Spped Tests v Download speeds

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Jongi

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Why is it that when I do speed tests it gives me depressing results (like 304kpbs) but yet actually downloading files yields 70kB/s+ speeds (servers from same country round about the same time).
 
Jongi said:
Why is it that when I do speed tests it gives me depressing results (like 304kpbs) but yet actually downloading files yields 70kB/s+ speeds (servers from same country round about the same time).
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Probably because when you download you're multithreading and with the speed test you are not.
 
Ok. So how many protocols can I expect not to get multithread?

And isn't there a way to get FF to multithread?
 
I use FlashGet to download and it always maxs out at around full speed.

There might be a plugin for FF to multithread maybe someone else can answer that question and the "protocol" question you asked.
 
If you mean FF's browsing, then the nature of browsing is supposed to be multi-threaded already. But pipelining and opneing more connections to a server (both common tweaks, download Fasterfox) will have the same effect as multi-threading on a download.

If you just mean its downloads, then you cannot make its default downlaod manager multi-thread, but you can simply install Flashget or any other download manager that will take over downloads from FF.

Protocols... well almost everythign will NOT be multi-threaded unless it is made so somehow. Streaming video for example is not multi-threaded, im not really shure what else you mean though..
 
I couldn't remember the changes I needed to make in about:config. EHV you've pointed me in the direction.
 
IN REPLY TO 1ST THREAD:

Where did you do the test? Some speed tests are unreliable and they differ from one another.

I did a speed test on the Iburst website and it gave me a result of 760kb/s.

I then did a test with TcpIQ and it gave me only 439kb/s. These tests differ, and I'm never sure which one is correct or not....
 
Wel I think just downloading a file from a good sever (almost any server is god enough for 1mb) on a downlad manager should give you your real speeds. Well, actually those are your real speeds so thats the only way to check really.

GBM, you are using a local and then an international speed test, hence the differance, but some speed tests still differ.
 
just google FASTERFOX. it changes the settings for you, i think. i just use that and all's fine
 
I use Fasterfox as well, but I have noticed that changing the config manually still is faster than using fasterfox ... Can't remember what all to change though :(
 
I used to know all of that stuff, when I used FF. But it is very easy to find on the net, every second page has those about:config tweaks.

Just google it.
 
Fasterfox really makes no difference when using a high speed broadband connection. I think it's purpose is to enhance the browsing speeds of a dialup connection.
 
No, the opposite. It works to enhance browsing for broadband, infact it has more effect on even higher speeds than 1mb.

Normally when you browse on say a 4mb+ connection it wont use nearly all of the bandwidth to simply vrowse a site, so Fasterfox and those tweaks open more connection to a site and request more data at a time to use all the bandwidth available to you, so that you can speed up browsing even more on broadband.

EDIT:Thats is a very good link for FF tweaking btw, goes through all of the options, as you will see there when they ge t to connection tweaking, the lower options for network conections are intended for modems, so the tweaks are for broadband.
 
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GreatBigMouth said:
Fasterfox really makes no difference when using a high speed broadband connection. I think it's purpose is to enhance the browsing speeds of a dialup connection.
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not true. The settings I originally used, which I can't find the damn URL for now, has different settings for different connections, ranging from 56k dial-up to I think 20Mb, each set of settings tweaking different things to different levels

EDIT: this should keep someone quite busy for a while: http://www.tweakguides.com/Firefox_1.html
 
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Landy, I know the link you are talking about, i also used that one before.

Um.. okay cant be bothered to find it either.. this one is good enough, although it isnt quite the same settings as the ones I used fom that page which fitted iBurst best... probably no real difference.
 
I changed my post with another (VERY) comprehensive list, and explanation of exactly what you are getting up to ...

The page that went missing: With like a beige/eggshell background maybe?
 
Oh, yes the tweak guides one ive also looked through before. I spent hours tweaking my FF just to find Opera as fast or faster straight out of the box with normal settings page tweaks.

I think it was beige.. well that or white.. but it had all the different options for different speeds. But anything basically tweaked for broadband should be good.
 
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