Not getting the most out of my network?

[imported_browsing]

This is probably a silly question but it's been bugging me for a while. I've got a computer with a 1000mbit card in it and a laptop with a 100mbit, but I can't seem to get network transfer speeds higher than 6Mb/s between them. Do I need a better cat5 cable or something?

There isn't a router between the two or anything like that (I know most consumer routers can't handle higher speeds) so what am I missing? Or am I just looking for too much speed?

 

[JackMDS]

When a 1000Mb/sec. is connected to 100Mb/sec. it works as a 100Mb/sec.

6MB/sec. is a good "Speed" with a 100Mb/sec. Laptop.

http://www.ezlan.net/net_speed.html

In order to work at 1000M/sec. each computer should have 1000Mb/sec. card, and if the computers are connected to a switch it has to be 1000Mb/sec. switch.

Home Giga Network: http://www.ezlan.net/giga.html

Giga networking - http://www.ezlan.net/giga_net.html

 

[imported_browsing]

That's what I was wondering. I knew I couldn't go beyond the 100 cap, I just thought I might be able to get higher than the 6MB/s that I've been getting. If it's as good as it gets, I'll deal.

 

[spidey07]

Notice the difference between little b and Big B. b = bits, B = bytes.

If you're getting 6 Mbs then that's very poor and an indication of a cabling problem or something else. If you're getting 6 MBs that's "ok" but it should be higher. Make sure you leave the speed/duplex speeds of both nics to auto.

 

[spikespiegal]

6 megaBYTES per second woulnd't shock me given how laptops use power saving NICs, chipsets, and lower RPM drives. The problem is made worse if you're running Windows and pushing files because of SMB overhead. I would suspect that pulling data on the laptop is a bit faster.

These things aren't meant to be file servers.

 

[Madwand1]

The Netgear GA511 cardbus gigabit adapter is available on eBay/clearance, and could get you over the 100 Mb/s network bottleneck (assuming your laptop has an available compatible slot). It's Realtek-based (last I checked), and not the greatest performer, but fast enough to hit 20-30 MB/s in theory. I was able to do this in synthetic tests, but was bottlenecked by the old/crowded laptop HD which capped at around 10 MB/s (!).