So, this is puzzling me a little bit and I'm wondering if any of you can point out what dumb thing I'm not thinking of.
I have a 100megabit internet connection. My router is an 802.11n dual-band 2.4ghz/5ghz Airport Extreme. In my house are 2 MacBook Pros connected via their 802.11ac built-in wifi, 1 Mac Mini connected via gigabit ethernet, and my desktop PC connected via a new Netgear A6200 wifi USB adapter (802.11ac).
Now, obviously all the wifi devices are connecting at 802.11n speeds because that's what my router is.
The MacBooks both, without fail, pull down right around the 100megabits/sec. Both on speedtest.net (95 - 110megabits/sec) and via big downloads (11 - 13 megabytes/sec on Steam). Always. Like, seriously, it's amazing how consistent Comcast is.
BUT, my desktop PC (Windows 8), in the SAME spot that the MacBook pulls down 100megabits/sec (which is about 20 feet from the router), will only get like 30megabits/sec. Speedtest.net is between 28 and 30, like clockwork. Steam downloads are almost always right at 3.5megabytes per second. Also like clockwork. Everything is almost exactly 30% of the speed of the MacBooks.
For reference, the Mac Mini also maxes out the internet connection via ethernet. 100megabits/sec, always, forever, etc.
So, what the hell is up with my Windows machine? Why is it lagging so far behind all my other machines? Am I missing some weird setting in Windows or something?
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The other computers probably aren't using USB, and that would be the thing to eliminate to test if it's a PC/Hardware/Software issue. Try it with a wire and see if it speeds up.
Also front slots are notoriously worse performing in general, though, back slots can sometimes run into interference because they're behind desks and next to walls.
I actually tried front and rear USB ports and got the same results all around. Maybe I should return this dongle and pick up a USB 3.0 one instead.
No, my PC has USB 3.0, but the wifi adapter I bought is only USB 2.0.
Why you so shitty, USB2.0?
This seems kind of stupid.