Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Resolved Question

comp. too slow to access Netflix well

Dec 22, 2014 6:43AM PST

I have a Dell Dimension B110. I have cable ISP testing at delivery of 23.7m but the test program on the Netflix site says I'm only getting 560 to 750kb of speed and the pic and sound are awful. I cannot reasonably watch you tube videos either. If 23.7mb is coming in, why won't the comp. accept it? I've run numerous anti virus programs including malwarebytes and find no infection.

Discussion is locked

TWOBAGGER has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
- Collapse -
Clarification Request
There are too many variables.
Dec 22, 2014 7:00AM PST

You could be on WiFi, there are some hundred models of the B110 but why do you think it's some infection? That is, most folk know when their PC took a hit.
Bob

Best Answer

- Collapse -
try a different browser
Dec 23, 2014 5:35AM PST

my only suggestion would be to try a different browser. also make sure you have the latest silverlight installed. finally make sure your operating system is up to date. Generally speaking, your computer is old, netflix is only as good as the computer it is streaming on.

- Collapse -
old hardware might not work?
Dec 23, 2014 9:30AM PST

I was hoping for some kinda fix but it looks like my computer is too old, too weak and maybe too messed up to operate in todays world. I went looking this afternoon for something new, but ran into something else; I was told the newer stuff runs Windows 8 and that won't be compatable with my HP PhotoSmart C4780 printer and my Mustek MDC5000 camera, is that true? I'm not in a position to buy everything...whew!

- Collapse -
win8 compatible
Dec 23, 2014 9:44AM PST
- Collapse -
you can add Mint 17 MATE
Dec 23, 2014 9:53AM PST

and use it to send jobs to that printer. Might end up liking it for other things.

http://glenburniemd.net/CNET/CNET_HPprinter4700.png

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMHjUqRfmC8

Cheap DVD's


Make your own.

You can run from DVD, or do a "side by side install", or just for printing, install to a Virtual Hard Drive using Windows 8 Hyper V or install Virtual Box free from Oracle and run Mint Linux in it. You'd need to setup shared windows folder to put documents into for printing so Mint could access them if in Virtual Box.

Or, keep your old computer, buy that new computer, put Mint 17 on the old computer to replace the old operating system and be more secure than you've ever been before. You can still then access a shared folder and use Mint to print them if Windows 8 won't install the drivers.

Before giving up on windows 8, try to run the install program for the drivers using compatibility mode in windows 8. In Vista for one device, all I had was windows 2000 install program, but compatibility mode allowed me to install an old PCI 56K modem for someone.

- Collapse -
HUH!
Dec 23, 2014 11:40PM PST

Oh, Lord; I am almost totally ignorant of computer stuff, I haven't the slightest idea what you are talking about. I clicked on the links you provided and just sat here with a glazed look. I gotta get someone who knows what they're doing to help me as I am just flabbergasted. I was told if I get a used or refurbished product with Windows 7 on it, that should recognize my current printer and camera. But then down the road Microsoft is gonna abandon Windows 7 just like it abandoned XP (which is my current system).

- Collapse -
You have a few years yet.
Dec 23, 2014 11:54PM PST
- Collapse -
That worked renegade600 ?????????
Dec 25, 2014 4:46AM PST

That was a suggestion I could actually do. This old machine had IE8 burried deep within, I had put Google Chrome as browser because the IE8 wouldn't scroll on sites like Ebay and wouldn't let me join some other auction type sites. I messed around with this thing and found a link to IE8, clicked on it; and "poof" IE8 was back in full force. With IE8 Netflix works just fine and I can even tolerate Crackle (that was hopeless on Chrome). So now I have two browsers on this old machine, one to scroll thru auction sites and one to watch movies & videos on. Guess I can put off buying a new machine and worrying about printer and camera working in a newer set up. I think this old machine is turning into a poltergeist ! I hear upgrading XP is way above my pay grake.

- Collapse -
Answer
My question to you is...
Dec 22, 2014 8:44AM PST

can you watch "download" video or dvd? If not then maybe the computer just don't have enough horse power. Of course horse power is only one part of the equation.

- Collapse -
further comp. id
Dec 22, 2014 12:18PM PST

If it means anything, what I have is DE051x86 Family 15 model 4 stepping 9, I have no idea what that means but you likely do. The comp. has 2gb ram, that should be enough for movies?? It is ex t r e m e l y slow as tho there is a governer on it. Infection was all I knew to look for. Netflix and the cable co. tell me it's the computers problem, I was hoping someone could tell me what or where to look for the problem

- Collapse -
Family 15 is the very old single core Pentium 4
Dec 22, 2014 12:58PM PST

That is likely just too dated to play streaming movies.

You didn't tell, but did it ever work?
Bob

- Collapse -
this your processor? Almost 3 Ghz?
Dec 23, 2014 9:23PM PST
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/355782-33-processor-family-model-stepping-genuineintel-2793

Let me show you what a single core AMD Sempron 145 running at 2.8 Ghz processor can do online.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpMfT_zgVyI

You will see two 720p streams at the same time, and one 1080p stream, all while the computer was recording it's own 720p video of the desktop capture. You can check the speed on youtube and see it's a 720 capable video. That means basically a measly 2.8 Ghz processor was able to deal with three 720p videos all at the same time. If this was my ISP trying to pass that off on me, I'd be telling them to get stuffed! Especially if all I wanted to do was run just one video stream at the time, at speed. That should run at least one stream and probably two at proper speed. What this means is no guarantee any faster computer will change the situation since more likely it's the download speed from the site. Please see my other post lower about "throttling" by ISP's, especially those with competing services to Netflix.
- Collapse -
Answer
Slow
Dec 22, 2014 11:05PM PST

How are you hooked up and who is your ISP?

- Collapse -
hook up
Dec 23, 2014 3:22AM PST

Yes I am connected thru Service Electric Cable (PennTeleData) As said earlier according to OOKLA speed test, I have 23.6mb coming in but it just seems this comp. won't take that. As said, I only have measured speed on Netflix of 560 to 750kb. For the first year I subscribed to Netflix I had good reception, about 6 mos. ago it just got real bad....then it was ok for about a month, and now its quite bad for I guess a couple months now. The cable co. and Netflix tell me its a computer problem but what should I look for?

- Collapse -
Re: slow
Dec 23, 2014 3:41AM PST

Start looking for a friend with a laptop, so you can compare the speed of your PC with the speed of his laptop. If that is equally slow it't not your PC. If it's much faster, it's your pc. Then boot from a Linux Live disk or USB to see if it is hardware or Windows.

Kees

- Collapse -
Linux is not going to work.
Dec 23, 2014 8:16AM PST

Netflix needs windows explorer.

- Collapse -
Netflix runs on Linux now
Dec 23, 2014 8:32AM PST
- Collapse -
(NT) Oh I got to check out, thanks.
Dec 23, 2014 1:22PM PST
- Collapse -
no it does not
Dec 24, 2014 6:14AM PST

netflix does not need windows explorer. In fact it does not even need windows. it can run in the suggested linux distro without any problems. You also may be confusing windows explorer with internet explorer so you may need to clarify what you are talking about.

- Collapse -
You found it.
Dec 23, 2014 3:44AM PST
https://help.netflix.com/en/node/306 notes 3 megabits for SD content. So at 25% of the speed needed you've found the issue.

Given the age and too many missing details I have to hit pause to wait for more OS and machine details.
Bob
- Collapse -
Excellent example
Dec 23, 2014 6:33AM PST

of why I tell folks to come here and just read whats going on.
Just that little tidbit about Netflix requiring 3mb. is a hit.

Now the real goose chase begins because my curiousity is gonna Nag me to death if I don't understand why ookla say's the OP is getting 27mb and Netflix say's 560 to 750kb. Confused

What's up with that?
Digger

- Collapse -
You have any other streaming device other then...
Dec 23, 2014 6:32AM PST

the computer? That's one way of eliminate the computer.....or not.

- Collapse -
THINK
Dec 23, 2014 7:54AM PST
I have 23.6mb coming in but it just seems this comp. won't take that. As said, I only have measured speed on Netflix of 560 to 750kb.

If you can do a speed measure that high on that computer, why do you think the problem is the computer? It would affect your speedtest too!

Try this instead, change the DNS address on your router to 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 hopefully bypassing the DNS of your ISP and see if the streaming improves. Your ISP may be throttling the Netflix feed and even using another DNS may not solve the problem.

"Hurry, hurry, read all about , Neflix throttled by...." insert your ISP.
- Collapse -
Really!
Dec 23, 2014 8:45AM PST

That's what throttling is ?
I've read about it and heard you guy's talking about it but, this is the first time I could get a picture of it in my mind...
Hey , I'm a slow learner. Blush
Digger

- Collapse -
This is a really good article
Dec 23, 2014 7:33PM PST

I don't do Netflix, but sometimes will use Verizon On Demand online, and they often don't feed direct from Verizon but shunt me off to the main provider of that content like ABC, NBC, CBS, etc. I sign in with Verizon, it sends something to the main provider to send me the content. Maybe all that's due to copyright stuff, or maybe that's how cable TV which has gone online now works. I wonder if they do that to all the providers, not just Netflix? Or when using the internet On Demand it speeds up more?

http://www.extremetech.com/computing/186576-verizon-caught-throttling-netflix-traffic-even-after-its-pays-for-more-bandwidth

Pay for more bandwidth, and still get throttled. One way they mentioned getting around it in here is because the content comes through a different channel, sort of an "end around run" like football, not up the center where Verizon is in control.

- Collapse -
This is a good thread
Dec 23, 2014 8:26PM PST

Easy for newer folks to follow/understand.
Sorry the OP is having this problem but glad I finally understand.
Thanks
Digger