Varied connection rates across various sites. Help needed.
Varied connection rates across various sites. Help needed.
Hello everyone, I'm trying to understand why my speed readings vary so much across different websites. For instance, on Speedtest.net I see high numbers like 90/90 or 100/100 Mbps depending on the city I select, while on TestMy.net I only get around 8/8 Mbps. On SpeedClourelle I'm getting 10/10 MBps, but on Steam I can download at 10 MB/s—perfect for games. However, when using a client like BigtimeGG, the reported speeds drop to just 1.5 or 2.5 MB/s. I have a fiber connection and am connected via a wired router (TPLink TL-WR720N). My cat5e cable is rated at 1050MHz, but I'm not sure if my ISP, router, or the cable itself is the issue. Additionally, my motherboard is an AsRock B350 Fatality K4 with updated drivers. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Even with a setup capable of 10Gbps, your connection is restricted by the server you're using.
speed tests vary greatly due to many elements such as user count, geographic area, server connections, T1 ISP load, etc. To ensure an accurate picture of your internet performance, it’s best to run tests from several sources repeatedly. I regularly perform a speed test each hour and record the data to understand my speeds and identify any fluctuations over time or days.
You conduct speed tests each hour to monitor performance and ensure everything is running smoothly.
it's similar to having few options, which helps confirm whether the speeds match expectations. understanding that my connection usually drops significantly after 8 pm each day simplifies diagnosing issues.
In reality, when things work smoothly in everyday use, speed tests mainly reflect confidence rather than performance. If Steam, downloads, and games all run as expected at the price you pay, everything seems fine. Twitch feels a bit odd lately; while YouTube and other platforms handle 4K content effortlessly, I’ve noticed it sometimes drops to 1080p. I often encounter hiccups or interruptions, so I wouldn’t completely dismiss Twitch’s occasional problems.
Alright, I understand. Doing it occasionally makes sense, but getting regular quarterly samples gives accurate data for everyday users. It feels strange to check every hour unless it’s a professional role, like a stock broker. That’s why I thought about asking more questions.
I found these server suggestions for Twitch based on speedtest results. The speeds reported are in Mbps. I checked whether Chicago, New York, Ashburn, Miami, Atlanta, and Houston are generally considered eastern U.S. states or have similar regional positioning. It seems Houston is more central, while Atlanta appears closer to Venezuela, which might explain the better performance.
It's actually quite simple—it's a script operating inside a Docker container on your server, and you rarely even realize it's running.