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Question re: Internet speeds

Home ▸ Archive ▸ Serious Business ▸ Question re: Internet speeds
Scarlet_Buckeye's avatar

Scarlet_Buckeye

Senior Member

5,264 posts
May 14, 2012 11:12 AM
Hello Chatter,

I'm in the market for purchasing a cable & internet bundle for my new apartment. My question is, what level/speeds do I really need for the internet. I realize it depends on what exactly I plan on doing. Well, I plan on doing minor gaming with my PS3, most browsing the web on my iPad or notebook, and occasionally downloading some music.

So... my question is... what do you recommend for my needs?
  • 1.5 Mbps
  • 3 Mbps
  • 6.0 Mbps
  • 22 Mbps
  • 31 Mbps
Thanks in advance!
May 14, 2012 11:12am
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
May 14, 2012 11:16 AM
First check to see if you can steal if from a neighbor.

after that...I have no idea.
May 14, 2012 11:16am
Mooney44Cards's avatar

Mooney44Cards

Senior Member

2,754 posts
May 14, 2012 11:20 AM
Shave about 30% off of all those speeds and you'll get some idea of what you'll actually be getting. 22 sounds good, but it probably depends on what sort of games you're playing on PS3. But as far as web browsing, even 3mb/s would be fine.
May 14, 2012 11:20am
G

gut

Senior Member

15,058 posts
May 14, 2012 11:26 AM
1.5mbs is SLOW. VERY slow. Most web content take frustratingly long to load (ok, only several extra seconds but if you do a lot of surfing it's irritating).

Netflix requires 8-9mbps to stream HD video. If you're a gamer, I'd imagine that's what you're looking at but I don't know.

20+ mbps is mostly overkill. If you're going to have multiple users on your connection (i.e. a family) then that's probably what you need. For a single user, it's paying more for useless bandwidth IMO. I'd also say that, in my experience, most web pages (and many file d/l's, at least from non-torrent sites) only transmit between 3-6mbps.

I'd give the 6mbps a shot and if it's too slow for gaming you can always upgrade. Also see if there is a cable sales rep serving your home/area. They often have great deals on bundled packages and you might be able to get that 22mbps connection for the same price as the 3 or 6.
May 14, 2012 11:26am
M

MontyBrunswick

May 14, 2012 12:05 PM
6Mbps is sufficient for you.

I have 30Mbps/10Mbps because I'm a boss
May 14, 2012 12:05pm
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
May 14, 2012 12:14 PM
Basically he really just wants to know what speed does he need to have to stream porn without having it buffer
May 14, 2012 12:14pm
McFly1955's avatar

McFly1955

Senior Member

1,441 posts
May 14, 2012 12:27 PM
If you have a hard wired console, you could get away with 3 mbps (I had 2 for awhile). 6mbps should definitely cover you for your needs.

I would probably go for the 6 if I were you.
May 14, 2012 12:27pm
M

MontyBrunswick

May 14, 2012 12:29 PM
McFly1955;1170254 wrote:If you have a hard wired console, you could get away with 3 mbps (I had 2 for awhile). 6mbps should definitely cover you for your needs.

I would probably go for the 6 if I were you.

Hard wired or not wouldn't make a difference.
May 14, 2012 12:29pm
Commander of Awesome's avatar

Commander of Awesome

Senior Pwner

23,151 posts
May 14, 2012 12:32 PM
Might want to look into a T5 connection. (lol I remember back in the late 90s a friend of mine got a T1 connection and I thought it was the most boss shit ever.).
May 14, 2012 12:32pm
W

WebFire

Go Bucks!

14,779 posts
May 14, 2012 1:44 PM
I agree that 6 Mbps will be fine, even for gaming and Netflix.
May 14, 2012 1:44pm
W

WebFire

Go Bucks!

14,779 posts
May 14, 2012 1:45 PM
Commander of Awesome;1170256 wrote:Might want to look into a T5 connection. (lol I remember back in the late 90s a friend of mine got a T1 connection and I thought it was the most boss shit ever.).
It was the boss shit. Still is used a lot for business. A 1.5 Mbps T1 is not the same as a residential 1.5 Mbps cable or DSL.
May 14, 2012 1:45pm
ohiobucks1's avatar

ohiobucks1

USA American

4,915 posts
May 14, 2012 2:23 PM
My internet says 65 MPbs but it doesn't seem all that fast... whats the deal?
May 14, 2012 2:23pm
M

MontyBrunswick

May 14, 2012 2:39 PM
ohiobucks1;1170466 wrote:My internet says 65 MPbs but it doesn't seem all that fast... whats the deal?
http://speedtest.net
May 14, 2012 2:39pm
ohiobucks1's avatar

ohiobucks1

USA American

4,915 posts
May 14, 2012 2:41 PM
My computer lies! Its only at 15.5 not 65!!!
May 14, 2012 2:41pm
M

MontyBrunswick

May 14, 2012 2:42 PM
65Mbps is a random speed, I'm willing to bet you have no idea what you're talking about.

What is your provider?
May 14, 2012 2:42pm
ohiobucks1's avatar

ohiobucks1

USA American

4,915 posts
May 14, 2012 2:43 PM
dlazz;1170510 wrote:65Mbps is a random speed, I'm willing to bet you have no idea what you're talking about.

What is your provider?
Dude I'm looking at my Wireless Network Connection Status right now:


Speed: 65.0 Mbps

That website says 15.44Mbps
May 14, 2012 2:43pm
M

MontyBrunswick

May 14, 2012 2:44 PM
ohiobucks1;1170515 wrote:Dude I'm looking at my Wireless Network Connection Status right now:


Speed: 65.0 Mbps

That website says 15.44Mbps
That is the connection between your computer and the router. It does NOT equal internet speed.

I'm willing to bet you have a Road Runner Turbo connection, which is 15Mbps/1Mbps
May 14, 2012 2:44pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
May 14, 2012 2:50 PM
I haven't check our connection at home in a while so I have no idea what it is. Just did a speed test at work and we're at 2.42 up/0.68 down. Just awful.
May 14, 2012 2:50pm
M

MontyBrunswick

May 14, 2012 2:55 PM
Work:


Home:
May 14, 2012 2:55pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
May 14, 2012 2:57 PM
dlazz;1170553 wrote:Work:


Home:


We get a D. Unfortunately it is our only option unless we lock in to a 3 year contract at $260/month with Cincinnati Bell for fiber in order for them to bring it to our area.
May 14, 2012 2:57pm
M

MontyBrunswick

May 14, 2012 2:58 PM
We have fiber here. It's still got nothing on OSU though. I used to get some hellaciously awesome speeds there.
May 14, 2012 2:58pm
chicago510's avatar

chicago510

Original Chatterer

5,728 posts
May 14, 2012 3:04 PM
justincredible;1170561 wrote:

We get a D. Unfortunately it is our only option unless we lock in to a 3 year contract at $260/month with Cincinnati Bell for fiber in order for them to bring it to our area.

You don't have FiOps by you? I get standard cable and 10mbps for $65.
May 14, 2012 3:04pm
M

MontyBrunswick

May 14, 2012 3:09 PM
chicago510;1170582 wrote:You don't have FiOps by you? I get standard cable and 10mbps for $65.
They may have a business line. ISP's love to hose business-class users on speeds/cost ratio.
May 14, 2012 3:09pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
May 14, 2012 3:12 PM
chicago510;1170582 wrote:You don't have FiOps by you? I get standard cable and 10mbps for $65.
Nope.
May 14, 2012 3:12pm
W

WebFire

Go Bucks!

14,779 posts
May 14, 2012 3:23 PM
justincredible;1170561 wrote:

We get a D. Unfortunately it is our only option unless we lock in to a 3 year contract at $260/month with Cincinnati Bell for fiber in order for them to bring it to our area.
How many users? Remember, home and business internet is NOT the same thing. 2.42 might not be so bad.
May 14, 2012 3:23pm