Kps speed limited/slow, why?

earkley · 02-09-2008, 04:54 PM

Something is throttling my downloads to less than 100 kps, and it doesn't appear to be an issue with my ISP; seems more likely that it's either my computer or the OS. I'm using an IBM 300 PL that's around ten years old and running 2000 Professional. I had DSL for six years and my best rate when downloading never went above 95 kps. I always thought that was the best I could expect from a DSL connection, or at least, the connection in my area. I recently switched to a cable connection and was expecting to see a big increase in speed (advertised as up to 700+ kps). However, when downloading I still top out at 95 kps. Meanwhile, a neighbor in the building who also has service from the same cable company is downloading at 500+ kps. The most obvious difference is that my neighbor is using a brand new Compaq that was manufactured within the last year, while I'm using a decade-old machine that was discarded from my workplace. So is it possible that an older machine, or more specifically an IBM, would be limited, and if so, what's responsible? I'll mention that the cable modem is presently connected through the ethernet port and there's no change in kps when I connect it through the 10/100 NIC card that's also installed. I don't have a router. The machine is also networked through a hub to another IBM 300 PL. Both machines connect to the hub through 10/100 NIC cards and RJ45 cables. I can transfer data from one machine to the other at several hundred mb/minute, so there doesn't seem to be any problem there. I did a speed test with a tech at the cable company and it tested close to the advertised speed, over 700 kps, but after nearly an hour on the phone he had no idea why my downloads were running so slow. The cable tech specifically said that they don't throttle any connections, and since I had the same problem with my DSL I don't think it is--or ever was--a problem with my ISP. Any idea what could be holding my downloads to less than 100 kps?

**johnwill** · 02-10-2008, 11:52 AM

Try a different computer directly on the cable connection to eliminate your computer.

02-09-2008, 04:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
earkley Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1 OS: win2000	Kps speed limited/slow, why? Something is throttling my downloads to less than 100 kps, and it doesn't appear to be an issue with my ISP; seems more likely that it's either my computer or the OS. I'm using an IBM 300 PL that's around ten years old and running 2000 Professional. I had DSL for six years and my best rate when downloading never went above 95 kps. I always thought that was the best I could expect from a DSL connection, or at least, the connection in my area. I recently switched to a cable connection and was expecting to see a big increase in speed (advertised as up to 700+ kps). However, when downloading I still top out at 95 kps. Meanwhile, a neighbor in the building who also has service from the same cable company is downloading at 500+ kps. The most obvious difference is that my neighbor is using a brand new Compaq that was manufactured within the last year, while I'm using a decade-old machine that was discarded from my workplace. So is it possible that an older machine, or more specifically an IBM, would be limited, and if so, what's responsible? I'll mention that the cable modem is presently connected through the ethernet port and there's no change in kps when I connect it through the 10/100 NIC card that's also installed. I don't have a router. The machine is also networked through a hub to another IBM 300 PL. Both machines connect to the hub through 10/100 NIC cards and RJ45 cables. I can transfer data from one machine to the other at several hundred mb/minute, so there doesn't seem to be any problem there. I did a speed test with a tech at the cable company and it tested close to the advertised speed, over 700 kps, but after nearly an hour on the phone he had no idea why my downloads were running so slow. The cable tech specifically said that they don't throttle any connections, and since I had the same problem with my DSL I don't think it is--or ever was--a problem with my ISP. Any idea what could be holding my downloads to less than 100 kps?

02-10-2008, 11:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,910 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Kps speed limited/slow, why? Try a different computer directly on the cable connection to eliminate your computer. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience