Slow Download & Upload

[mcsmith1974]

I am comparing the download and upload speeds (zoomtown) of my work laptop (Dell D620) and home latpop (Sony FW). My Dell is 3 years old, my Sony is fairly new.

Here is the results of the test:
My home laptop: download 3700 kbps; upload: 117 kbps
My work laptop: download 8200 kbps; upload: 2230 kbps

This is about the average I get each time I test.
Both laptops are connecting through the same Netgear g Router.
Both laptops are next to me during the test while the Router is near me.


Does anyone know what is likely causing the disparity?

Thanks much.

 

[H2SO4]

It'll likely come down to one of these factors:

1) The NIC driver on the D620 - have you updated to the latest driver?

2) Interference from the anti-virus on the D620. Try to completely uninstall the AV as a test - is there an immediate and substantial increase in speeds?

3) The use of network "optimiser" utilities on the D620 - they've mangled the default settings.

4) Other security or inspection utilities on the D620. Try booting to [safe mode + net] and testing from there.

One key bit of info that's missing is whether the "work" D620 behaves normally at work. In other words, is the sub-par network performance limited to your own home. If so, that points at a completely different set of problems compared to "slow irrespective of location".​

 

[mcsmith1974]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Can you please double check your post to determine if you have mistaken the Dell for the Sony? Your post is alluding to potentially making modifications to the D620 settings, when in fact it is actually downloading and uploading much faster than the new and home Sony FW.

Thanks again.

 

[H2SO4]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Can you please double check your post to determine if you have mistaken the Dell for the Sony? Your post is alluding to potentially making modifications to the D620 settings, when in fact it is actually downloading and uploading much faster than the new and home Sony FW.

Thanks again.

Yep, you're quite right - I did not spot the asymmetry between upload and download speeds until you pointed it out just now.

Are both machines running the same OS - Vista SP1/2? XP is going to be substantially slower under some circumstances, namely higher latency links.

 

[mcsmith1974]

My apologies, in my original post I had actually made a mistake with my upload speeds, however the typo is now fixed.

My Dell is running Windows XP SP2.
My Sony is running Windows Vista Home Premium SP1.

Here is my latest test averages:
Dell: 8000 kbps download; 1571 upload
Sony:3630 kbps download; 400 upload.

I am now connecting both laptops through a linksys N Router which I finally go to work last evening, an upgrade from G, I thought.

 

[H2SO4]

My apologies, in my original post I had actually made a mistake with my upload speeds, however the typo is now fixed.

My Dell is running Windows XP SP2.
My Sony is running Windows Vista Home Premium SP1.

Here is my latest test averages:
Dell: 8000 kbps download; 1571 upload
Sony:3630 kbps download; 400 upload.

I am now connecting both laptops through a linksys N Router which I finally go to work last evening, an upgrade from G, I thought.

OK, I'd suggest trying some of the things I've listed on the Sony instead. The speeds are obviously much lower, but they're far from abysmal, so the most likely candidates are outdated or buggy drivers. Personally, I'd start by updating the NIC driver and then temporarily uninstalling the AV as a second test.

 

[mcsmith1974]

It'll likely come down to one of these factors:

1) The NIC driver on the D620 - have you updated to the latest driver?

2) Interference from the anti-virus on the D620. Try to completely uninstall the AV as a test - is there an immediate and substantial increase in speeds?

3) The use of network "optimiser" utilities on the D620 - they've mangled the default settings.

4) Other security or inspection utilities on the D620. Try booting to [safe mode + net] and testing from there.

One key bit of info that's missing is whether the "work" D620 behaves normally at work. In other words, is the sub-par network performance limited to your own home. If so, that points at a completely different set of problems compared to "slow irrespective of location".​

1) Yes, it was updated during all tests.
2) No, AV was installed active during tests.
3) Not sure how to check for "optimizer" utilities...
4) Will attempt to determine other security/inspection utilities.