I'm running Linux Mint 22.2 on an ASUS X554LJ laptop, and the issue happens over both Ethernet and Wi‑Fi. Until around June or July, speed tests usually showed about 20 Mb/s download and 8 Mb/s upload. Real-world downloads were typically closer to 5 Mb/s, which was acceptable, but some websites and downloads now drop to just 50–100 KB/s. Linux Mint updates are especially slow, regardless of which software mirror I use.
I initially suspected my old modem because of problems with my previous internet contract. However, I now have a new fiber-optic modem, and speed tests show roughly 18 Mb/s download and 20 Mb/s upload, yet the slow downloads continue. When I connect my smartphone to the same modem, it reaches the expected fiber speeds.
Could this be caused by a hardware or software problem on the laptop? What should I check to find the cause?
1 Answer
Your ISP could theoretically throttle certain types of traffic, but that seems less likely here. Since the phone gets full speed through the same modem and the problem affects both Ethernet and Wi‑Fi on the laptop, the issue is probably specific to the laptop or its software rather than the fiber connection.
That was my concern too, but it seems strange that updates from the Linux repositories would be affected while the phone can use the full connection. I’m leaning toward checking the laptop and its configuration first.