I'm experiencing really slow download speeds on Steam, around 1.5MB, despite having a 1GB fiber internet connection through Xplore in southern Ontario. My speed tests show that I'm getting the full speed, so it's confusing. However, when I use a VPN, my speeds jump to 45MB and higher. I've checked that I'm on an Ethernet connection, my drivers are updated, and I've rebooted my modem and router. What could be causing this selective slowdown with my ISP?
4 Answers
Just as a heads up, ISPs sometimes throttle VPN traffic too, but they can't see the detail of what's being downloaded, just the connection to the VPN itself. It's puzzling why you get better speeds with the VPN though, which leans more toward ISP throttling at play here.
Could also be a problem with your PC specs. Steam does compress files for efficient downloads, but if your hardware isn't up to speed, it could struggle with decompressing while downloading. That said, consistent speeds like 1.5MB usually indicate throttling.
You might be facing internet settings issues. I suggest testing your connection with a live Linux boot to rule out any issues on your regular OS. But honestly, it does sound like your ISP might be throttling your Steam downloads specifically.
Make sure you've checked your Steam download settings. Sometimes people accidentally cap their bandwidth in the preferences. It's worth a look! Also, try changing your download region in case there's a hiccup with your current server.
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