Steam strangling my internet speed

[Mr.Poopybutthole]

So i formatted the pc yesterday and installed steam and I noticed I don't seem to be able to download faster than 3.5 mb/s when in before it used to go faster (that would depend on how much load there is on the steam servers ofcourse).

I have a 100/10 connection

and i did speedtest

this is with a download on steam at 3mb/s
http://i.imgur.com/jRI7lDD.png

and this is when i paused the download

http://i.imgur.com/v1cXw0D.png

Ta emot filer = receiving files, Skicka filer = Sending files
And loading web pages while downloading on steam takes forever

This just started happening after i formatted and installed steam again.

[Mystix]

It could be some Windows settings (if you use Windows that is) that is limiting your connection speed. You could try a free program like TCP Optimizer from SpeedGuide.net that can quickly and easily adjust some various settings that can allow for better internet connection speeds:
http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php
If you want to keep it simple without needing to mess-around with settings you're not sure of, then just run it, choose the "Optimal" setting toward the bottom of the General tab, and "Apply Changes", then close it, then restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Example image here:
http://www.speedguide.net/showpic.php?img=/images/tcp_optimizer/tcpo_v3.png

(Use at your own risk. That being said, I've used this little utility myself without any problems and it does help to "un-throttle" some of the internet-connection-speed that Windows tends to often have in place by default).

[Mr.Poopybutthole]

Hm I'll wait another solution but thanks, It's just steam effecting my internet so it must have something to do with it. I'd rather not reinstall steam again either and then have to download the games at slow speed again =\

[Mystix]

Ok, well if it just seems to be Steam itself, then perhaps Steam is temporarily having slow connection speeds. Or, you may also want to check your Steam Setting to make sure you have it set to allow for faster download speeds... from your Steam Client, top menu click on "Steam", then "Settings", and click on the "Downloads" tab. Now there's a few things there you want to check;

*Where is says "Limit downloads to the following bandwidth", choose "No limit".

* Select a download region closest to the area you live.

* Game Server Browser you can select a higher Max Pings per minute (Automatic usually should be fine though).

"OK" the changes. You may need to restart Steam for any of those changes to take effect.
Good luck.

[Mr.Poopybutthole]

Already have that set, however it's not just effecting steam. It's steam effecting everything else and being slow itself. I need to find like a big torrent file or something and download and test if the same happens then or if it really is just is steam messing up.

[Mystix]

I really can't see how Steam would slow down your whole internet connection (though when it's running, it is taking up some bandwidth in the background). You could try starting Steam in offline mode and see if the results are the same. Not sure what else to suggest. Perhaps someone else may offer some better insight or help, or you may consider contacting Steam Support if you think it's a problem with the Steam Client itself causing it.

[Mr.Poopybutthole]

I know it's weird but i tested it out myself. When I download anything on steam it literally kills my whole connection and it doesn't even download on full speed on steam either.

[Siomai Rice]

You said that you formatted your PC so the settings on Steam turned into "Default".

Try this if it works:
1. Go to Settings
2. Go to the Downloads tab
3. Choose the best download region (closest country to you that has a fast download)

Mine was set to default and my download was single digit downloads like 2.1 KB and when I select the best download region it was up to 487.5 KB.

[Mr.Poopybutthole]

I reinstalled steam and it fixed it.

[Jack Gaming]

i know

[Mr.Poopybutthole]

Well it is back again, I cant get more than 4 mbit download from steam and I have a 100 mbit connection and when it downloads it basically kills my internet, can't even surf on sites.

[Dolphin]

Might as well bump this, I've been experiencing the same problem for the last few months now. Even 1 MB/s download speeds from steam affect my internet negatively. At 2MB/s I've had packets drop out at, 5 MB/s I can't browse anymore and basically everything is undoable. I have a ~95 mbit download speed and I'm able to download at 8~10 MB/s easily from any other sources, so what is causing steam to choke the connection? Feels like it's forcing me to download from many sources simultaneously.

[LokiGold344]

Also have this problem, its like by just opening steam it swallows all the internet connection, before it was only when opening it but now it affects me while its open

[Bad 💀 Motha]

When Steam does downloads, it will most likely use all available bandwidth unless u limit it.
You can limit the download speed in Steam > Settings > Downloads.

When Steam is in an active Window, it can take up quite a bit of resources, try minimizing it or close it. X'ing out Steam window should auto-minimize to taskbar, not actually exit the app.

You can then monitor what it is doing (like downloading for example) by mousing-over the Steam icon in Taskbar when it is minimized. For Discussion board and such things, I would suggest logging into Steam via web browser.

[LokiGold344]

ok, thanks

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Might not be a big deal to most. But if u have alot of various systems trying to surf and such on your home network all at once, might be good idea to limit your download speed in Steam, so it does not hog the connection.

If you have 50 - 105 Mbps ISP download speed, I would suggest trying limits of around 5mb in Steam. Results may vary, and if that not a good speed limit, try others.