Downloads are lagging on Windows but speed up on Linux.
Downloads are lagging on Windows but speed up on Linux.
Here’s a revised version of your text:
Introduction. Let's start with the technical details:
Model: HP Z840
GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
CPU: Dual Xeon E5-2643 @ 3.40 GHz
RAM: 128GB at 2133 MHz
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO SSD, 500GB
Operating System: Windows 10 or Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
Network: 1Gbps Ethernet card with 2Gbps ISP service
The storage drive is the key point here, since I frequently switch between Linux and Windows by simply changing the SSD. I don’t bother with dual booting or modifying BIOS settings between the two systems. No DNS adjustments or VPNs are involved. My location is in the US. Overall, everything is standard. I use Steam on both platforms for different reasons. I can enjoy my games flawlessly on either OS. The only difference is the SSD swap—everything else remains identical.
Problem Statement.
When downloading a game from Steam on Windows, the initial download speed reaches around 588 Mbps, but it drops rapidly afterward. The performance fluctuates sharply, sometimes falling between 50–100 Mbps and occasionally dropping to zero entirely. On the other hand, when I run the same download on my Linux machine, the speed stays steady at about 300 Mbps, without any sudden spikes or drops.
Why is this happening?
At first, I thought the SSD might be caching data, causing the initial boost. However, once the cache filled up, the speed decreased again, only recovering after it cleared. This pattern repeats consistently. Interestingly, the same SSD works perfectly on Linux without any issues.
The Question.
Could you help explain this unusual behavior? I suspect the SSD might be behaving differently in each OS, but I haven’t tested that yet. The inconsistent speeds are strange compared to what I see on Windows, and I’m curious about possible causes.
Likely the issue is the decompression process. Steam applies strong compression, and Linux might manage it more efficiently. There could be various factors at play here, as these are fundamentally different operating systems. Windows Defender might also contribute to the problem.
CPU usage is low at 8% while I type, and the download continues. The disk format remains NTFS because it's a Windows 10 system. Don't worry about me downloading on mechanical drives—just let me know if you need anything else.
This seems like a valid consideration. I might take it into account, though I noticed a few users on the forum using Windows OS who didn’t experience this issue. I’m not entirely confident.
It seems like you're experiencing some issues with your storage device. Let me know if you'd like help troubleshooting or optimizing your setup.
Final confirmation of the issue and resolution. Based on my previous update, I verified that my SSD was nearing failure. I replaced it with a new one (Samsung 870 EVO 2TB) and used DiskGenius to transfer my OS from the old drive to the new one—thank you, DiskGenius! This process was incredibly straightforward. After the transfer, I launched Steam and re-downloaded Mass Effect onto the new SSD, achieving significantly improved and more stable performance (refer to screenshot). In short, the lesson here is: if your network is solid but the installer is fluctuating, it could signal the storage device is at risk of failing soon. Also, a big thank you to @OddOod for helping me concentrate on the disk rather than getting lost in complex settings or registry issues.