Slow Internet compared to my PC

That's an interesting problem. I'm assuming you've unplugged the PC and plugged the Mac's ethernet cable into that same port, just to rule out and any issues. I'm just tossing out an idea...

Try manually importing your router's DNS server information into your Mac using the Network pane of System Preferences.

"Just purchased"

Just how new is it? Have you left it on continuously since starting it up? If you've shut down, or allowed it to sleep, you added to the time it'll take to adjust and index itself, etc. It'll usually speed up in a day or two.

Anything running in the background? Check Applications>Utilities>Activity Monitor's different modes. Specifically check "Page ins/outs" under "System Memory." If you have virus protection running, that's unnecessary.

Did it discover your network itself during set-up? Make sure your System Preferences settings, especially Network, are correct and consistent. Be sure your Network Port Configurations are properly ordered, with "Built-in Ethernet" listed first, then make sure to "Apply Now."

Have you installed any third party RAM or software? If so, did you use Disk Utility to "Repair Disk Permissions?"

"Internet explorer"

No longer supported for Macs.

Close Safari, go to Applications folder, select (highlight) Safari, open File pull-down and select "Get Info" and try running Safari with the following box selected the opposite of what it is - "Open using Rosetta"

Regardless of running a PPC or native browser, raw data speeds should not be impacted, although the overall user experience certainly will be due to the rendering issues with a browser under Rosetta.

To test this theory, try your native browser (Safari, Opera, Camino, Firefox, whatever) surf to the Apple downloads page, and just pick a larger file to download (an update, anything). Check your d/l speeds. The Apple downloads are a decent test source - their server loads seem to remain fairly consistent. All of your browsers might perform differently, but your raw data download speeds will remain constant.

Now force your browser to run under Rosetta. Surf back to the same Apple page, attempt the same download. Your raw d/l speeds will remain on par with the first test.

Back to Michael's original question:

In the Network Pane of your System Prefs, set the Ethernet tab to "Manually" (Advanced); change your Speed tab to "100bastTX" (or faster if the option is there); select "Full Duplex" and click Apply.

Reboot and do a raw data test using the method above on both your Mac and PC and see if you get similiar data rates.

Thanks, I didn't realize that. I've been lucky to not have had any issue running it at what must be the default setting, unchecked, so I haven't tried elsewise.

Be sure to test everything asap, you only have 10 days since purchase to return it. I waited too long, testing everything, and now can't return it. My problem is with wireless internet, also affected whereas PC works fine. Be warned! It costs a bomb for an Apple technician to come out.

I'm sorry you've had wireless connection problems for more than 30 days. However, reading all of your 19 posts, it appears you've made great improvements compared to what it originally was.

Since you did not start your own thread and explain your issue, how it started and what you've attempted, it's difficult to recommend anything in particular. It certainly does not appear to have ever been a hardware problem with your iMac, but a network configuration issue which you now seem to have cleared up.

I have found it somewhat difficult to setup both a new network and a new computer at the same time. If the network already exists, however, connecting to it is a snap using Airport, and there are only a couple of adjustments to Network System Preferences that might be made afterwards to improve performance.

Assuming your network existed prior to the iMac, when you initially setup your iMac, did it discover your network immediately? It should have. If not, your network was not discoverable, hardly the fault of your iMac.

If you believe you are still having a problem - leave the wireless router where it is and substitute a different computer in place of your iMac to see if that computer's wireless performance is better than your iMac's is now. If that is the case, then perhaps you have not fully optimized your iMac's Network settings in System Preferences.

It may also be that you are expecting too much from your network - distance from wireless router, interference between router and iMac. This would appear to be the case, since you say that everything is fine when the router is right next to your iMac. Yet when it is, you can not leave it there, or others can not use the wireless, which would seem to indicate that then they are too far from it.

Well, if someone is always too far, there's a problem with the design or layout of the physical network. The router should be placed in a central location amongst the locations of the various users. It should be moved around to find the optimal spot for its location. It may need to be placed higher up (next floor), so that its signal is more accessable.

Edit-
If there is metal between, such as a kitchen, bath, laundry, utility area, or garage with auto, you should expect somewhat severe signal interference, and need to position the router to avoid the blocking of the signal.

Hi, thanks for your suggestions. With all due respect though, I have tried everything you have suggested, and more. After numerous calls with Apple, plus a visit to the Apple repairs shop, plus reading up about it on the internet, you can believe me when I say I have tried everything possible.

The fact remains, when I had a pc wireless in the EXACT same spot, it worked fine. I am STILL experiencing cutouts, etc, and it's not satisfactory. I do accept that it could be environmental, since the connection works well when I move the iMac to the kitchen (similar distance), however, it's not really a great excuse. It just means the iMac Intel is more susceptible to these interferences or other environmental factors than other computers. Like I said PC = fine, in the same setup.

It's not really an option for me to have my iMac or the router in other places in the house, so I think I might have to get an antenna. Or alternatively I could put a wireless card in the old PC and have the router in my room where it works well. What a funny twist it would be if the old PC (7 yrs +) worked fine wirelessly over the same space!

sounds like a lost cause

I have the same exact problem. I notice when I go into Safari, Camino, Firefox there is a delay of about 5 to 10 seconds. I have a fast internet connection. I've changed my network settings, I've tried wireless, I've tried hooking directly to the Ethernet port. I upgraded Internet connection speeds. Nothing seems to help. It drives me crazy that it is so slow. If you find anything that helps let me know. My friend uses the same ISP, same speed, but his PC flies. My MAC is dog slow.

Well, I've got the exact same problem. I've got a MacBook Pro and have had nothing but trouble with my Linksys WRT54G wireless router. It take 5-10 seconds to begin the download of a web page while it take 1 second for my PC on the same wireless router. I've also called Apple numbers of time and they just say it is Linksys' fault and Linksys says it is Apple's fault. Either way, I'm not happy one bit. I think that it is a problem with the MacBook Pro since I am able to hook up a cheap CompUSA wireless router and an even cheaper Belkin wireless router on the same cable modem and it works just like the PC speed. Apple NEEDS to deal with this problem because it is causing a great deal of anguish for many of us "newbies" to the Mac OS. BTW -- I picked up another Linksys router WRT54G and it does the same thing as the old one. Please help!

Mike

MacBook Pro 15" Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Mike,

I spent time on the problem I was having and resolved it last night. I ran serveral Internet speed tests and found I was getting around 350 KPBS when I should have been getting around 800. I called my IPS and they spent time with me on the phone trying to resolve this. They said I should be getting at least 800. They said call my DSL provider and have them do a line check. So I called them and they looked at serveral things and said I was getting 800. I told them I wasn't. They seem to resist doing a line check. They finally did one and said, Oh ya, it looks like a problem at our end. So they fixed something and now I'm getting 800. The problem was at the end of the DSL provider. And to think I was paying months for the 800 speed. Check with your provider and have them do a detail look at what is going on.

A small message of hope - after hounding them, Apple tech guy has said he will replace the antenna in my iMac. I don't know if this will solve my prob - it could be a general problem with iMac antenna's being susceptible to certain environmental factors (I think in my case it may be the concrete in the hallway wall). I'm not experiencing the same problem as you guys I just thought I'd tell you that it is possible to get stuff replaced if you try hard enough. Also Michael just because something works great in the Apple store doesn't mean there isn't something wrong with your machine. Try checking the advice in other internet speed threads, speak to Apple on the phone and if no joy take it to the shop. Did you try the computer in different rooms around the house or at someone else's house?

sorry just realised you are connected via ethernet, in which case I'm not sure how much moving it to another room as a test would be useful.

Seriously, I think if you have a PC sitting right next to it working well then take it straight to the shop.