Why Your Gigabit Internet is Showing Up as 100MB
Fiber-optic Internet is renowned for being incredibly fast and strong enough to withstand greater distances than its counterparts, but it is also notorious for running into issues. The benefits of fiber-optic Internet far outweigh the drawbacks, though it can be frustrating when it does not work to its full capabilities.
One common problem arises when your Internet connection does not run as fast as it should. Now and then, gigabit-capable connections only show up as running at 100MB. There are a few causes for this occurrence, as well as a couple good solutions. Though it can wear on your nerves, tackling the problem is not entirely difficult and can potentially be resolved in a short amount of time.
Why Your Speed Might Be Suffering
Sometimes, the cables are not the issue when it comes to speed slowdowns. Other things might factor into the problem, so, it’s imperative that you cover all your bases and ensure everything is operating as it should.
One thing that you should keep in mind is the age of your computer, too – if it is very old, there is a chance that it will not be able to support the high speeds offered by fiber-optic Internet. If your computer is newer, you may have a different problem. Before you write the problem off as fiber-optic cables, you need to check for basic issues that could cause upset but are easily resolved.
1. Check Your Ethernet Ports
Once again, the age of your devices might play a part in their ability to run high-speed Internet, meaning that older devices may not function as well as newer ones would. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to run at gigabit speeds, but it might make it more difficult to fix the problem.
You need to check your router’s ethernet ports to make sure they support gigabit connections. Those numbers should be listed conveniently, near the ports. Most newer routers can adapt to faster speeds.
2. Take Note of Running Programs
The more programs you have running on your computer, the slower your computer will run in general. This rule stands true no matter what kind of connection you have. It is always best to close out of programs that you are not using rather than allowing them to hide untouched in the background.
In order to open your Task Manager, hold down the buttons CTRL+ALT+DEL. This action will bring you to a screen with numerous options. Click the one that says, “Task Manager.” It should pull up a window that looks something like this:
The programs listed will vary depending on what you have running at the moment. If you want to close out of a program, the action is as simple as clicking on the one you wish to close, thus highlighting it like how the Sticky Notes program is highlighted, and click “End Task.” Easy!
3. Lack of a Connection
It is possible that the connection isn’t going through. There could be a break in the connection somewhere along the line, and the issue could lie with your router, computer, or even the Internet Service Provider. For whatever reason, something is not allowing the connection through – causing problems for you when you try to operate at high speeds.
Possible Solutions for Faster Internet Speeds
Luckily, there are a few solutions to fix this problem. Even if your connection is only running at 100MB/s, it is likely that it can run at 1GB/s, just as you want it to run.
1. Identify and Repair Network Problems
Check the speed your connection is currently running at, if you have not already. Finding this information could not be easier, so, it is important that you are checking in the right place. Open your Control Panel, go to the category “Network and Internet,” then “Network Connections.” Your screen should appear something like the image below:
From here, you will see your connections and manage them as you see fit. You can click on any of the connections to see their current operating speed, as well as other details about each connection.
You can see, under “Speed,” how fast your connection is currently able to run. In this example, the speed of this connection is 260MB/s. Your connection may display something similar, but a fiber-optic connection capable of running 1GB/s should have a much higher speed.
Your next option is to test and troubleshoot your connection. You can find the option to test your Internet connection under the Settings window. From there, click the “Troubleshooting” tab, and you should be confronted with the following window.
Next, click the highlighted button that says, “Run the troubleshooter.” This action will bring up a new, smaller window that will run through your Internet connection and ensure everything is moving along smoothly on that side of things. Hopefully, the results will show that nothing is wrong and your connection will return to normal, but if an issue does pop up, you will have the option to fix things from there.
2. Invest in a Stronger Cable
Certain ethernet cables support high fiber-optic speeds better than others. Cables come in all varieties and qualities, though it seems like the bare minimum for running connections as fast as 1GB/s is a Cat5e cable. You can, of course, move up to a Cat6 cable, but you must have at least a Cat5e in order to run at the speed you would like. If you do not have the proper cable, acquiring one could be a solution to the slow speed you are experiencing with your fiber-optic Internet.
A direct connection from your computer to your router is always the best option, as it allows for no interference and gives the most direct route to the higher speeds that you desire.
3. Update Your Outdated Drivers
Drivers are essential to the health of your computer. If you have outdated or “plug-n-play” drivers, your Gigabit network card may be only operating at 100mb/s. Drivers ensure that everything operates well behind the scenes and that all devices and accessories are working to the best of their ability.
The easiest way to get to your Device Manager is simply to type “drivers” in the search bar and look for the highlighted option.
This action will take you to a screen with a list of devices – and all of them use drivers to ensure that they are running properly. In this list, you will find an option called “Network adapters.” This category is where you need to look in order to find out if your drivers need to be updated.
Your connection should pop up on this list. From there, you can click on it and check the “Drivers” tab to ensure that your driver is up to date. If you have the option to update your driver, you should take it, because an outdated and faulty driver could be the one thing standing between you and a connection as strong and as speedy as the one you have been hoping for.
Never Miss an Update with Driver Support
Instead of manually checking your devices periodically to make sure the drivers are up to date and working, you can download Driver Support’s software. Upon installation, it will determine what devices require a driver, and once it is registered, it will automatically search for driver updates and do the work for you. Automatic updates to your drivers ensure that you do not have a thing to worry about and that you can carry on relying on your computer, without worry.
If hunting down outdated drivers sounds like too much work, Give DriverSupport | ONE a try today!
