![]() Generally, newer hard drives are faster, up to 10K RPM and more. You can improve your disk performance by using a faster disk, which makes more information available, and a more efficient disk interface, which processes more information at once. Maximize disk throughput on the networked Macs and your network performance should see a marked improvement. Since most network data represents a file, your hard disk has to read the source file and another disk must write it to complete the data transfer. Upgrading the motherboard, however, means getting a new Mac.ĭisk performance (how much information you can read or write from the disk in a second) is often the primary bottleneck to network performance. Newer Macs have faster motherboard speeds, which in turn help network speed (or at least hinder it less).Ī faster motherboard generally means faster everything, including network performance. The motherboard's processing speed has inherent limits that include (to a degree) network performance. Like your skeleton, a Mac's motherboard defines what it's capable of. Speed increases come from quashed bugs that hindered network adapter performance or improvements to the network translation. Software updates usually fix bugs and improve translation, so check the adapter's web site regularly for updates (this includes Apple, who updates their Ethernet software from time-to-time). The newer the software is, generally speaking, the better the network adapter's performance will be. Your Mac's network adapter uses software to translate the network data into a form the computer can understand and vice versa. Your hub or switch must support your highest network speed to make use of it, but model and make should make relatively little difference in speed. Switches perform more efficiently than hubs in high-traffic networks, so it's a good idea to use a switch if your network will pass data between three or more computers simultaneously. You should use a hub or switch that supports your full range of network adapter speeds, so you don't limit the higher-speed computers. Your switch must support the same speed as your network adapters to use it on your network (most support multiple speeds for this reason). Like the network adapters, they have three speed ratings, 10Mb, 100Mb, and 1000Mb. Most Ethernet networks use a hub or switch, which serves as the central connection point and moves data around. 100Mb Ethernet will be 4-6 times faster (not 10), and 1000Mb a few times faster still, but still not the blinding speed you might imagine.Įthernet naming aside, switching to a faster adapter is usually the simplest way to improve network speed, assuming you also get a faster hub or switch. "Real world" performance will be more like 100-200 kilobytes per second in an average AppleTalk network. A 10Megabit Ethernet adapter probably won't reach full speedabout 1.25 megabytes per secondwithout a specially optimized test system. ![]() ![]() Many LocalTalk Macs can also add Ethernet support (see the Ethernet Adapter page for more info).Įthernet's three speeds can be deceptive, since they imply you can increased your network speed tenfold just by purchasing a faster network adapter. ![]() ![]() Power Macs, iMacs, and G3/G4s have at least 10Megabit Ethernet (often faster), and all Macs with printer and modem ports can use LocalTalk. The network itself will be Ethernet (which comes in three speeds, 10Megabit, 100Mb, and 1000Mb) or LocalTalk (one speed, about 0.25Mb). Since there are many possible network setups, it isn't practical for me to discuss speed absolutes, like "this will improve performance by 50%." I do try to estimate which changes will, generally speaking, have the greatest impact.Ī network adapter is the device that physically connects your Mac to your network. This, it's helpful to know which components affect performance and how to make them work their best. The saying "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link" definitely applies to a network, as your network performance is often only as fast as the slowest components. Ways to increase network speed (add another hamster?)Īs easily as Macintosh networks come together, getting maximum performance can take some work. What to do when AppleTalk won't stay on Ethernet or you can't see your Mac on the network ![]()
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