Speed Guide .net

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DetailsThe TCP Optimizer is a free, easy Windows program that provides an intuitive interface for tuning and optimizing your Internet connection. There is no installation required, just download and run as administrator.

The program can aid both the novice and the advanced user in tweaking related TCP/IP parameters in Windows, making it easy to tune your system to the type of Internet connection used. The tool uses advanced algorithms, and the bandwidth*delay product to find the best TCP Window for your specific connection speed. It provides for easy tuning of all related TCP/IP parameters, such as MTU, RWIN, and even advanced ones like QoS and ToS/Diffserv prioritization. The program works with all current versions of Windows, and includes additional tools, such as testing average latency over multiple hosts, and finding the largest possible packet size (MTU).

The TCP Optimizer is targeted towards broadband internet connections, however it can be helpful with tuning any internet connection type, from dialup to Gigabit+ :) It is completely free, works with most Windows versions from XP to Windows 11, requires no installation, and has been downloaded over 10 Million times over the years.

If you need help with the program, check the TCP Optimizer documentation, read our broadband tweaking articles, the Optimizer FAQ, and/or visit our Forums. The program can be freely (re)distributed, as long asyou give us proper credit as the author, and it is not sold for profit.

Donations:

The TCP Optimizer software is completely free to use and distribute. We do not actively seek donations, however, we can accept and appreciate them. All donations will be used towards software/site development and server/colocation costs. You can donate via Paypal at emailprotect ('sales', 'speedguide.net', 'sales [at] speedguide.net');, or Bitcoin at 15m4hb1fqqRh7js92qaYDQJP2YHF6jpQFS

SG Vista TCP/IP Patch - NOT required if using the TCP Optimizer

Description: The SG Vista TCP/IP patch us a quick way to optimize Vista TCP/IP settings for broadband internet connections. It sets both netsh auto tunning levelsand modifies the Windows Registry as recommended by our Vista Tweaks article. It is recommended to run the patch when logged in withadministrative priviledges. The patch allows for reverting all settings to their respective Windows default values as well. Note you may have to right-click the link above and choose "Save Target As..." to save to your computer. To apply, save to your desktop and run as administrator (right-click -> run as administrator). Type Y when prompted to optimize parameters.

OS: Windows Vista 32/64, Server 2008 version: 1.5 date: 01/24/2010 filesize: 4.86KB

We've added the optimal Registry settings for Cable Modems, DSL or any similar broadband Internet connection to the Registry patches below. Note that if you're using the TCP Optimizer program, there is no need to apply any of those registry patches, as they modify the same parameters. You should really experiment with different settings and add them manually or using our TCP Optimizer program above rather than applying generic patches, however we've added them for simplicity, ease of installation and the many requests. Please make sure you download the patch for your version of Windows, they are slightly different. If you'd rather try editing the Registry yourself, check the Registry Tweaks section of the site, or use our TCP Optimizer program.

Note: All patches are compressed and downloadable in "zip" format. You might need an utility, such as WinZip or WinRAR to uncompress the downloaded files before installation.

The following patch increases Web page loading speed, by doubling the number of possible concurrent open connections. For example, imagine a web page has 20 images and some text - in order for your browser to get all these files, it opens 2 or 4 concurrent connections, depending on the Web server. Increasing the number of open connections allows for faster retrieving of the data. Please note that the patch sets some values outside of the HTML specs. If you decide to install it, backup your Registry first. Changes will take effect after you reboot. Download the patch appropriate for your OS:

Most internet service providers offer a guide on their websites to help you decide, but such recommendations may be an attempt to upsell you on the benefits of faster speeds you might not actually use. We're here to help you understand how much internet you need to pay for.

The Federal Communications Commission defines a connection with speeds of at least 100 megabits per second down and 20Mbps up as a "broadband." For most, this threshold is the bare minimum for sufficient speeds, at least when it comes to the download speeds.

If you plan to connect multiple devices and use a few of them for streaming or gaming, you'll probably want to aim for something a little higher than 100Mbps. With smart home gadgets growing in prevalence and our media consumption increasingly driven by streaming, it makes sense to opt for something above 100Mbps if plans like those are available in your area.

It's also important to note that having a fast internet speeds to the home doesn't guarantee them in the home. Network congestion, poor router placement, interference from nearby networks and other factors can all slow things down.

To find out whether your internet speed is truly to blame, check out our guides on how to test your connection and how to boost it if that seems to be the issue. In some cases, your ISP might be the cause of your slow connectivity. Here's how you can tell.

If you work from home, stream lots of high-resolution videos or regularly game online, you'll likely need more internet speed than someone who casually goes on social media platforms and gets their TV from a cable provider.

Using Wi-Fi is going to cut into your actual speeds, even with a top-of-the-line router. Each connected device will compete for and reduce the available bandwidth, so it's a good idea to opt for a plan with faster speeds than what's recommended for a single activity.

Another important factor to consider in your search for the ideal internet speed is how many users and devices are on your network in a given day. Your household may only consist of one or two people, but it could be hosting 10 to 15 devices (laptops, cellphones, gaming consoles, smart TVs, smart home gadgets, you name it). If you're using these devices consistently, then you'll want to ensure your internet speed has the bandwidth to cover them all.

Video is often the biggest bandwidth hog, so aim for an internet plan that can accommodate your viewing habits. If it's applicable, think of the times you've streamed Netflix or taken a video call from Mom, then imagine everything else that could have been happening on your network at the same time and use the chart above as a rough guide.

For instance, if you live alone and like to tweet about your favorite show on your phone while you stream it in 4K on your TV, you'd want at least 35Mbps for smooth playback and another 10Mbps to keep up the conversation on Instagram. A 50Mbps internet plan might be the minimum for you to be close to your sweet spot.

As you're considering speeds, it's also important to understand the difference between upload and download speeds. The difference is simple -- upload speeds tell you how fast you can send data out to the internet, while download speeds tell you how fast you can pull data from the internet.

Fiber internet typically comes with symmetrical upload and download speeds, but many internet providers offer plans with significantly less upload speed than download speed. With plans like these, the ratio is typically 1Mbps of upload bandwidth for every 10Mbps of download bandwidth.

You'll be using the download side of your connection far more often than upload, so don't feel like you have to upgrade to a plan with faster download speeds than you need just to get faster uploads. Upload speeds come into play when you're videoconferencing, posting to social media or emailing a large attachment, but these tasks don't require a lot of upload speed. In most cases, 20Mbps or less will get the job done.

Data caps are something to look out for while searching for your home's ideal internet speed. Internet data caps are ISP-enforced data usage limits. It's important to consider them as you shop, especially if you use your internet for high-data-usage activities like streaming Netflix or scrolling through social media. Video-heavy use cases like that eat through lots of data, and if you hit the data cap, you'll need to pay extra for an additional allowance. Or, in some cases, face drastically reduced speeds for the remainder of your billing cycle.

Low-speed internet plans -- a 10Mbps DSL connection, for example -- are typically intended for light internet usage, so the data caps that sometimes come with them can be painfully tight. Meanwhile, some providers offer plans with no data caps at all.

If you're unsure whether it's worth paying for a higher data cap or switching to a provider that doesn't use them, check with your ISP to see if they offer any tools to help you track your household's data usage (most do, usually via their app). That'll give you a better sense of how much you need and whether you need to make a change.

Now that you have a general idea of everything that goes into internet plans and the aspects you must consider when choosing one, you are ready to begin your search. If you have further questions about your internet needs, be sure to check out the rest of CNET's broadband coverage.

In all of the cases, I've run as the Administrator/Owner. I've tried both IE and Firefox on both machines and also tried the direct link at On both machines, I've allowed the ActiveX control to do it's thing. On my XP Pro machine, I thought I'd look through the registry for things like Tcp1323Opts and GlobalMaxTcpWindowSize - both keys that had been modified on my Win2k machine. However, I couldn't find anything in the registry for Tcp window size. I'd rather have the Verizon script make the appropriate modifications, but it won't work. Any ideas?

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