I recently got a high-end computer that runs games smoothly at max settings, but I'm facing a major issue with download speeds. It can take me up to 7 hours to install a 12GB game. Steam indicates that this may be related to my network speed, but I'm not sure what to do about it. Are there simple steps I can take to speed up the download process? Any advice would be great!
5 Answers
Your internet speed is independent of your computer's performance. First, check your download speed with a site like Speedtest.net. It's important to know if your internet speed matches what your ISP promised.
Yeah, often Wi-Fi can be slower than a wired connection. If possible, try using an ethernet cable.
If you're using an external drive to install games, that might be causing the slow downloads. It's usually better to install directly on an internal SSD. Consider upgrading your SSD if you haven't already!
That makes sense! I mainly use an external HDD for my games.
Yes, even modern consoles are moving away from HDDs. SSDs massively speed things up.
Your speed problems might also relate to throttling by your ISP. If you're capped on bandwidth, consider using a VPN to check if it helps with speeds. Also, double-check your Steam settings to ensure there aren’t any limits set for downloads.
Good point! I haven't tried a VPN yet.
Not checked for limits, but I’ll look into that.
Make sure your router isn’t the bottleneck. If you have an older router, it might be time for an upgrade. Also, check if you're connected via Wi-Fi or a cable. Wired connections tend to be more reliable and faster!
I'm on Wi-Fi. I guess I should look into switching to a wired connection.
Yeah, Wi-Fi can sometimes slow things down, particularly if the signal is weak.
After a recent Windows update, I struggled with slow network speeds too. It turned out to be my network card drivers. Updating them solved the problem. Don't rely solely on Windows updates; sometimes you need to manually get the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s site.
That’s a good tip! I've had similar issues before after updates.
Yeah, I've faced driver issues with updates as well. Good call!
I ran the test on my phone and it was significantly lower than my PC. I guess that explains the troubles.