Speed up Steam downloads?

[RevoltTrain]

So, I get 130 down from my ISP, but Steam downloads are capped for me at 15mb/s. Is there anyway to speed that up?

 

I'm already downloading from the closest download server to me (Chicago)

[1Scotty1]

Good lord, he is downloading at 15Mb/s and complains...

 

And here I am downloading at 350kb/s...

 

#FirstWorldProblems

[Guest MinimalEffort]

Use a VPN

 

Never mind, I dont think its capped. Your ISP offers you 130 megaBITS and steam downloads at 15 megaBYTES. Speeds seem fine then.

[pomaranc]

Check if you don't have limited bandwidth in steam settings.

[JebKerman]

So, I get 130 down from my ISP, but Steam downloads are capped for me at 15mb/s. Is there anyway to speed that up?

 

I'm already downloading from the closest download server to me (Chicago)

That's actually about right (assuming 8 bits to the Byte), 130/8 = 16.25

 

Networking speeds are measured using megabits/second, not megaBytes/second.

 

either way that is insanely fast. (get 3.6mB/s on a really good day)

[Guest]

speedtests are in Mb/s, steam shows in MB/s, b=bit, B=byte

one byte = 8 bits

 

130/8=16.25

 

so it's right.

 

EDIT: woops, did KB instead of MB

Edited July 22, 2015 by Guest

[ShadowCaptain]

So, I get 130 down from my ISP, but Steam downloads are capped for me at 15mb/s. Is there anyway to speed that up?

 

I'm already downloading from the closest download server to me (Chicago)

 

I think you have the units confused? 130 megabits per second = 16.25 megabytes per second

[Wauthar]

We have 100/100 and I only get 5Mb/s.

Doesn't seem to be a problem on your side, so not really anything to do about it.

 

EDIT: With the bits and bytes ect. it actually makes sense Never mind my text above.

Edited July 22, 2015 by Wauthar

[RevoltTrain]

Good lord, he is downloading at 15Mb/s and complains...

 

And here I am downloading at 350kb/s...

 

#FirstWorldProblems

It's more of the fact that I pay for a lot more than I get through steam. I'd like to get what I pay for.

[Atmos]

EDIT:: Didn't even see that. As other's said, you're already downloading at max speed roughly

 

Yes. Move closer to a steam data server. 

 

You can't? Then nope, try downloading at a low-usage time, like very early morning, or try switching servers to another server with less-usage. That last one will only warrant minor increases in speed. 

 

And, steam download speeds, tend to be really, really, really inconsistent. I've seen my mate get 2.5MB/s down on a game, and then when i come over, and download skyrim, I get 46MB/s down (downloaded skyrim in seriously like 7 minutes. Amazing)..., which is like... The fastest I've ever seen Steam download. Really? There's just no real way to get better downloads. Try hooking up via a ethernet cable to your router. Try using a different download server, try going into your settings and the downloads section to remove any actual caps on bandwidth, or just be a fool and move closer to a data server.

[RevoltTrain]

Check if you don't have limited bandwidth in steam settings.

It's already on unlimited 

[pomaranc]

It's already on unlimited 

As others said steam uses MB not Mb, b= / = B

[RevoltTrain]

Yes. Move closer to a steam data server. 

 

You can't? Then nope, try downloading at a low-usage time, like very early morning, or try switching servers to another server with less-usage. That last one will only warrant minor increases in speed. 

 

And, steam download speeds, tend to be really, really, really inconsistent. I've seen my mate get 2.5MB/s down on a game, and then when i come over, and download skyrim, I get 46MB/s down, which is like... The fastest I've ever seen Steam download. Really? There's just no real way to get better downloads. Try hooking up via a ethernet cable to your router. Try using a different download server, try going into your settings and the downloads section to remove any actual caps on bandwidth, or just be a fool and move closer to a data server.

I'm already hardwired to my router. I've tried other servers before and download speeds have gone down.

[Atmos]

I'm already hardwired to my router. I've tried other servers before and download speeds have gone down.

 

As other's have said, you're already at max speed roughly for your ISP. 

 

MB =/= Mb  think of it, like a 1:8 ratio, kind of, barely, it works out similar to that, but it's 6 in the morning and I've slept 9 hours over the last 3 days, so don't quote me on that.

[Guest]

And this is why ISPs need to stop advertising in Mb/s...

[blu4]

Your speed is fine. 130Mbps is about 16MBps without overheads, add them and you get about 15MBps.

[typographie]

It's more of the fact that I pay for a lot more than I get through steam. I'd like to get what I pay for.

 

As the others have said above, 8 bits = 1 Byte, so your connection in a theoretical perfect scenario would get you 16.25 MB/s. If you're getting 15 MB/s, that sounds normal to me—and quite good. Download speeds don't rely solely on your connection, they rely on a lot of other X-factors involving the performance of the server you're downloading from, and the routing to and from that server. Losing only a potential 1.25 MB/s isn't that bad and doesn't necessarily indicate a problem.

 

To put it another way, 15 Megabytes per second is equal to 120 Megabits per second, if that helps with clarity. 

[JebKerman]

And this is why ISPs need to stop advertising in Mb/s...

if i recall, it's because not quite everything follows the 8 bits = 1 byte "rule" so it's probably more accurate to use bits, but I agree that it is incredibly misleading.

[Jade]

And this is why ISPs need to stop advertising in Mb/s...

And Windows needs to stop reading drives in MiB / GiB and drive sellers advertising in / GB / TB? It gives you a more exact number.

[DEDRICK]

10 of you have said bits and bytes and the OP hasn't acknowledged a single one of the posts. I'm pretty sure he is a troll or he is trying to brag about his internet speed.

[sgtcool]

15x8 =~ 130

 

130Mb = 15MB