Question about computer speed

[ohheckyeah]

Whenever I run speed tests they all show I have a download speed of 35.5+ mbps with a upload speed of 6.52 mbps. But when I click on links to many websites the websites take forever to load. I don't understand what the problem is.

I have 8 GB of ram, run Windows 7 64bit, and use Firefox most of the time.

Any ideas or suggestions as to what the problem is?

[lastlib]

1. my first off-hand guess would be a disk-caching issue.

what is the size of your paging file?

[ohheckyeah]

3. I'm not sure where to find that. n/t

[lastlib]

5. In Win7, I'm not sure either......

In XP, it's in My Computer-->Properties-->Advanced tab, Performance (click Settings-->Advanced-->Change) you can adjust it there, either a custom setting, or let the system set itself.

[ohheckyeah]

10. Okay -

its 8174 MB. Should it be changed?

[lastlib]

20. you had 8Gb installed RAM, right? I would try doubling your paging file size.

The recommended file size is 1-3 times your RAM for systems with more than 1GB; I have 2GB on mine and set a 4GB paging file. Set yours at 16384Mb, and re-start; see if that helps things.

[Dan Ken]

2. Suggestion: Read through the thread titled "Is ISP help messing with me"

Particularly the part and links about DNS servers (nameservers). Do the DNS test that is linked on that page...

You probably have poor nameservers slowing down your web page searching. Particularly response #6 there,

"You should try DNS Benchmark

if you have not already. I had noticeable improvement.

http://www.grc.com/dns/benchmark.htm

I believe DNS Advantage resolves to an UltraDNS's owned address... All I know is that it's free and fast."

Or it might be something else, something running in the background on your computer, like two virus defenses defending against each other, or simply a poor or failing WiFi connection.

Your computer with 8 BG ram should have no problem loading pages. Even 2 GB should load pages fast.

Do let us know what you find it to be.

[ohheckyeah]

4. I don't have anything much running in the background.

I only have one virus program.

I'll read up on the DNS thing - it's above my skill level at this point. Thanks.

[Dan Ken]

7. Good thing so far

To check page file and other settings:

How to view Windows virtual memory or page file settings


http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001292.htm

[ohheckyeah]

8. Thank you. n/t

[ohheckyeah]

6. I ran the benchmark

and here is just one of the suggestions:

Recommended Actions:

Unless you have some specific reason not to, you should give serious thought to disabling your router's provisioning of DNS services (which it is providing for all computers on your local network). After this is done, a fresh reboot of your computers will likely reveal the multiple DNS nameservers provided by your ISP. This is a superior configuration, without an under-powered router acting as a incompetent middleman and impeding all DNS access.

Note that if you can determine the IP addresses of your ISP-provided nameservers (which may be visible in your router's web configuration) you could manually add them to the nameservers being tested by this benchmark, while also leaving your router providing DNS. This would allow you to compare the performance when running through your router versus "going direct"

Can you tell me how to disable the router's provisioning of DNS services?

[Dan Ken]

9. How to...Change TCP/IP ( including DNS) settings

Microsoft has the following instructions page... look at the part about DNS

Change TCP/IP settings

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/change-tcp-ip-settings


Change from automatic to specified DNS server addresses from the test benchmark results that tell you what is fastest.

By the way, where to you live, in the country or in a big city or modest sized town or suburb of a big city.

If you live in a small town far away from a big city, or in the country way out somewhere you probably have more problems than people in big cities. But maybe not.

[ohheckyeah]

11. So, I should pick the two fastest DNS

servers from the benchmark list and put them in as the preferred and alternate DNS servers?

[Dan Ken]

13. YES, short answer, but re-read the Benchmark test page and

follow what they tell you to do.

I think living outside of a major metro area, people run into these problems more often.

The default DNS settings your ISP or some computer set-up routine gave you is probably over-taxed, too popular, and thus giving you slow web page searches.

[ohheckyeah]

15. I've been reading the Benchmark

test page but have to admit, much to my embarrassment, there's a lot I don't understand.

Do I just change the DNS settings in Windows for the LAN or both the LAN and Wireless connection and do I have to change the same settings in the router settings?

I really appreciate the help. Thank you.

[Dan Ken]

17. Do the change ONLY ON YOUR COMPUTER!!

If this doesn't help, remember the DNS settings can be re-set to be done automatically, again.

You only need to do stuff to your computer... leave the router settings and any other devices to the people that you bought or rent them from .

[ohheckyeah]

18. Thank you....

the router is fairly new and is definitely faster than the old one. The modem is fairly old and I should probably consider replacing it.

I think it's probably the DNS settings. I'm going to reboot the computer and see if I get better performance.

I REALLY appreciate the help.

[ohheckyeah]

12. I live rural about 20 miles from the nearest

'bigger" city. It's not a metropolitan area by any means.

[Dan Ken]

14. I'm in a major city suburb, and I have the same problem

I think living outside of a major metro area, people run into these problems more often.

The default DNS settings your ISP or some computer set-up routine gave you is probably over-taxed, too popular, and thus giving you slow web page searches.

[Dan Ken]

16. IF changing DNS settings doesn't make things better.

Try downloading a free system diagnostic utility, (I use Advanced System Care).

http://www.iobit.com/advancedsystemcareper.html Download manually, and don't allow them to install (opt out of ) other software they want to push.

It will fix registry errors, disk errors, delete old cached files which may be screwing up your available ram.


But I TURN OFF scans and erasing "PRIVACY SETTINGS" which includes erasing stored passwords.

Be sure you store your passwords somewhere off your computer, or somehow if you want to erase privacy settings on your hard disk.

[ohheckyeah]

19. Changing the DNS settings helped

immensely. I can't thank you enough!

I use CCleaner and Ace Utilities regularly to keep things cleaned out. I run a disk cleanup once a week as well.....I think it was all about the DNS settings.

I'm a happy camper at the moment.

You guys in the Computer forum rock!

[Dan Ken]

21. So glad I was able to help, and that it worked.

I am doing the same Benchmarks to my computer at my third location this week.

I was home for the first test a few days ago, and got terrible results. I went to visit a relative for 3 days 70 miles away and got fantastic results, (her DNS searched out settings were just fine and the top of the list).

I went to another location and now my DNS settings are very very good, compared to the other ones offered.

I won't have to change the settings at all, but will test out the settings whenever I travel someplace, just to make sure my computer is working as efficiently as possible, like in Iowa as opposed to New Hampshire.

Good that you use those other utilities. They help, too.

[ohheckyeah]

22. I've got two other computers to fix the DNS settings.

Sometimes I feel like I work to support my computer habit.

The change has really helped me as I work from home on the computer. I do a lot of research and sometimes have 10 tabs open on one monitor and 2 or 3 on the other. The quicker I am the better my hourly wage, so speed is king.

Did you see the post above about the page filing setting? Do you know how to best determine how big the page filing should be?

[Dan Ken]

23. I don't think the page file size is really a problem (sorry for delay)

Windows pretty much manages that quite well by now. Surfing the net doesn't require huge page file sizes.

Windows automatically gives you more space if you need it.

(sorry for delay: I went to sleep)

[ohheckyeah]

24. No problem...

you've already helped me so much and I learned a lot. I had never paid attention to the page filing or DNS. Now I at least know what DNS is.

[ManiacJoe]

25. The problem could be the websites.

What sites are showing the problems?

Each site is hosted by one or more servers. Each server handles multiple connections by multiple users. If the server is used by too many users, its response to each user gets slow. A good example of this would be YouTube.com.

[ohheckyeah]

26. ManicJoe....

it was quite a few websites and frankly I'm so brain dead right now I can't think of an example. I work from home and am on a deadline and my brain is fried.

Is it just me or has Google become a crap search engine? Bing isn't any better as it just uses Google results. My kingdom for a good search engine.

Changing the DNS settings has helped.

In case I haven't said it lately, I am so very appreciative of this group. The help and information I get here is invaluable.