Fluctuating browsing speed

[matrixneo]

My internet speed seems to fluctuate a lot on my laptop. All other laptops and pcs seems to be working fine. I have a 4mbps connection and when I start a torrent download , it gives me 350-400 kbps speed , but when I am browsing or streaming live tv , the speed goes from 8kbps to 180 kbps. Cleared all cache and cookies. Please help.

 

[A_Goat]

What torrent client are you using? How many users are seeding the torrent you're downloading?
Speeds sound about right for an unpopular file on bit torrent. You're downloading completely legal material, right?

 

[matrixneo]

Lol , yeah , completely legal, though my question was about the browsing speed.

 

[A_Goat]

Yes, but the torrenting program is most likely the issue.

Do you have multiple devices on the 4mbs network?
The torrent program will usually pull over 1mbs itself from seeding. The torrent program will also have widely fluctuating speeds. Setting caps on the download and especially the upload speeds will most likely increase performance while multitasking data intensive programs.

A 4mbs network should not be expected to provide a lightning fast browsing experience, especially when that network is running multiple devices while downloading large files.

What is the CPU in the laptop running slowly? It simply might not be able to handle the amount of multitasking you are doing.

 

[Hack11150]

My internet speed seems to fluctuate a lot on my laptop. All other laptops and pcs seems to be working fine. I have a 4mbps connection and when I start a torrent download , it gives me 350-400 kbps speed , but when I am browsing or streaming live tv , the speed goes from 8kbps to 180 kbps. Cleared all cache and cookies. Please help.

This issue has nothing to do with any torrent client. I have been experiencing this phenomenon for about two years. I am running Linux Mint 17.1 and I use Transmission to handle torrents. Before that I used Deluge and before that Azureus and before that Bitorrent. It happens no matter what client runs. It also has nothing to do with cache size, wifi, router, operating system, broadband modem, ISP or anything else I can think of.
I have tried every suggestion that has been posted as a solution and none of them have any impact on the problem. I have come to the conclusion that the service providers know about this, but if they know of a solution, are not forthcoming with useful information. The fix is probably related to some backbone issue that would cost them a dollar or two, so they're not too eager to fix it. The problem doesn't affect all subscribers, or they would be up in arms and you would hear more about it.
I have used completely new systems with totally different hardware and software, and it makes no difference. We'll probably get an answer after the boxes we're using have long been on the scrap heap and the issue no longer affects us. They'll suddenly "discover" something from the past that caused it and say, "Well, land's sakes, Cletus! Who'da thunkit?" No subscriber then living will remember, and that will be the end of it.
Sad, really...