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de93

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 31, 2010
11
0
Hello, I recently purchased my first Mac computer, a MacBook Pro with Intel Core 2 Duo processor. I receive free internet included in my apartment rent, and I don't use a router, instead I simply plug into the wall. I previously used a Toshiba laptop with Windows Vista and there was no problems. I am not very knowledgeable about computers really, especially when it comes to the internet. I need advice on how to speed my downloads, but speak to me like you would 2 y/o. :p

I have searched various forums and other Google results looking for an answer, but I can't seem to find anything that applies to me or I can understand. I'm currently using Transmission for torrents and Safari for browsing, but my general internet connection outside of downloads seems to be fine.

I have tried using other torrent programs and browsers, but nothing changed. The various torrents I've attempted have had plenty of seeders, but this downloading problem also applies to updates and other things, not just torrents.

I've seen people to open their ports using websites like PortFoward, but since I'm connected through ethernet, directly into a wall outlet, it doesn't really help me.

I simply don't know what to do and I can't find information that's "dumb" enough for me to grasp. I'm having enough trouble becoming aquainted with operation of Macs without all this internet business.
 


The internet works fine on my Toshiba/Windows Vista computer.

Judging from your Speedtest.net results, you have either a superslow internet connection or serious problems with your Mac's ethernet.
How do you have it set in the System Preferences pane, Network Advanced?
My Speedtest.net results are from Kyoto to the Tokyo server, a 6-7 hour drive on the freeways! Using Fiber optic connection. These results were obtained in the middle of a busy workday.
 

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Judging from your Speedtest.net results, you have either a superslow internet connection or serious problems with your Mac's ethernet.
How do you have it set in the System Preferences pane, Network Advanced?
My Speedtest.net results are from Kyoto to the Tokyo server, a 6-7 hour drive on the freeways! Using Fiber optic connection. These results were obtained in the middle of a busy workday.

thats flippin high...do you even need that much ul/dl speed lol
 


The internet works fine on my Toshiba/Windows Vista computer.



Dear oh dear oh dear oh dear. What speed are you paying for? There's no point in downloading or streaming anything at that low speed.
 
Here's an updated speed test from this morning.



I've tried Firefox and Chrome, but neither seemed faster. I'm having problems with torrents too, which aren't through the browser. I have a Toshiba laptop on the same desk, and I can plug the ethernet cable into it and get much faster downloads.

Judging from your Speedtest.net results, you have either a superslow internet connection or serious problems with your Mac's ethernet.
How do you have it set in the System Preferences pane, Network Advanced?
My Speedtest.net results are from Kyoto to the Tokyo server, a 6-7 hour drive on the freeways! Using Fiber optic connection. These results were obtained in the middle of a busy workday.
The internet here isn't the greatest, but it performs better on the Toshiba, so there must be a problem with MBP.

Network advanced is currently set:

Configure: Manually
Speed: 100baseTX
Duplex: full-duplex
MTU: Custom (set to 1452)

These setting have been changed a few times as I was reading through forums looking for an answer, I have no idea what any of that means.
 
The OPs internet is most likely shared with everyone in the apartment building Probably fed from one central box in the building. Check with one of your neigbors to see if their speed is also slow.
 
Hey OP, could you maybe run Speedtest.net on your windows laptop and see what you get? That would help us figure out whether it is the mac or your internet connection in general.

To all you people here comparing internet speeds.
This is in Denver, CO, USA.
 

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Here's with the MacBook Pro:



I will edit in just a moment on the Toshiba.

Here's the Toshiba:



It looks like it was faster on the MBP, but then why are torrents and other downloads taking so much longer than it does on the Toshiba? The connection is roughly the same, and I'm not doing anything differently. It took the MBP all night to download an update for iTunes.

What's the problem? I don't know what any of these numbers mean.

EDIT: I should also add that general browsing seems about the same. It's not super fast or anything, but does the trick. I have to wait awhile to stream things, but that's manageable. I don't have insanely long download times with the Toshiba though, although they are by no means lightning speed. Everything seems fine, except downloads like torrents and mediafire.com links and that sort of thing.
 
Here's with the MacBook Pro:



I will edit in just a moment on the Toshiba.

Here's the Toshiba:



It looks like it was faster on the MBP, but then why are torrents and other downloads taking so much longer than it does on the Toshiba? The connection is roughly the same, and I'm not doing anything differently. It took the MBP all night to download an update for iTunes.

What's the problem? I don't know what any of these numbers mean.

ping is how long it takes you to connect to a server.
the others are how much data you can transfer in a given amount of time.

basically I wouldn't expect anything out of these specs, I'd be surprised if they allowed me to view a web page before the request timed out...

all I can suggest is an a lot faster internet connection.
until then there really is no leg room to trouble shoot anything that has do with the the network.

and yes, an iTunes update would take that long on that setup.
 
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