Test download speeds to check your Internet connection.

When we discuss computers today, we cannot forget the Internet. It has become apparent that computers now revolve around the Internet. The latest drivers are on the Internet, the latest security patches are on the Internet. Most people now buy a computer to use the Internet.

In this article we are going to discuss downloads and the best way to test your download rates.

Remember many factors come in to play when it comes to the speed of your download.

The above are important and cannot be ignored. Contention is how many people are sharing your bandwidth and using your connection and the distance is simply how far away you are from the file you want to download. For example, if you live in the UK and want to download a file located in Australia, then distance would play a big part and this would result in an unfair test as regards to testing download rates.

The best approach is to go to a reliable web site, which is never down, located in your area. Download a file from this site and note your download rate. If you are on a 512k connection (half a Meg) you can expect download rates to be from 30 – 62 k depending on factors such as contention.

Test your download speed at different times to get a better average, and be sure to optimise your system by clearing the cache, clearing cookies/temporary Internet files and doing a regular defrag of your hard drive. This will help keep your Internet experience smother and faster.

Download speeds by Computer-and-printer-reviews.com