How to test Internet download speed from a terminal using Fast (powered by Fast.com) Fast is a simple utility with no dependencies (written in Go) for testing your Internet download speed from a terminal. The tool is powered by the Netflix Fast.com service, and it runs on Linux,.BSD, Mac, and Windows. Method #1: Checking the wireless connection speed using network utility. First, click on Spotlight and type “ network utility “. OR press command + space-bar and type “ network utility “. Make sure you select network utility. Select Info tab and choose Wi-fi (en0 or en1) on the drop-down options. Please note that the Link Speed is your. Spectrum Voice: Price is $12.99/mo when bundled. Taxes, fees and surcharges (broadcast surcharge up to $17.99/mo) extra and subject to change during and after the promotional period; installation/network activation, equipment and additional services are extra. General Terms: INTERNET: Speed based on wired connection and may vary by address.
(First, if yours is an Intel Mac, check that Safari is not running in Rosetta, which is enough to slow it to a crawl.)
Adding DNS codes to your Network Settings, should gives good results in terms of speed-up:
Open System Preferences/Network. Double click on your connection type, or select it in the drop-down menu. Click on TCP/IP and in the box marked 'DNS Servers' enter the following two numbers:
208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220
(An explanation of why that is both safe and a good idea can be read here: http://www.labnol.org/internet/tools/opendsn-what-is-opendns-why-required-2/2587 / )
Whilst in System Preferences/Network you should also turn off 'IPv6' in your preference pane, as otherwise you may not get the full speed benefit (the DNS resolver will default to making SRV queries). If you want to know what IPv6 is:
This is Apple's guidance on iPv6:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/8708.html
Click on Apply Now and close the window.
Restart Safari, and repair permissions.
If that didn't do it, then try this as well:
Empty Safari's cache (from the Safari menu), then close Safari.
Go to Home/Library/Safari and delete the following files:
form values
download.plist
Then go to Home/Library/Preferences and delete
com.apple.Safari.plist
Repair permissions (in Disk Utility).
Start up Safari again, and things should have improved.
Apr 12, 2009 12:48 AM
Whether you're looking to keep your Mac running as efficiently as possible, troubleshooting a slow Mac, or looking to compare Mac speeds with newer models before you make that big purchase, there are a number of ways to test performance and run Mac speed tests.
Fortunately, there are many tools and apps available to help run Mac speed tests for various components including the central processing unit (CPU), hard drives, and graphic processing unit (graphics card).
How to run a Mac speed test
First, choose what element of your computer you want to test. We're going to run through the three most common tests and give you some helpful information on each testing method and what the results mean.
- CPU speed test
- Hard drive speed test
- Graphics card performance test
Top tip: Before you run any test make sure you don't have any other programs running to get the most accurate results.
Run a CPU Mac speed test
There are a number of ways to find out your processor speed in order to gauge your Mac's power. The good news is there are plenty of third-party apps available that can test and report the processing speed of your Mac (e.g. iBench). Typically, the software will run a series of standard everyday tasks designed to simulate real-world applications. These tests can take from 30 seconds to 20 minutes depending on your CPU and the software you're using.
Once completed, most tests will allocate a score based on your Mac's performance. There are two main scores to take into consideration once you have completed a test - single-core score and multi-core score. The single-core score shows how your CPU performs using only a single processor, and the multi-core test result shows how your CPU performs when it is pushed to the limit or under strain.
Once you have completed these tests, you can check results based on benchmark results for a range of default CPU makes and models. You can also benchmark against the latest Macs, making this test useful to compare the central processor before you decide what you need and upgrade to a newer model.
Run a Mac speed test of your hard drive
You might also want to measure your hard drive to see what it is capable of. Again, using a third-party tool to determine your hard drive speed is the best way to gather accurate information. Fortunately, there are plenty of free apps available on the App Store to accurately test the speed of your hard disk. One of the most popular on the App Store at the moment is the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test. It will give you detailed, easy-to-read results like how fast videos and apps will load.
If you're looking to clean up your hard disk space, using software such as CCleaner for Mac is a great way to remove unwanted data and unused files, preserving valuable hard disk space, speeding up your machine.
How To Check Download Speed Pc
Run a Mac speed test of your graphics card
There are a number of great apps available to test your graphics card performance. A good piece of free software is Maxon's Cinebench which will test your Mac's CPU and graphics card simultaneously. It's not available on the App Store but you can find it on Maxon's website.
How To Check Download Speed On Mac
It's a good idea to run multiple tests using different third-party tools to get a good cross-sample of results. We hope that once you run your tests the results aren't too far from what you expected. Remember to benchmark them against the exact model you are considering buying if you are upgrading.
When you do upgrade, it's a good idea to install CCleaner for Mac straight away to help keep your Mac free of clutter and working its best.
If your results show your Mac is running slower than average and you want to speed it up, read our article on how to speed up your Mac. We have a few tips and tricks that should have it running faster in no time at all.