internet speeds, windows etc.

By basd on Mar 27, 2009 | In off-topic

Where did all my internet speed go?

...

I recently upgraded from 3 meg to 6 meg internet connection. Not that it was a meaningful change, since my downloads average about 350kb/sec or so (such as when I update from OpSu). But, suddenly for the last couple of days I've been getting 30 kb/sec downloads and 2 kb/sec. downloads.

I have no idea where this is coming from. Speed checks at appropriate websites report rates near what I am theoretically paying for. Is there suddenly a lot of traffic to the servers I retrieve data from? Or is there some sort of throttling going on?

I don't know -- but it certainly puts a crimp in updates. When it suddenly takes 10x longer, one must plan a bit before starting some download.

Makes no sense to me. About the only thing I download in any significant quantity is Open Source software, as I'm much too impatient to watch videos and the like. But, OpSu updates about 500 mb daily ...

And right now, I'm running updates on a client's Windows Vista machine, which seem to be taking interminably long. (Also downloading OpenOffice on that machine, which is clocking in at about 40 kb/sec.)

Very weird/disappointing/etc.

But, to segue into my next comment, the client's Dell is running WAY faster than my computer. My Sony clocks in with a T7100 dual core at 1.8ghz. Two megs. of ram AND an upgraded 7100 rpm drive. I get a "Windows Experience" rating of 3.1

The Dell is running a T3300 dual core at 2.0 ghz, wit three megs. ram -- and I don't know the drive speed. Windows Experience rating of 3.4.

So, to my feeble mind, these would be reasonably comparable machines. But whoa, no! For instance, a Microsoft Word document loads significantly faster on the client's machine than on mine. I won't say "instantaneous" -- but definitely way faster.

Same thing for Firefox.

I wonder if another gig of memory would make this kind of difference on my computer, or if there is something else at work? I (perhaps mistakenly) thought that 2 gig was sort of the useful limit on 32 bit Vista.

I imagine more memory would make a difference for linux -- which, of course, is what I usually run -- but this much difference? I may have to be in line at the Geek counter for more memory this afternoon...

I like the Dell, has a nice look & feel. But, I would not be giving a real high recommendation to this particular model (Inspirion 1525), as it has been to the shop twice already for repairs since its purchase in December. It has some sort of weird clock/CMOS battery problem or the like. They were not specific as to the repairs this time around and it seems to be working. I think the motherboard has been replaced both times.

To Dell's credit, they have been very good about working to fix the thing. Sadly, I spent a great deal of time on chat to their techs and then had to box it up (they sent the box) to send it in via FedEx. But, it went and came back and seems to now be working. At least the obvious problem (clock would not maintain time) seems to be solved. (At least temporarily ...)