Getting the facts straight
There is a lot of confusion about the difference between bandwidth and speed when it comes to the Internet. We should get that straight before we move on to just how much speed is needed to complete certain tasks and functions using the Internet
Bandwidth vs. Speed
Think of the Internet like water moving through a pipe. If the speed of the Internet is like the speed of the water, then bandwidth potential of the Internet is like the size of the pipe through which the water flows.
Bandwidth refers to the size of the channel the data is traveling through, and speed is the rate at which that data is traveling through it. In many ways, speed is reliant upon bandwidth.
So, just how much speed do you need… …to stream movies and shows on sites such as Netflix?<
Your Internet speed is vital to the viewing experience. If you don’t have enough speed, the video might buffer or lower its quality to reduce the necessity of buffering.
If you live in an area with speeds at around 1Mbps, watching a standard-definition movie on Netflix would be a nightmare. Your movie would constantly stall and buffer, or it might freeze completely.
At one time, this was the maximum speed available. Now Internet customers can access speeds of up to 100Mbps, way more than is required to stream a movie online. Most experts agree you need about 20Mbps to stream a movie without loading issues.
to play video games with Xbox Live?
Most people who play video games on their Xbox 360s say if they log on and play their favorite games on Xbox live, it greatly enhances the experience. Playing with a slow Internet connection frustrates players, and is sometimes impossible. Fast broadband speed is necessary for a good online gaming experience with Xbox Live.
Xbox Live is a great feature for Xbox 360 users to take advantage of their Xbox 360’s online features. You can play live against other video gamers, rent or buy HD movies, download more games, and more. Make the most of your Xbox 360 by double-checking the speed capacity of your broadband Internet.
To access Xbox Live efficiently, you need at least 1Mbps download speed and an upload speed of at least 200Kbps. Since this is the minimum, you’re probably going to want to look into upping these speeds even more to get the very best experience.
to chat with friends and family on Skype?
Skype is a great way to video chat with friends and family, especially those who live far away, because you get to see their faces and hear their voices.
What’s more annoying than buffering or freeze-ups interrupting a conversation with one of your favorite people?Make sure that your Internet speed is up to snuff with Skype’s.
The Internet speed you need to use Skype depends largely on the amount of calls you make. If you’re making a basic video call, the recommended speed is 300Kbps download and 300Kbps upload. If you’re video calling in HD, Skype recommends download speeds of 1.5Mbps and upload speeds of 1.5Mbps.
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