Question:
How to determine if either my internet or PC are slowing down my download speed?
?
2009-11-28 08:08:15 UTC
I usually have download speeds at 180 kb per second while no other resource demanding apps are running (videos, PC games, etc.) Still, I feel that my computer is able to download at faster rates. Also, if anyone just has some knowledge and is automatically able to determine which one is the problem, I have a Dell Optiplex GX280 SFF (Intel Pentium 4 CPU 2.80Ghz 2.79Ghz, 2.99 Gb ram), and Verizon DSL

So here are my questions:
1.Is there any way to determine if it is either my computer or internet connection that is setting this download rate (not asking for a link to speedtest.net)?
2.If someone has the knowledge to just know which one is holding back the performance through the data provided, can you answer?
Six answers:
tbshmkr
2009-11-28 08:43:01 UTC
Need more input!

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HOW && what are you attempting to download?

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What DSL speed are you paying for from Verizon?

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What are your Speed Test results? http://www.speedtest.net

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What are your Ping Test results (NOT just the grade)? http://www.pingtest.net

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How many other users on your network?

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SCAN your PC for viruses/Trojans/rootkits/other malware.
YoungIT
2009-11-28 08:31:12 UTC
Your speeds are limited by the network. If you are downloading from a site where a lot of downloads are occuring, then the site's bandwidth is being used up and the download will be slow. Same with downloading from websites on the other side of the world, or downloading from peer to peer sites like bit torrent where download speed depends on the upload speeds of the peers that are seeding the file.



It looks like the problem is your ISP. You're using Verizon DSL like I am so you're probably running into the problem of your ISP connecting so many people to the local switch that everyone is getting much lower speed than is advertised. This is my situation, as I pay for 3 megabits up and 768 down, but I normally don't get over 1 megabit on a speed test even in the middle of the night on a week day. From my standpoint, at an advertised 3mb, 180kb/s is about the best I can hope to ever download anything at. But on a 10 mb cable connection in the past I'd download at 2mb/s. You're not going to get any faster by changing computers or any settings on your computer. We both share a crappy provider. The only way to fix the problem is to get FiOS, if it is offered in your area (we don't have it yet), or to switch to cable or satellite. Actually cable is much faster and doesn't cost much more.



Don't bother complaining to Verizon. Verizon's tech support won't admit a problem on their end. They'll just test your line and say that everything is fine and then suggest you check out your computer, which isn't the problem. If you google verizon dsl slow you'll probably get lots of results with people having the same problem. I just learned to live with it since I don't download large files a lot. My cell phone downloads more than my computers do in a month.
2009-11-28 08:45:02 UTC
1). Connect to http://www.speedtest.net/ That's your speed to Verizon. That's the definitive way to determine where the problem lies. (You just have to know what the numbers mean, and how to interpret them, but it's the first thing any professional checks when the problem is "slow speed".)



That's what you buy, and that's all you and Verizon can control. If that's lower than what you're paying for (at least 768kbps if you're not paying for more), call tech support. (And good luck - tech support - or, rather, the joke that Verizon calls tech support - is one reason I don't use Verizon.)



2) Your download speed is the slowest of - your connection to Verizon, their connection to the internet, the path you get on the internet to the provider of the server you're downloading from, that provider's connection to the internet, the server's connection to their provider and the server's upload capability. The slowest part of that is normally the internet itself - normal speeds for any but local connections is about 600-700kbps, regardless of how fast your connection to your provider is. (But with a 6mbps connection, you can do 10 600kbps downloads at the same time.)



Which one is holding down your particular speed? Tracert (or traceroute if you're not using Windows) to the server you're downloading from. The slow node is the culprit. What do you do about it? Choose a closer server. There's no other answer. The problem - if it's not your connection to Verizon (and speedtest.net is the way to determine that - is out on the internet somewhere, and no one is going to fix that. (One of the problems is that 60% of the bandwidth of the internet is wasted by spam emails. Eliminate them and download speeds would go up. But we can't eliminate them.)



If you want a "click here" solution, you're not going to get it. The problem is either a) between you and Verizon, and they have to fix that or b) on the internet and you have to choose closer servers.
2009-11-28 08:22:44 UTC
189 Kbps is extremely slow, and suggests you do not have a Broadband connection. On the other hand, standard dial-up connections are usually only 56 Kbps, so I'm confused about your method of connection.



My Broadband gives me around 4 Mbps, but when a few months ago it fell to below half a Mbps I contacted my ISP provider who tested my line and found there was an exchange fault, which after a few days they put right.



I would suggest you carry out some speed tests using the many that are available on the Web, and also take it up with your ISP. I think it is unlikely to be your PC that is slowing it down.
Nemo the geek
2009-11-28 08:18:59 UTC
It's my understanding that internet connection is the only thing that matters in a download, especially if your pc seems fast enough when offline. I have cable internet that still is slow somedays and some days as fast as 2MB per second. I think it depends on how many people are online at the same time as you from the same isp. When I first got cable it was very fast, now it seems as more people get it that it is slower. When they spend enough money to upgrade their system, it will be faster again.
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