Slow Internet Speeds

[SoldierX77]

So I recently had my internet upgraded (thank God)... and I'm suppose to be getting about 40 megabits/second. Every time I try to download something on my computer, for example a game, the max it will ever reach will be 4.5 mb/s and that's incredibly frustrating, because that's on an extremely rare occasion. I've downloaded games from steam, updated WoW, and downloaded games from the internet and the max any of those have after reached has been 4.5 mb/s.



Any ideas on what could be going on? I have a router that's connecting up to 7. Only my computer is in use most of the time. Could I possibly need a better router?

 

[microwolf96]

Your speed test results indicate your connection is fine. Having your actual download speed being an eighth of the advertised speed & the speed you see on speed tests is typically normal. Not really sure if there's any cases that it wouldn't be normal.

 

[!EpIc fAiL!]

Same here. I have a 1.5mpbs service ( i know not much) and my download speed usually is around 300-400kbps. But just recently my speed has been about 100kbps. I've tried everything, called AT&T and they said everything was working, as my speed test shows that i am getting what i pay for.

But to see if it is your router, try by-passing it and hooking your PC directly to the modem and see if does any better.

 

[Silent_Predator]

your DownLoad speed is only as fast as the Host computers...ie, downloading games from Steam for example... check your DL setting for Steam.(settings/download+cloud)

also, where was the test speed server located for your speed test? Try testing the speed with a server across the country. Your speed for your local area is not a good determination as the Internet is not just in your back yard.

edit: the test server was only ~ 100 miles away, try something around 1000+ miles.

 

[microwolf96]

your DownLoad speed is only as fast as the Host computers...ie, downloading games from Steam for example... check your DL setting for Steam.(settings/download+cloud)

also, where was the test speed server located for your speed test? Try testing the speed with a server across the country. Your speed for your local area is not a good determination as the Internet is not just in your back yard.

edit: the test server was only ~ 100 miles away, try something around 1000+ miles.

Just to add a little bit to this.

It depends on what your service plan is, divided by 8 (40mb/s in my case = 5mb/s download in ideal conditions), but if the server is limited to uploading at 2mb/s, then that's the speed you'd download at. It also depends on how far you are from the server that you're downloading from. The farther it is, the longer the delay and the slower you download from them. It may not be significant, but it will be noticeable.

 

[Logic Overflow]

The others pretty much summed it up very well. So many factors come into play when it comes to the download speed. Rarely anybody will ever see themselves downloading at the full capacity their able handle.

Factors include, your computer, your ISP speed, the amount of jitters and latency from you to the host server, their upload speeds and more.

Personally, I'd say that you're rather lucky to be able to get such a great connection. I know most people who would die for the speeds you have.