Tweaks For Optimum Internet Connection

[Newby2]

As my name suggests I know next to nothing about the internal workings of a pc. Despite having a fairly good pc I've never been happy that it performs at an acceptable level, but I have no idea how to test its performance.

I have used on-line tests from companies trying to sell their wares and apparently my pc isn't set up to run at its optimum internet speed. Is this a case of the company just selling software or are there things that can be tweaked?

Any advice you can give on setting my pc to work at its optimum level will be gratefully received.

[Urbklr]

Hmmmm, could be BS from random company's

Testing performance can be done with 3Dmark, SuperPI and more, i would list, but my brain isnt with me this mourning..

Edit: Could you list your computer's spec's??

[Jimmy 2004]

For a quick internet connection on XP, take a look at this site and then use the TCP Optimizer from there to tweak all the settings (don't bother applying them all yourself, but read the first link I gave just to understand what's happening and why. Just use TCP Optimizer to work out your MTU and then plug that in to the optimal settings and that's it).

That's all I do, and its the only software that I've found actually helps at all (and I've tried a lot). There are some router settings that might help, but see how you get on with that first. And it doesn't hurt to use CCleaner to remove temporary files and run a defrag every now and then.