Hardware Limitations

hardwareintermediate
equipment bottleneckspeed constraints

Constraints on internet speed imposed by the capabilities of network equipment such as modems, routers, network cards, or cables.

Examples

Old router

802.11n router caps speed at 450 Mbps even with gigabit internet

Ethernet cable

Cat5 cable limited to 100 Mbps, need Cat5e or Cat6 for gigabit

Optimization Tips

Upgrade router if more than 3-4 years old

high impact

Use Cat6 cables for future-proofing

medium impact

Check network card supports your internet speed

high impact

Related Terms