Optimize Your BitTorrent Download Speed
BitTorrent can be fun, as long as you get decent speeds. Not satisfied with your current speeds? These suggestions might help to optimize your download pleasure
1. Hack the max half-open TCP connections
If you’re on XP sp2, your TCP connections are limited to a maximum of 10. This might hurt your downloading speed because it wont let you connect to as much peers as you want. It is supposed to slow down viruses because their spreading strategy is to connect to a high amount of ip numbers, but it could cripple your torrent downloads.
A nice way to fix this is to download this patch.
Note: Some people report that their antivir reports the patch to be a Virus, This is not the case. Check out http://www.lvllord.de/ for more details on this
The patch allows you to set the maximum allowed connections to any number you want. Any number between 50 and 100 is ok (more is NOT always better).
Next you need to configure your torrent client to allow 50-100 max half-open TCP connections
uTorrent: Options > Preferences > Advanced options > net.max_halfopen
Bitcomet: Options > Preferences > Connection > max half-open TCP
Now you’re ready to go…
A third point of interest is that some “windows updates” revert your tweaked tcp connections back to 10. So it’s wise to check this every now and then. You can check this by going to (in windows xp) Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer > System… Look for event 4226 (sort by event).
For more details about Windows XP SP2 and Event ID 4226 read David Kaspar’s excellent post
If there are a lot of daily occurences it’s likely that the max amount of half-open tcp connections was set back to 10. Or you’re infected with some nasty spyware…
2. Torrent Client Configuration
In order to apply these tips you need to know your maximum up- and download speed. You can test your bandwidth over here (stop all download activity while testing). Also make sure that you applied the tips provided in our previous posts.
Note that there’s a difference between kb/s (kilobits/second) and kB/s (kilobytes/second). To be precise, kB/s = kb/s divided by 8. In this tutorial we use kB/s (like most torrent clients do). This means that you might need to calculate your max speed in kB/s yourself if the speedtest only gives you the results in kb\s (so divide by 8 then).
Settings 1-4 can be found in the options, settings or preference tab of most torrent clients.
1. Maximum upload speed
Probably the most important setting there is. Your connection is (sort of) like a pipeline, if you use you maximum upload speed there’s not enough space left for the files you are downloading. So you have to cap your upload speed.
Use the following formula to determine your optimal upload speed…
80% of your maximum upload speed
so if your maximum upload speed is 40 kB/s, the optimal upload rate is 32kB/s
But keep seeding!
2. Maximum download speed
Although setting your maximum download speed to unlimited may sound interesting, in reality it will only hurt your connection. If you still want to be able to browse properly, set your maximum download speed to:
95% of your maximum download speed
so if your maximum download speed is 400 kB/s, the optimal download speed is 380kB/s
3. Maximum connected peers per torrent
Yet another setting that you don’t want to max out. I experimented quite a lot with the max connected peers settings and came to the conclusion that both high and low number hurt the download speed of a torrent. The following setting worked best for me.
upload speed * 1.3
so if your maximum upload speed is 40 kB/s, the optimal amount of connected peers per torrent is
40 * 1.3 = 52
I didn’t noticed a difference for fast or slow connections here.
4. Maximum upload slots
1 + (upload speed / 6)
so if your maximum upload speed is 30 kB/s, the optimal number of upload slots is
1 + (30 / 6) = 6
3. More Tips
Check seeds and peers
A simple tip, but very important. Always look for torrents with the best seed/peer ratio. The more seeds (compared to peers) the better (in general). So 50 seeds and 50 peers is better than 500 seeds and 1000 peers. So, be selective.
Change the default port.
By default, BitTorrent uses a port 6881-6999. BitTorrent generates a lot traffic (1/3), so isp’s like to limit the connection offered on the these ports. So, you should change these to another range. Good clients allow you to do this, just choose anything you like. If you’re behind a router, make sure you have your ports forwarded (portforward.com) or UPnP enabled.
Disable Windows Firewall
It sucks. Windows Firewall hates P2P and often leads a life of it’s own. So disable it and get yourself a decent (free) firewall, Kerio or Zone Alarm for example.
Turn on Encryption
Encrypting your torrents will prevent throttling ISP’s from limiting your BitTorrent traffic. Check out how to enable encryption in Azureus, uTorrent, and Bitcomet, the three most popular torrent clients.
Optimize your internet connection
The TCP optimizer is a freeware utility that optimizes your internet connection. I found it very useful and it helped speeding up my connection for regular internet activity and for downloading torrents. Just download it, and move the slidebar to your maximum download rate (note that it’s in kb/s). Don’t try to set it higher because that will hurt your download speeds!
Last but not least… Buy a faster connection…
Happy Torrenting!
(this post is a compilation of previous “speed up” posts)
Previously: Sealand on Fire
Next: Pirates On The Loose
276 Responses (Add yours or TrackBack)
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I have 200 in max half open on my computer buth on torrent is 43 i have there :D
F..k, that was a backdoor hacking tool virus, i scanned it with f-secure 2006!
Don’t install guys…
and remember… Don’t fuck with the WINDOWS folder!
For crying out loud, here are the FACTS:
The lvllord.de patch IS NOT A VIRUS. There is nothing malicious about it whatsoever. Anti-virus programs don’t like it because once your system is patched, worms can spread much faster than with only 10 max half-open connections.
Windows XP and SP1 are not limited to 10 half-open connections. This was introduced with SP2.
Only download the patch from http://www.lvllord.de because there are altered versions out there that DO include viruses and/or malware.
Elistas
I am so confussed on how to set my upload and download speed on bittorrent!
First off how do i calculate my speed…. i mean is there a site that does this for you, is it in a manual i dont own?
Q.. How do you find out your maxium upload and download speed????
[quote comment="13381"]I am so confussed on how to set my upload and download speed on bittorrent!
First off how do i calculate my speed…. i mean is there a site that does this for you, is it in a manual i dont own?
Q.. How do you find out your maxium upload and download speed????[/quote]
The website of your Internet provider should list your connection speed. For example, I use Shaw High-Speed Internet and at their site (http://www.shaw.ca/en-ca/ProductsServices/Internet/) it shows that my max download speed is 5Mb/s and my max upload speed is 512Kb/s.
If their website doesn’t show your speeds, you can call them to find out. But it’s not really that important to have the correct settings in your BitTorrent client. Just set it to the closest of what you think it might be.
Elistas
I just got Bit Tornado and im wondering why my torrents download so slow..they download like at 0kb-1kb-2kb a second. 2kb if im lucky..whats tha deal? I have cablespeed internet too. Can someone help me out here. The seeds and leechers are both pretty high..
Hi this may be a stupid question but I need help!!
On my first torrent download I was getting a 64kb/s download but I went to make another download the day after and only got 2-3kb/s WHY??
Please help!!
You probably already mentioned how to to do this, but how would you encrypt the files on just the regular Bittorrent Client?
Best site in bleep! My thnx to webmasters.
Thanks for nice and actual info’ Be the Best!
Appreciate it men!
Hey Ernesto or others: I am experiencing drastic flucuating Byte rates within Azureus. I can not hold a steady rate, it constantly flucuates from ~120kB/s down to 0 kB/s. Typically, it will stay at 0 kB/s for 10-20 secs. then start to climb, hold for about 5 secs at 50 - 100 kB/s then gradually shoot back to 0, then repeat the cycle. Is this normal? If not, any suggestions? It is consistant with every download, regardless of seeds vs. leeches (although this matters!). I am using Azureus with a speakeasy.net tested Download speed of 8600 kbite = 1075 kByte/sec and an Upload speed of 529 kbite/sec = 66k Bytes/sec. I am on port 1720, and have followed all your recommended ratios. I have windows set to handle 100 connections. Thanks in advance and great work!
what if my univrsity dont allow bittorent (or any P2P prog) to be run? coz its like the p2p app has been blocked and the download will not start even when the seeders are plenty.. can any1 help me?
wow this certainly helped alot. very much appreciated
Great guide! But I got one question.
What about the “Global maximum number of connections:” setting in uTorrent?
nice artical. My download speed went from 5kbs to 150kbs after I did all of these settings. lmfao thanks
ey mates i tried all of the above steps to make my dl’s faster but it made it slower?!? did i do anything wrong? i used to be able to dl at around 50kB now im down to 1 please help
[quote comment="11775"]Can we get a definitve answer as to which one of these is correct?
kb/s = kB/s multiplied by 8″
kB/s = kb/s divided by 8″
or
kb/s = kB/s * 8,192
kB/s = kb/s / 8,192[/quote]
Officially, 1 kB/s = 8 kb/s. Therefore:
kb/s = kB/s multiplied by 8″
kB/s = kb/s divided by 8″
If you still don’t believe me check the google converter, type this in: 1 kB to kb
Wow the speeds do increase, but not very much. Thank you for the tip!
i am using bitcomet 0.79 but when i download games my download speed go just to 9 kb\s
Ain’t it great the number of posts on here commenting about the ‘virus’ in the patch, clearly didn’t read the article…
Scan taken on 06 Jan 2007 04:49:55 (GMT)
AntiVir Found nothing
ArcaVir Found nothing
Avast Found nothing
AVG Antivirus Found HackTool.AB (because it IS hacking your maxhalfopen tcp connections)
BitDefender Found nothing
ClamAV Found nothing
Dr.Web Found nothing
F-Prot Antivirus Found nothing
F-Secure Anti-Virus Found nothing
Fortinet Found Evid (evid is not a virus, just a potential threat *cuz its a hack*)
Kaspersky Anti-Virus Found nothing
NOD32 Found Win32/Tool.EvID4226 application (The patch modifies files in win32)
Norman Virus Control Found nothing
VirusBuster Found nothing
VBA32 Found nothing
Cleared, not a virus.
ok i need help. i think i set something wrong. my utorrent download speed is very sluggish. someone help.
my connection speed is 4000.
and my download rate is 420.
im not sure about how many peers i allow…
can someone help me figure out what im doing wrong?
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