When I visit pingtest.net, my ping is about 33ms, whereas on my PC (when I choose the same server), it is around 10ms. Why does my Mac have higher ping than my PC when I visit pingtest.net?
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Higher ping on my Mac
- Thread starter applefan289
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First, the obvious:
Are both using a hard line to the router with no intermediate steps?
That's already introducing far too many variables.. distance to router, wall interference, number of electronics surrounding each computer, frequency connected on (since it's dual band), nearest neighbor's network, cordless telephone frequency (for your phones and your neighbors), etc. etc. etc.
If you suspect there's something specific in the way OS X is handling packets, you can test it by going into bootcamp and checking how Windows does on the same hardware and environment. But I don't think there's anything to learn from 2 different computers wirelessly connected.
The PC that's getting the better ping time on ping test.net is actually further away from the router than the Mac (more walls, etc.), but the frequency was a very interesting point. I will have to look up if the PC is using 2.4Ghz or 5.0. The Mac is using 5.0 which could be the issue.
If, theoretically, I get the same results (higher ping for Mac) by plugging them in to the router, what could it mean?
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Testing with the same OS would be the best way to be sure, but it could point to a lower quality network interface controller. Some are more likely to introduce "lag" than others.
33ms isn't a bad result though.
Here's something I found amusing: When I ran pingtest on my iMac, I got 33ms back, but when I ran speedtest, it gave me a ping of 12ms. So it could be something as silly has how pingtest is written and performs in Safari.
I believe I tried it on google chrome and I get the same results. But thanks for confirming that it's happening on your Mac too.
I have the same issue across my home network. Whether using OS X 10.6.8, OS X 10.8.5, Windows XP, Windows 7, or Windows 8, Windows gets a faster ping than OS X. I did all my my pingtest.net tests with the latest versions of Firefox and Flash Player installed on each platform.
To eliminate other variables, I used a Boot Camp partitioned Mac to confirm whether the ping difference is due to OS. I have OS X 10.8.5 and Windows 8 installed on the same Mac, and indeed, OS X still gets slower pingtest.net results than Windows. Thus, it would appear that OS X is less efficient with packet handling with Windows, resulting in slower pings under OS X.
Does anyone know the cause of this difference? Is it possible to improve ping performance under OS X?
To eliminate other variables, I used a Boot Camp partitioned Mac to confirm whether the ping difference is due to OS. I have OS X 10.8.5 and Windows 8 installed on the same Mac, and indeed, OS X still gets slower pingtest.net results than Windows. Thus, it would appear that OS X is less efficient with packet handling with Windows, resulting in slower pings under OS X.
Does anyone know the cause of this difference? Is it possible to improve ping performance under OS X?
Ping time is not a fixed thing, it fluctuates based on innumerable variables... especially when you're trying to test through a browser(?!?!?). Don't worry about this stuff.
Here is an example:
Atom N270 Debian linux box
27" iMac
Windows Box
Here is an example:
Atom N270 Debian linux box
Code:
-@hubble:~$ ping google.com
PING google.com (74.125.224.228) 56(84) bytes of data.
64 bytes from lax04s08-in-f4.1e100.net (74.125.224.228): icmp_req=1 ttl=55 time=26.1 ms
64 bytes from lax04s08-in-f4.1e100.net (74.125.224.228): icmp_req=2 ttl=55 time=24.8 ms
64 bytes from lax04s08-in-f4.1e100.net (74.125.224.228): icmp_req=3 ttl=55 time=29.4 ms
^C
--- google.com ping statistics ---
3 packets transmitted, 3 received, 0% packet loss, time 2002ms
rtt min/avg/max/mdev = 24.862/26.831/29.495/1.954 ms
Code:
opsek:Downloads x$ ping google.com
PING google.com (74.125.224.228): 56 data bytes
64 bytes from 74.125.224.228: icmp_seq=0 ttl=55 time=24.910 ms
64 bytes from 74.125.224.228: icmp_seq=1 ttl=55 time=27.262 ms
64 bytes from 74.125.224.228: icmp_seq=2 ttl=55 time=27.867 ms
^C
--- google.com ping statistics ---
3 packets transmitted, 3 packets received, 0.0% packet loss
round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 24.910/26.680/27.867/1.275 ms
Code:
C:\Users\tune>ping 74.125.224.228
Pinging 74.125.224.228 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 74.125.224.228: bytes=32 time=25ms TTL=127
Reply from 74.125.224.228: bytes=32 time=32ms TTL=127
Reply from 74.125.224.228: bytes=32 time=25ms TTL=127
Reply from 74.125.224.228: bytes=32 time=41ms TTL=127
Ping statistics for 74.125.224.228:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 25ms, Maximum = 41ms, Average = 30ms
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I can confirm that the Wifi driver is buggy.
On Mavericks my ping fluctuates 1ms - 300ms to router ( 1 meter away )
On Windows 8.1, it is always under 1ms. I tried changing the channel and disconnect all clients but it doesnt help.
Switched between 2.4 and 5GHz and nothing really... I guess it's a software issue.
I am using Airport extreme. kinda sad to see that much of jitters over wireless lan....
On Mavericks my ping fluctuates 1ms - 300ms to router ( 1 meter away )
On Windows 8.1, it is always under 1ms. I tried changing the channel and disconnect all clients but it doesnt help.
Switched between 2.4 and 5GHz and nothing really... I guess it's a software issue.
I am using Airport extreme. kinda sad to see that much of jitters over wireless lan....
If I'm Reading This Correctly I Have The Opposite Problem
I have an 24" early 2008 Mac partitioned for Windows 8.1 I also have a MBP of the same era portioned for Windows 8.1. On both machines the Amped Wireless SR10000 N-600 Range Extender is much faster on the Mac side. I can barely use the Windows side.
When running Maverick I get 12.32mbps download and 1.47 mbps upload.
Rebooting into the Windows side I get 2.10 mbps download and 1.46 upload.
I have a 2-Wire router. Amped Wireless customer support says it should not matter whether using Windows or OSX to the extender.
I would appreciate any information as the Windows side is difficult to use. We have recently moved to another state but I don't recall having this problem with Cox Communications in my former location. However I did not have Maverick on my Mac at that location. That is the only change.
I have an 24" early 2008 Mac partitioned for Windows 8.1 I also have a MBP of the same era portioned for Windows 8.1. On both machines the Amped Wireless SR10000 N-600 Range Extender is much faster on the Mac side. I can barely use the Windows side.
When running Maverick I get 12.32mbps download and 1.47 mbps upload.
Rebooting into the Windows side I get 2.10 mbps download and 1.46 upload.
I have a 2-Wire router. Amped Wireless customer support says it should not matter whether using Windows or OSX to the extender.
I would appreciate any information as the Windows side is difficult to use. We have recently moved to another state but I don't recall having this problem with Cox Communications in my former location. However I did not have Maverick on my Mac at that location. That is the only change.