Why Aren’t My Ethernet Download Speeds Matching What I Pay For?

Make sure to check what download speed your ISP promises you. Also, keep in mind that platforms like Steam often set their own download limits to manage traffic, which might be lower than your actual speed. So even if your Internet is fast, you might not always see those speeds in downloads from Steam.

Your hard drive might be affecting download speeds too! Make sure your storage can handle those speeds effectively. Also, consider changing the download server in Steam's settings; sometimes switching to a different location can significantly speed things up! It worked for me when I switched to a server that was closer!

Your speed test shows that you're hitting the maximum supported by your Ethernet connection. The issue might not originate from your connection at all. Download speeds can vary significantly based on factors like the server's bandwidth, network overhead, and even your hard drive's read/write speeds. So while your Ethernet is capable of 1000 Mbps, that doesn't mean you’ll always download at that speed, especially with larger files.

Just to clarify, a 1000 Mbps connection won't give you 100 MB/s (which would be 800 Mbps). If your downloads are coming in around 50 MB/s, that’s actually about 400 Mbps. This discrepancy could be due to Steam’s server location; ideally, you want to connect to a nearby server to maximize speed. If you're actually on unlimited downloads from Steam, that should be as fast as your connection allows, but location does matter!

I sometimes feel a bit lost myself with all this tech stuff, so no worries! It's great that you’re asking questions; that's how we learn! If you’re unsure about something, it’s always better to ask and get clearer before jumping in.