Download speed to router 260Mbps, router to PC 95Mbps - what issues on Inspiron could cause this

Double thanks!

I got a new ethernet cable when setting up the Inspiron, but can believe I might not have got top quality.

Will definite try this first before trying to get my head around NIC - which I was baffled by in suggestions that this would need to be adjusted (?) on other threads.

(I had already tried the unplugging cables etc..)

If you have either 13th or 14th Gen Intel CPU in this PC, have you updated to latest BIOS 1.18.0?  This update is supposed to fix Intel's problems with 13th/14th Gen CPUs.  Follow the instructions for Updating the BIOS from BIOS Boot Menu (independent of operating system) on that page. Always safer to update BIOS entirely outside Windows, rather then using SupportAssist or doing it manually yourself inside Windows.

If you have a Killer WiFi card (yes, I meant Killer WiFi) installed, click Start>Run>services.msc and click ok. When that opens, scroll down the list, open each Killer (and xTend, if any) service listed, and change the Startup type to disabled.  Those Killer services can affect ethernet speeds, and you don't need any of them for either ethernet or WiFi. Then close services.msc

If SmartByte software is running (factory installed by Dell), disable or uninstall it so it won't load every time you boot the PC.

Reboot PC when that's all done and see if things improve.

Just to say I am going to send for a better standard of cable rather than picking up some generic one locally as I see suggestion was for G6  or 7. Are shorter ones more reliable? Thanks.

As I am not using WiFi not sure about info about that but will look into. My Dell is only connected via cable.

I did do - or got an automated message to do an update but will check if there has been another update since then (about a month).

But just to add a couple of oddities. Suddenly yesterday evening I was getting the promised speed on my computer.

And again today when I first switched on. But then when running a second test (rather than the one my provider offers, I got a break in my internet connection ie no internet at all and when it came back speed on the computer had dropped from 260 to 94.

Also which I hadn't really looked at before sometimes the light by the ethernet port is green and sometimes orange. Is this significant?

Counter intuitively I seem to get the higher speed when orange rather than green.

Just wondering about the port itself as I found (which I later saw on web sites many others had done) that the hdmi port on a brand new Inspiron was really clichy. In the end I followed a suggestion on a thread I started for that and adpater so as to be able to plug the hdmi cable into the dp port. Since then no problems.

Sorry for non technical language!

my long cable has no issue going from one floor to another floor while maintaining 850-960 Mbps.

LAN port flashing different color of light is normal.  no worries.

@redxps630​ Thanks - just hoping it turns out to be as simple as getting a better cable.

@IrememberDOS​ Have just seen on another forum that green light indicates port is operational at 1Gbps and amber means operational at 100Mbps.

Another company, ie not Dell, but is this industry standard?

flash light at LAN port is industry standard.  I do not know the details of this but IT typically uses speed test software for UL DL speed and not differentiate at the LAN port.

@IrememberDOS  - I only use ethernet, but every time Intel updates the Killer software, my ethernet speed drops because the updates re-enable all Killer (and xTend) services in services..msc. This only matters to you if you have a Killer WiFi card, which is one of the WiFi cards Dell installed in your PC model.  You get Killer software updates via Windows Update regardless of whether an installed Killer WiFi card is used or not. So just look in services.msc to see if any Killer services are listed, or not.

My PC is connected to ethernet with a 6' CAT6 ethernet cable with no problems.  You should be able to check the link speed, the communication speed between your PC and router.  Open Windows Network Connections screen. Click the button that says Ethernet and when that opens, you want to see 1000/1000, which is the max speed the ethernet can communicate with the router. If you're getting 1000/1000 then it's seems unlikely to be a problem on your side and you'll have to discuss further with your ISP (eg, a bum router..?)

My Network Connections screen looks like this (NOTE: "Network 3" is the name of my network connection so yours will say something else.). Just look under Properties for your link speeds.

Just came back to say problem solved!

It was in fact as suggested that the ethernet cable (which had been ok) for some reason no longer was.

New cable has solved the problem.

And in fact I wouldn't have need to come and ask the question here is my internet providers so called online support and analysis of problems wasn't so cr*p!

ie if it showed that there can be a difference between the speed to the router and the router to the device. And steps you can take to resolve it

But appreciate suggestions and information.

I've certainly learned something.

One of which is never to take the "explanation" of my internet provider as being the best.

Unfortunately, like many others, they have farmed this out to so remote service which employs people, who probably could be competent, but are instead told to only work off a standard crib sheet.