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    Download Cap? Choosing right network settings...

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by stonedzombie, Aug 7, 2011.

  1. stonedzombie

    stonedzombie Notebook Consultant

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    Hey again guys,

    This is more of an OS issue as it's my first time dealing with Windows 7, but since I have an M17x, I thought here would be the right place.

    Basically, all my downloads are maxing out at 400kb/s for some reason, whether torrenting or even steam. As a test, I connected my other computer to the same files as my m17x and they were all going at 1mb/s+.

    Since this is a brand new computer, are there some network settings I need to fiddle around with to get the downloads to speed up?

    Thanks.
     
    stonedzombie, Aug 7, 2011
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  2. stonedzombie

    stonedzombie Notebook Consultant

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    Anything? Would really appreciate it.
     
    stonedzombie, Aug 8, 2011
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  3. Beradon

    Beradon Notebook Evangelist

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    What speed is your service from your ISP?

    How are you connected to the internet? (router? wired or wireless? LAN/WLAN connection speed?)

    Is it all sites at this speed or just some?
     
    Beradon, Aug 8, 2011
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  4. stonedzombie

    stonedzombie Notebook Consultant

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    ISP is fiber optic (I live in Tokyo). I'm connected wirelessly but as said, my other computers are connected wirelessly as well and are downloading files blazing fast, which my new m17x can't get passed 400kb/s.
     
    stonedzombie, Aug 8, 2011
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  5. Beradon

    Beradon Notebook Evangelist

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    The thing about wireless is that a whole lot can affect the transfer speed. Really the only way to verify you're getting the best possible speed is be near the router and ensure you're connected at the maximum speed your router and network card are capable of.

    Do me a favor.

    Left click on the wireless 'bars' in your status bar. Locate your connection and right click on it. Pick 'status'. Next to speed, tell me what it says. Also tell me how many wireless bars you have showing in the taskbar and let me know which network card you are using.
     
    Beradon, Aug 8, 2011
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  6. steve1ddd

    steve1ddd Notebook Evangelist

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    or as a test, connect with a lan line and see what your speed is....if its fast, sounds to me like you have a wireless card issue
     
    steve1ddd, Aug 8, 2011
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  7. livid

    livid Notebook Consultant

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    Did you happen to get your M17x configured with the base Dell wireless card? If so, that little sucker has been known to be slow.
     
    livid, Aug 8, 2011
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  8. steve1ddd

    steve1ddd Notebook Evangelist

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    i have that basic card and can get a 2mb + download connection at work.
     
    steve1ddd, Aug 8, 2011
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  9. Lanner7

    Lanner7 Notebook Geek

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    If stoned purchased a Killer 1103 card, then it's very possible he hasn't changed the card's settings.

    Stoned: Pull up the Bigfoot Network's app. It should have been installed on the machine when it came. Under the "networks" tab check to see what the download/upload speeds are set to. I don't remember exactly, but I vaguely remember my R3 coming with the download speeds capped to 400 kb/s. If this is the case you can either have the app run a diagnostic to check what your connection speed is, and then automatically set it (however I find this method to be inaccurate, it always gives me about 200 kb/s less than what I actually have), or you can just set it manually by typing in whatever numbers you would like.

    Hope this helps!
     
    Lanner7, Aug 8, 2011
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  10. ewitte12

    ewitte12 Notebook Evangelist

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    mb or MB? Huge difference. I've seen over 6MB/s download but pretty sure I was on LAN. I know I was only getting about 2.5MB/s copying a 13GB file off another laptop at home. Right next to the router was connected at 144Mbit.
     
    ewitte12, Aug 8, 2011
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  11. Lanner7

    Lanner7 Notebook Geek

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    I'm not sure it matters-- he's just not receiving the network speeds he is expecting to have, although I would assume it to be MB. A 1mb/s network would be... silly.
     
    Lanner7, Aug 8, 2011
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  12. ewitte12

    ewitte12 Notebook Evangelist

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    Your almost never going to get network speeds. Especially over the internet. I found long ago not to mess with wireless where performance/stability is needed.
     
    ewitte12, Aug 8, 2011
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  13. Lanner7

    Lanner7 Notebook Geek

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    But 400 Kb/s... that is easily achievable, especially on a wifi network reportedly running 1 Mb/s

    My home network downloads at 600 Kb/s, and on my R3 I get at least 650 Kb/s.

    I feel like it might be easier to diagnose his problem if we knew what card he had...
     
    Lanner7, Aug 8, 2011
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  14. Lanner7

    Lanner7 Notebook Geek

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    Oh, he doesn't have an Alienware.

    According to the HP site he has a Intel 802.11b/g/n WLAN with Wireless Display Support.

    Perhaps this particular card comes with it's own app? Poke around your hard drive a bit for it.
     
    Lanner7, Aug 8, 2011
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  15. livid

    livid Notebook Consultant

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    If it's an HP, the software and drivers should be located in c:\swsetup.
     
    livid, Aug 8, 2011
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  16. Beradon

    Beradon Notebook Evangelist

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    You guys obviously dont pay much attention to the actual post the OP put up. He mentioned twice in it that he's talking about his new M17x.
     
    Beradon, Aug 8, 2011
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  17. livid

    livid Notebook Consultant

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    Read between the lines bud. He's comparing his HP to the speeds that he is getting on his M17x, which he is using as a reference point.
     
    livid, Aug 8, 2011
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  18. Lanner7

    Lanner7 Notebook Geek

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    Then my original suggestion is still valid. If it's a Killer Wifi card, try checking the app.
     
    Lanner7, Aug 8, 2011
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