends on the device, good to have multiple options.iiii

16

Hello,
I have an Archer AX23 v1.0 router. I'm considering installing OpenWRT 24.10.0 (r28427-6df0e3d02a) and would like to know if I can expect the same wireless performance as the OEM stock firmware right after flashing OpenWRT, or if I’ll need to apply your three recommended settings fixes to match it—or if the performance might even be worse.

17

Since you're still on the stock firmware, let's get a baseline. Run wired and wireless bufferbloat tests.

Post the links to your results here. Then, after flashing OpenWrt and applying the optimizations, run the tests again with the same devices and share those results too.

18

You can always go back to stock.

19

Hi, I have OpenWRT flashed and hardware offloading enabled. Where do I find WED Wi-Fi Enhanced DMA in luci GUI?

20
  • You cannot do WED thru GUI - you must append the line options mt7915e wed_enable=Y to /etc/modules.conf then reboot
  • Packet Steering is found under Interfaces > Global network options
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