Windows Bandwidth Balancing
Windows Bandwidth Balancing
Forgive me if this is a really ignorant question. I recently got a new computer with an extremely fast SSD so my steam and other downloads really take advantage of available bandwidth. I've noticed during downloads sometimes my web browsers stop working as if it's run out of bandwidth (I have a 200mbps connection). Is that a thing? Wouldn't the OS be load balancing so to speak to distribute bandwidth to applications requesting it? This happened today while downloading Microsoft Flight Simulator.
If you're using the entire bandwidth your ISP offers, it can interfere with other apps and services trying to connect. To avoid issues, you should configure QoS on your router to give priority to this type of traffic.
Steam offers options to set download limits, helping you prevent exceeding certain speeds. You can adjust it to cap at 500 Mb/s on a 1 Gb/s connection. Check the guide by @JFK1350 for details. It’s likely you’ll find instructions in Steam’s settings under Downloads, where you’d select a bandwidth restriction and specify the unit. Remember, bits are counted differently than bytes—convert accordingly for accuracy.
To assist @SlayerOfHellWyrm, consider using Wolfram Alpha for optimal Steam settings. For instance, with a 200 Mbps connection, 125 Mbps should suffice. Adjust Steam configurations accordingly—switching to KB/s would require recalculating via Wolfram Alpha, as noted. Keep the current setup for now and modify based on your needs. Be aware that internet speeds fluctuate daily due to best-effort delivery, so these settings may not always match your actual connection.