Steam Downloading Starts and Stops

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alan Aug 22, 2013 @ 12:52pm

Steam Downloading Starts and Stops

Basically, when updating or downloading a new game, it begins downloading, but then slows down and stops. Then starts up again so it ends up looking like this:
http://puu.sh/48iHj.jpg

My connection is slow, but while doing direct downloads off the web, or anywhere else for that matter, it is a constant speed. This only happens with Steam. I've also tried changing which server to connect too, nothing.

Any guidance? Cheers.

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Showing 1-15 of 274 comments

Tyrannis Aug 22, 2013 @ 1:25pm

Yeah mine keeps doing that. It never used to but I noticed over the last few days it has. At the moment it's either 59kb/s or 108kb/s. The peak rate is 4.9MB/s however. I've done speed tests and ping tests and it seems like I have a stable connection.

alan Aug 23, 2013 @ 1:07pm

Originally posted by Smurfy:
Yeah mine keeps doing that. It never used to but I noticed over the last few days it has. At the moment it's either 59kb/s or 108kb/s. The peak rate is 4.9MB/s however. I've done speed tests and ping tests and it seems like I have a stable connection.

This has been happening to me for awhile now, and as I say, my connection I normally get a stable 100KB's constant DL speed on everything, just steam it starts and stops. Super weird.

mAsteRminD Aug 23, 2013 @ 1:11pm

I have a good connection and that happens too. That because of Valve servers :C

alan Aug 23, 2013 @ 1:23pm

So Googling shows it's happening to lots of others too but there's still no solid answer or solution which sucks. Be nice to download at a constant speed for all games rather than on-off.

Tyrannis Aug 23, 2013 @ 1:31pm

Agreed, sometimes it's great. Other times it's all over the place.

Gork3n Aug 23, 2013 @ 2:26pm

Try limiting your broadband by going to Steam > Settings > Downloads (tab) > and limit it respectfully. If you only get 15 Mbps download speeds then limit it under it. What I have found that the limit has to be significantly under you speeds. For example where I live I can only get 15 Mbps download so I have to limit the bandwidth to 512 kbps. Also you may want to change your download region (when in doubt go with dallas in the US).

Other things you may want to do include contacting your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Do a Throttle test on the internet. Check your network drivers or switch from wireless connection to wired if you use wireless. I'll post back on here again once I find some more options or possibly a solution to the issue.

alan Aug 23, 2013 @ 2:31pm

Originally posted by Chiisu:
Try limiting your broadband by going to Steam > Settings > Downloads (tab) > and limit it respectfully. If you only get 15 Mbps download speeds then limit it under it. What I have found that the limit has to be significantly under you speeds. For example where I live I can only get 15 Mbps download so I have to limit the bandwidth to 512 kbps. Also you may want to change your download region (when in doubt go with dallas in the US).

Other things you may want to do include contacting your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Do a Throttle test on the internet. Check your network drivers or switch from wireless connection to wired if you use wireless. I'll post back on here again once I find some more options or possibly a solution to the issue.

Tried limiting to around 100, then 500KB's. I usually get 100 but have seen it peak to 500, neither worked. As said, I've also changed my reigion, still nothing.

I'm not throttled, and can't switch between wireless to wired, but from a quick Google, others who're having the same issue, still had the problem occur when switching regardless.

Gork3n Aug 23, 2013 @ 2:32pm

Yeah I know I'm having the issue right now I just know that these methods have worked for others. None of them have worked for me either. Still looking though, I'll let you all know.

OhFiend Aug 23, 2013 @ 2:43pm

BillydaCatt Aug 23, 2013 @ 2:48pm

Ty!

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Gork3n Aug 23, 2013 @ 8:36pm

So from what I'm reading around the interwebs. The issue is when you are connecting to the game servers it is over saturating the router. Try going to Steam > Settings > Download (tab) and lowering the game server browser from what it is at. I just lowered mine to 1500 and will try that out for a day or so and let you all know if it helps. By default this setting should be at Automatic (3000).

Last edited by Gork3n; Aug 23, 2013 @ 8:36pm

#11