Fixing Slow Wi-Fi on the Tuxedo Aura 15 Gen1 (Intel AX200 Chipset)
Having performance issues with Wi-Fi on your Tuxedo Aura 15 Gen1? You’re not alone. This post documents how I finally solved persistent slow download speeds using the Intel AX200 wireless chipset on Linux.
We’ll also briefly explore why these issues happen and how kernel modules affect hardware behavior in Linux.
📶 Understanding the Problem: Wi-Fi Performance on Linux
Wi-Fi performance issues on Linux are unfortunately not new, especially with modern chipsets like the Intel AX200.
Even though it’s a solid and widely supported chipset, many users report painfully slow speeds, dropped connections, or high latency — particularly with newer Wi-Fi 6 networks.
In my case, the download speed barely reached 20 MBit, even when sitting right next to the router.
Why does this happen?
- Driver Maturity: While the
iwlwifidriver is maintained by Intel, newer features like Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) might not be perfectly tuned in every kernel version. - Default Kernel Options: The driver might enable experimental features by default, like Wi-Fi 6 support, which can behave unpredictably on certain routers or configurations.
🐧 My Setup
Here’s what I’m working with:
- Laptop: Tuxedo Aura 15 Gen1
- Wireless Chipset: Intel AX200
- OS: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
- Kernel: 5.15+ (still had issues)
🔍 What Didn’t Work
I scoured through endless Reddit threads, bug trackers, and Linux forums. Common suggestions included:
- Upgrading to the latest kernel
- Installing
backport-iwlwifi-dkms - Tweaking network manager or
iwconfigsettings - Disabling power management for the card
🚫 None of these worked.
Some even made the issue worse, dropping my connection entirely or preventing reconnect on wake.
⚡ The Fix: Disabling Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Finally, I found a kernel module parameter that dramatically improved performance:
✅ Disabling Wi-Fi 6 (disable_11ax=Y) in the iwlwifi driver.
Create or edit this file:
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sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/iwlwifi.conf
Add the following content:
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# /etc/modprobe.d/iwlwifi.conf
# iwlwifi will dyamically load either iwldvm or iwlmvm depending on the
# microcode file installed on the system. When removing iwlwifi, first
# remove the iwl?vm module and then iwlwifi.
remove iwlwifi \
(/sbin/lsmod | grep -o -e ^iwlmvm -e ^iwldvm -e ^iwlwifi | xargs /sbin/rmmod) \
&& /sbin/modprobe -r mac80211
options iwlwifi disable_11ax=Y
Then reload the kernel modules:
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sudo rmmod iwlmvm iwlwifi
sudo modprobe iwlwifi
🚀 Boom — full speed unlocked.
I went from ~20 MBit to 100+ MBit instantly, consistently, and reliably.
🧠 Why Does Disabling 802.11ax Help?
While Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is the latest and greatest, it’s still being actively refined.
Some routers, drivers, or firmware versions don’t fully support it, or implement it in subtly incompatible ways.
By disabling it, we:
- Remove an unstable feature path
- Fall back to stable 802.11ac or 802.11n modes
- Lose a bit of theoretical max speed — but gain real-world reliability
🧪 Additional Tip: Check Driver Support
You can verify driver and firmware details with:
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sudo dmesg | grep iwlwifi
Also useful:
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sudo lshw -C network
Make sure you’re using the latest firmware available for your distro.
🧠 Final Thoughts
Troubleshooting Wi-Fi on Linux can feel like fighting shadows — especially when everything should work.
If you’re using a Tuxedo Aura 15 (or any laptop with the Intel AX200), disabling 802.11ax might just save your sanity.
I hope this guide saves you hours of frustration like it did for me.