During the download wait, I checked the task manager and noticed a big difference in data usage between the Steam progress bar and the actual download stats. Switching to the performance tab revealed the Ethernet connection details. The speed shown there seems inaccurate; the real bandwidth is only 100 MB/S. Also, note that my PC wasn’t limited by any bottlenecks, and the Ethernet can handle up to that maximum speed. PS: the image you mentioned reflects what happened when I toggled between tabs frequently.
Steam displays MB/s (Megabytes per second), while the task manager presents Mb/s (Megabits per second). Converting 1MB/s equals 8Mb/s. When Steam reports 10-12MB and the manager shows 77-90 Mb, it's reasonable since updates won't be perfectly aligned.
It's not about 100MB/s in regular bytes—it's about 100 megabits per second. If you have a gigabit switch and network card, you should be able to go even higher, provided your internet connection isn't the bottleneck.
This situation could stem from a minor discrepancy between Megabytes and Megabits. Steam typically displays download sizes in MB, which are actually eight times larger than Megabits. This difference explains why the download speed appears slower in Task Manager than what’s shown. 1 MB/s equals 8 Mb/s. With an 11.8 MB/s download rate, you’re essentially reaching nearly the maximum capacity of a Cat 5 Ethernet cable (100 Mb/s). To switch from MB/s to Mb/s in Steam, follow these steps: Open Steam, go to the Steam menu, navigate to Settings, then select Downloads, and under Download restrictions, enable the option to show download rates in bits per second. Click OK and restart the application.
The steam interface is displaying a different measurement unit now, and converting it to Mbps should align with the Ethernet speed shown. However, the progress bar appears to reflect only half of the actual value.
The process section isn't correct. While I appreciate the updated task manager, some of the statistics it shows seem inaccurate or oddly computed.
Consider that Steam likely displays genuine download statistics, while the process panel will reflect real data transfer, accounting for TCP/IP delays. Steam also relies on averages over extended durations compared to the task manager, which shows values over brief intervals. This means the task manager numbers may not only appear higher but can also fluctuate significantly—sometimes faster than your internet speed—as data waits in the TCP/IP stack and router before reaching Steam. Comparing the two becomes quite challenging.