One PC has MUCH faster "'net speed" than the other

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Pablo

Pablo

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Everson WA - Pacific NW USA
I have an ethernet router/switch/firewall (Linksys BEFSX41) now with my cable modem and two PC's. I can share files, use the other printer, etc.

Old PC hooked closest to router. New discount PC is 50' away.

New PC speed - 4-5 megs/sec download.
Old PC - 1-2 megs/sec.

What are the things that would make the old PC so sluggo on downloading? I have lots of ram and otherwise the processor seems OK on graphics etc in the old beast. Could it be the ethernet board in this PC?
 
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What are the things that would make the old PC so sluggo on downloading? I have lots of ram and otherwise the processor seems OK on graphics etc in the old beast. Could it be the ethernet board in this PC?

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There are a number of settings that can effect how well Windows uses available networks bandwidth. For example, the (buried deep within Windows) settings for ethernet buffering can make a HUGE difference in this area. For more info on those various tweaks, and to run some tests that can try to figure out what is going on in your case, I suggest you try out this forum:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/tweaks
 
How "old" is the old PC? Make sure the Linksys indicator light shows 100BaseT, if the PC is running @ 10BaseT, you'll never get more than 1-2Mbyte/sec.
 
I assume you are using a bandwidth "speedtest". A lot depends on how fast it can buffer the file into memory.

Memory speed and type (not quantity), bus speed, processor speed, network card (and driver), Windows version can all play a part. Depending on the size of the file it transfers it may be writing it to the page file on the drive, so drive speed and condition may also play a part.

If it's a 5 year old PC you're dealing with 5 year old hardware. It's just not as fast as something brand new especially if the old PC uses the Windows 9X kernel rather than the NT kernel.
 
Wow - sweet - just got 4.2 meg/sec using:

http://bluefield.speedtest.frontiernet.net/

Thanks to ALL (except maybe Obbop
smile.gif
)

TnS - that's a cool utility.
 
I have VOIP for phone service. When my wife was on the phone and I was the internet my online internet speed would almost stop. Then I switched out the CPU. I don't know if it was coincidence or not, but, the next phone call I got (after I installed the CPU) and every phone call since I've had little problems when the phone and internet is simultaneously being utilized. Companies spend billions of dollars improving the architecture and performance of computer components. Maybe that's why your newer will out perform the older. I certainly don't know this for a fact.
 
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