How Can I Boost My PC’s Download Speed?

Just to clarify, CAT6 can technically handle speeds up to 10 Gbps if the distance is short enough. But if there’s a bottleneck, it could also be your router or switch if they're not designed to handle high speeds. Testing different ports on your ATT gateway might also help.

You should also check what kind of storage you're downloading to. If it's a mechanical hard drive, that might slow things down a lot compared to an SSD. Also, ensure your BIOS and ethernet driver are updated since sometimes old firmware can limit speeds.

First off, that 1300+ mbps speed at the modem is likely the max speed from the gateway to your home. Just because the modem shows that speed doesn’t mean you'll get that speed from every server. Make sure you're testing your speed with a reliable service like Speedtest. Also, check where you're downloading from because some servers limit bandwidth, which could explain the slower speeds you're seeing.

Some servers actually throttle speeds to manage connections, especially on game platforms like Steam, which might be part of your issue. If you're downloading from a popular service, try using a download manager, as that could optimize your download speeds.

Upgrading to a CAT8 cable isn't going to magically solve your speed issues. Your speeds are 'up to' what ATT advertises, so you won't always hit those max speeds depending on the server you're downloading from. Also, if you're using an old router, it might not handle those higher speeds well either.