Why is Steam only downloading at 18 MB/s?

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TheFlyingByrd Jul 26, 2017 @ 3:54pm

I checked my download speed and it is averaging around 750 mb/s which translate to about 94 MB/s, except steam runs around 16 - 20 MB/s. Sometimes when I first start a download it will say about 50 MB/s and then instantly start dropping until it gets to the 16 -20 range

Anyone know why? I have set my region to the closet one and have no download limit set in my steam settings.

And I am on an ethernet connection.
And I have cleared my download cache

Last edited by TheFlyingByrd; Jul 26, 2017 @ 3:56pm

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Showing 1-8 of 8 comments

Ogami Jul 26, 2017 @ 3:57pm

Around 20 MB/s is the point where download speed on Steam drops off most of the time.
You must remember that there are millions of users downloading and playing games all the time.
They cant reserve that much bandwidth for a single user.
I have seen the speed go up to around 30 MB/s for some users. But that is pretty much only when not many people are online, like late at nights.

You will never get your full 94 MB/s on Steam.

Last edited by Ogami; Jul 26, 2017 @ 3:58pm

TheFlyingByrd Jul 26, 2017 @ 4:00pm

Originally posted by Ogami:
Around 20 MB/s is the point where download speed on Steam drops off most of the time.
You must remember that there are millions of users downloading and playing games all the time.
They cant reserve that much bandwidth for a single user.
I have seen the speed go up to around 30 MB/s for some users. But that is pretty much only when not many people are online, like late at nights.

You will never get your full 94 MB/s on Steam.

Dang, I figured thats what was going on but was hoping to hear different I guess haha.

Well thank you for commenting and confirming that for me

The Giving One Jul 26, 2017 @ 4:19pm

You can try changing download regions to many different places, including ones very far away from you if you want to try that attempt to get better speeds.

Honestly, I would be dancing a jig if I had 18 MB/s here, though.

But that is due to my crappy service, not Steam.

See this if you like...

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2274-IFLV-5334

Also, you may be surprised, but check your manufacturer's website for the motherboard or computer for device driver updates. Especially if you have Windows 10. New updates may be released, and you 'may' get better results with the latest device drivers, especially for NIC(LAN) as long as you stay with ethernet and not use wireless to troubleshoot.

Snapjak Jul 26, 2017 @ 4:23pm

I have no problems getting 50 MB/s when stupid Cox isn't having a hissy fit. Steam is more than capable of utilizing all your download speed assuming everything between you and the server is working properly.

Though some areas just may not be able to get good speeds.

http://store.steampowered.com/stats/content/

TheFlyingByrd Jul 26, 2017 @ 4:53pm

Originally posted by Snapjak:
I have no problems getting 50 MB/s when stupid Cox isn't having a hissy fit. Steam is more than capable of utilizing all your download speed assuming everything between you and the server is working properly.

Though some areas just may not be able to get good speeds.

http://store.steampowered.com/stats/content/

Yea I have AT&T U-Verse and its saying the average is 14 MB/s

And thank you for sharing that link, didn't know about it

BambamPewpew32 Sep 10, 2018 @ 4:03pm

Originally posted by Ogami:
Around 20 MB/s is the point where download speed on Steam drops off most of the time.
You must remember that there are millions of users downloading and playing games all the time.
They cant reserve that much bandwidth for a single user.
I have seen the speed go up to around 30 MB/s for some users. But that is pretty much only when not many people are online, like late at nights.

You will never get your full 94 MB/s on Steam.

but it used to let me download as fast as I wanted