Two computers, different download speeds.

I have two computers setting next to each other and
connected the same, as far as I know.
(I think all connectors on the router are the same speed)

The first one an HP m495c has a 3.2 Ghz clock speed.
Using >speedtest.net< it has a download speed of,
12.18 Mb/s

The second is a Dell GX 260 and has a 2.8 Ghz clock speed.
It has a download speed of,
3.82 Mb/s

I'm using Firefox, both computers are hardwired to a linksys 54G router,
and an Arris CM550A modem.

Why is the Dell so slow, (other than it is a Dell)?
What can I do to speed up the download speed.
Thanks, Mikek

On Thu, 3 Feb 2011 07:12:03 -0600, "amdx" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I have two computers setting next to each other and
>connected the same, as far as I know.
>(I think all connectors on the router are the same speed)
>
>The first one an HP m495c has a 3.2 Ghz clock speed.
>Using >speedtest.net< it has a download speed of,
>12.18 Mb/s
>
>The second is a Dell GX 260 and has a 2.8 Ghz clock speed.
> It has a download speed of,
>3.82 Mb/s
>
>I'm using Firefox, both computers are hardwired to a linksys 54G router,
> and an Arris CM550A modem.
>
>Why is the Dell so slow, (other than it is a Dell)?
> What can I do to speed up the download speed.
> Thanks, Mikek
>

Just wondering.. have you tried the test multiple times? Have you
tried swapping cables to see if you get the same results?
--
Charlie Hoffpauir

Everything is what it is because it got that way....D'Arcy Thompson

I have seen the speed of the processor affect the speed of downloading.

Dmitri(cabling-Design.com) had written this in response to
http://forums.cabling-design.com/wir...eds-69643-.htm
:

amdx wrote:


> I have two computers setting next to each other and
> connected the same, as far as I know.
> (I think all connectors on the router are the same speed)

> The first one an HP m495c has a 3.2 Ghz clock speed.
> Using >speedtest.net< it has a download speed of,
> 12.18 Mb/s

> The second is a Dell GX 260 and has a 2.8 Ghz clock speed.
> It has a download speed of,
> 3.82 Mb/s

> I'm using Firefox, both computers are hardwired to a linksys 54G
> router,
> and an Arris CM550A modem.

> Why is the Dell so slow, (other than it is a Dell)?
> What can I do to speed up the download speed.
> Thanks, Mikek


Are they approximately the same distance from the router? Both cables look
good, not pulled, kinked or abused in any way?

Barring actual transmission problems, there can also be differences in
anti-virus software (or its configuration) as well as general load of the
computer with other tasks. One has 64-bit OS, another 32-bit? Do they use
different Ethernet frame sizes?
Maybe even different HD write speed plays a role although the difference
is a bit too big for that. But in any case, the processor clock frequency
is just one of dozens of things that can affect download speeds. Unless
it's affecting some extremely important application, I'd say let it be.
You'll spend a lot of time tracking the problem down yet and advances
you're able to achieve may not even be all that significant. For great
many applications 3.82 Mb/s is still a decent download speed.

-------------------------------------
Best Regards,
Dmitri Abaimov, RCDD
http://www.cabling-design.com/homecabling/
Home Cabling Guide, Cabling Forum, color codes, pinouts and other useful
resources for premises cabling users and pros



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"Charlie Hoffpauir" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Thu, 3 Feb 2011 07:12:03 -0600, "amdx" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> I have two computers setting next to each other and
>>connected the same, as far as I know.
>>(I think all connectors on the router are the same speed)
>>
>>The first one an HP m495c has a 3.2 Ghz clock speed.
>>Using >speedtest.net< it has a download speed of,
>>12.18 Mb/s
>>
>>The second is a Dell GX 260 and has a 2.8 Ghz clock speed.
>> It has a download speed of,
>>3.82 Mb/s
>>
>>I'm using Firefox, both computers are hardwired to a linksys 54G router,
>> and an Arris CM550A modem.
>>
>>Why is the Dell so slow, (other than it is a Dell)?
>> What can I do to speed up the download speed.
>> Thanks, Mikek
>>
>
> Just wondering.. have you tried the test multiple times? Have you
> tried swapping cables to see if you get the same results?
> --
> Charlie Hoffpauir
Yes, multiple times, no to swapping cables, will try this evening.
Mikek

"Dmitri(cabling-Design.com)" <info_at_cabling-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote
in message news:e346b$4d4ad7fd$42bb6765$(E-Mail Removed) roups.com...
> Dmitri(cabling-Design.com) had written this in response to
> http://forums.cabling-design.com/wir...eds-69643-.htm
> :
>
> amdx wrote:
>
>
>> I have two computers setting next to each other and
>> connected the same, as far as I know.
>> (I think all connectors on the router are the same speed)
>
>> The first one an HP m495c has a 3.2 Ghz clock speed.
>> Using >speedtest.net< it has a download speed of,
>> 12.18 Mb/s
>
>> The second is a Dell GX 260 and has a 2.8 Ghz clock speed.
>> It has a download speed of,
>> 3.82 Mb/s
>
>> I'm using Firefox, both computers are hardwired to a linksys 54G
>> router,
>> and an Arris CM550A modem.
>
>> Why is the Dell so slow, (other than it is a Dell)?
>> What can I do to speed up the download speed.
>> Thanks, Mikek
>
>
> Are they approximately the same distance from the router? Both cables look
> good, not pulled, kinked or abused in any way?

Yes, same distance, I'll go over cables this evening.

>
> Barring actual transmission problems, there can also be differences in
> anti-virus software (or its configuration) as well as general load of the
> computer with other tasks. One has 64-bit OS, another 32-bit? Do they use
> different Ethernet frame sizes?
> Maybe even different HD write speed plays a role although the difference
> is a bit too big for that. But in any case, the processor clock frequency
> is just one of dozens of things that can affect download speeds. Unless
> it's affecting some extremely important application, I'd say let it be.
> You'll spend a lot of time tracking the problem down yet and advances
> you're able to achieve may not even be all that significant. For great
> many applications 3.82 Mb/s is still a decent download speed.

Same antivirus (Avast) and firewall (Zonealarm),
I don't know about 32 bit/64 bit or what an Ethernet frame size is.
I'd like to make it faster, I was hoping my son would use this computer,
but he noticed the download speed was much slower and continues to
use what I call, MY computer.
Mikek

"amdx" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:20f65$4d4ae367$45013905$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Dmitri(cabling-Design.com)" <info_at_cabling-(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote in message
> news:e346b$4d4ad7fd$42bb6765$(E-Mail Removed) roups.com...
>> Dmitri(cabling-Design.com) had written this in response to
>> http://forums.cabling-design.com/wir...eds-69643-.htm
>> :
>>
>> amdx wrote:
>>
>>
>>> I have two computers setting next to each other and
>>> connected the same, as far as I know.
>>> (I think all connectors on the router are the same speed)
>>
>>> The first one an HP m495c has a 3.2 Ghz clock speed.
>>> Using >speedtest.net< it has a download speed of,
>>> 12.18 Mb/s
>>
>>> The second is a Dell GX 260 and has a 2.8 Ghz clock speed.
>>> It has a download speed of,
>>> 3.82 Mb/s
>>
>>> I'm using Firefox, both computers are hardwired to a linksys 54G
>>> router,
>>> and an Arris CM550A modem.
>>
>>> Why is the Dell so slow, (other than it is a Dell)?
>>> What can I do to speed up the download speed.
>>> Thanks, Mikek
>>
>>
>> Are they approximately the same distance from the router? Both cables
>> look
>> good, not pulled, kinked or abused in any way?
>
> Yes, same distance, I'll go over cables this evening.
>
>>
>> Barring actual transmission problems, there can also be differences in
>> anti-virus software (or its configuration) as well as general load of the
>> computer with other tasks. One has 64-bit OS, another 32-bit? Do they use
>> different Ethernet frame sizes?
>> Maybe even different HD write speed plays a role although the difference
>> is a bit too big for that. But in any case, the processor clock frequency
>> is just one of dozens of things that can affect download speeds. Unless
>> it's affecting some extremely important application, I'd say let it be.
>> You'll spend a lot of time tracking the problem down yet and advances
>> you're able to achieve may not even be all that significant. For great
>> many applications 3.82 Mb/s is still a decent download speed.
>
> Same antivirus (Avast) and firewall (Zonealarm),
> I don't know about 32 bit/64 bit or what an Ethernet frame size is.
> I'd like to make it faster, I was hoping my son would use this computer,
> but he noticed the download speed was much slower and continues to
> use what I call, MY computer.
> Mikek
>
>
I swapped ethernet cables at the computers, there is no change in the
download speed.
What next?
Mikek

On Thu, 3 Feb 2011 07:12:03 -0600, "amdx" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I have two computers setting next to each other and
>connected the same, as far as I know.
>(I think all connectors on the router are the same speed)
>
>The first one an HP m495c has a 3.2 Ghz clock speed.
>Using >speedtest.net< it has a download speed of,
>12.18 Mb/s
>
>The second is a Dell GX 260 and has a 2.8 Ghz clock speed.
> It has a download speed of,
>3.82 Mb/s
>
>I'm using Firefox, both computers are hardwired to a linksys 54G router,
> and an Arris CM550A modem.
>
>Why is the Dell so slow, (other than it is a Dell)?
> What can I do to speed up the download speed.
> Thanks, Mikek
>

On a good day, Internet speed tests are unreliable because they use
such a small chunk of data with which to test. You're really getting
the tiniest snapshot there.

Instead, if you have a third data source on the LAN, I would download
a large file from there, first by one computer and then by the second
computer. Since the end to end path is within the LAN, it removes all
of the unknowns and inconsistencies of the Internet connection, which
will be identical for both computers.

During the download, watch the throughput of the download in real
time. Does it repeatedly burst, pause, burst, or does it go to a
certain speed and generally stay there? If you use a Windows OS that's
less than 10 years old, you can see your real time network activity on
the Networking tab in Taskmanager, or you can install a small utility
to do the same, such as DUMeter or Bandwidth Monitor or a free program
that is a clone of those, but I forgot the name of.

Alternatively, check out Iperf or Jperf, a couple of benchmarking
utilities. Again, keep the testing within the LAN, if possible, even
if you have to use the two computers as a source for the other.

Assuming your LAN testing continues to indicate one being faster than
the other, check out your NIC settings (negotiated connection speed,
duplex settings, frame size, etc.). I don't think the CPU differences
are to blame here, but you can see what the CPUs are doing by watching
them in Taskmanager during a large download.

On Thu, 3 Feb 2011 07:12:03 -0600, "amdx" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I have two computers setting next to each other and
>connected the same, as far as I know.
>(I think all connectors on the router are the same speed)

Connected via wireless, wired ethernet, or two tin cans and a string?

>The first one an HP m495c has a 3.2 Ghz clock speed.
>Using >speedtest.net< it has a download speed of,
>12.18 Mb/s
>
>The second is a Dell GX 260 and has a 2.8 Ghz clock speed.
> It has a download speed of,
>3.82 Mb/s
>
>I'm using Firefox, both computers are hardwired to a linksys 54G router,
> and an Arris CM550A modem.

Linksys does not make a 54G router. What is the real Linksys model
number including the hardware version? Extra credit if you know the
firmware verison. The operating systems would be nice to know.

Some routers are really slow:
<http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/component/option,com_chart/Itemid,189/>

>Why is the Dell so slow, (other than it is a Dell)?
> What can I do to speed up the download speed.

My guess(tm) is that you have a buffer window issue with your
unspecified operating system TCP/IP stack.
<http://www.dslreports.com/faq/6266>

However, using the internet download speed to "optimize" your TCP/IP
settings is kinda marginal. You might want to setup IPERF or JPERF
and run a local test without the internet. You might be surprised
with what you find. Bug me for instuctions.
<http://openmaniak.com/iperf.php>
<http://code.google.com/p/xjperf/>

--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558
# http://802.11junk.com (E-Mail Removed)
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS

Char Jackson wrote:

> On Thu, 3 Feb 2011 07:12:03 -0600, "amdx" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> > I have two computers setting next to each other and
> > connected the same, as far as I know.
> > (I think all connectors on the router are the same speed)
> >
> > The first one an HP m495c has a 3.2 Ghz clock speed.
> > Using >speedtest.net< it has a download speed of,
> > 12.18 Mb/s
> >
> > The second is a Dell GX 260 and has a 2.8 Ghz clock speed.
> > It has a download speed of,
> > 3.82 Mb/s
> >
> > I'm using Firefox, both computers are hardwired to a linksys 54G
> > router, and an Arris CM550A modem.
> >
> > Why is the Dell so slow, (other than it is a Dell)?
> > What can I do to speed up the download speed.
> > Thanks, Mikek
> >
>
> On a good day, Internet speed tests are unreliable because they use
> such a small chunk of data with which to test. You're really getting
> the tiniest snapshot there.
>
> Instead, if you have a third data source on the LAN, I would download
> a large file from there, first by one computer and then by the second
> computer. Since the end to end path is within the LAN, it removes all
> of the unknowns and inconsistencies of the Internet connection, which
> will be identical for both computers.
>
> During the download, watch the throughput of the download in real
> time. Does it repeatedly burst, pause, burst, or does it go to a
> certain speed and generally stay there? If you use a Windows OS that's
> less than 10 years old, you can see your real time network activity on
> the Networking tab in Taskmanager, or you can install a small utility
> to do the same, such as DUMeter or Bandwidth Monitor or a free program
> that is a clone of those, but I forgot the name of.
>
> Alternatively, check out Iperf or Jperf, a couple of benchmarking
> utilities. Again, keep the testing within the LAN, if possible, even
> if you have to use the two computers as a source for the other.
>
> Assuming your LAN testing continues to indicate one being faster than
> the other, check out your NIC settings (negotiated connection speed,
> duplex settings, frame size, etc.). I don't think the CPU differences
> are to blame here, but you can see what the CPUs are doing by watching
> them in Taskmanager during a large download.

I notice you have Avast as the anti-virus.

Great program, but I strongly suggest you turn off network filtering
(and any other non essential filters) on the low powered Dell.

Avast (particularly The network filter) will DEFINITELY slow down my
oldish Compaq 2200 notebook.

I recon this is your problem.

--