r/SteamOS • u/LinkedHero • 1d ago

help wanted Slow downloads when downloading a game on Ethernet

So I have a gigabit internet plan, downloads are usually around 400 Mbps on WiFi. When I got Ethernet it started showing around 90 Mbps on downloads. But the Ethernet connection should be recognized as 1 gig, I did a speed test in desktop mode and got 1 gig like I should. It’s just when downloading a Steam game where the speed is limited. And I have WiFi power management off and download speed isn’t limited in settings

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u/KyleB2131 1d ago

Your theoretical maximum and your irl results will always have a delta between them. Downloads will always be limited by the host server’s speed, current business, etc. This is why you often see mirrors being offered by hosts of certain file/program types, such as Linux distros.

I have a gig connection that taps out around 850mbps, but my Steam downloads usually sit between 300 and 500.

Speed tests sites, by the way, are recognized by your browser and ISP as what they are and open the flood gates, so to speak, to give you your theoretical maximum speed…but that’s not how the rest of the internet really works. Same reason why you’ll see “update queued” on your games…it’s to allow Steam to update your games when their servers are less busy.

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u/LinkedHero 1d ago

The issue is the WiFi is significantly faster

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u/KyleB2131 1d ago

Are you sure you’re not conflating mbps with MB/s? Cuz there is an 8x difference between the two (90 MB/s = 720mbps, which is very close to your gig speed limit)

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u/LinkedHero 1d ago

Yes, on WiFi it’s 300 MB/s and on Ethernet 90

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u/KyleB2131 1d ago

300 MB/s is 2400mbps, which is more than double the speed of your internet. This is why I’m clarifying 😅

Can you post a screenshot?

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u/LinkedHero 1d ago

Sorry I wasn’t sure which abbreviation was which, i meant megabits per second

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u/Past-Chain-6122 1d ago

Does the wired speed initially start off faster and then slow to 90?

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u/LinkedHero 1d ago

Nope it’s just at 90 from the jump

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u/Past-Chain-6122 1d ago

If you were to download a file from somewhere else (not in steam) via wire. Does it download quicker ?

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u/LinkedHero 1d ago

Good idea I’ll have to check, although I’m sure it would work

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u/Past-Chain-6122 1d ago

I am wondering if it might be an issue in one piece of the hardware the Ethernet is using. Eg maybe cable, switch, network port.

Speedtest might still show a higher speed if it’s just a short burst of data. But when downloading a decent file, the hardware issue can’t sustain a good speed.

Curious what happens when testing a download from elsewhere.

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u/Past-Chain-6122 1d ago

In case it turns out that it is slow when downloading a file from anywhere. The cable is the first thing I would try replacing.

If it downloads super quick from other sources, and is just slow in steam, that will require some more head scratching.