1000 Mbps internet speed not achieved on MBP

I checked out a review of the thunderbolt to ethernet adapter.

It was able to achieve 900Mbps on local network transfers..

But it used 70% CPU in file transfers via Finder.. this means the Thunderbolt port is not very efficient.

Check your activity monitor during a transfer and see if something like CPU is topping out.

See Hands-on: Apple’s Thunderbolt Gigabit Ethernet adapter | Ars Technica

The big advantage of real ethernet is they offload from CPU. Adapters are never as good.

I'm using a factory Apple Thunderbolt Gigabit Ethernet adapter going straight into a 1000mbps switch. Again, the A/B test between the SysAdmin's Dell and my MBP is startling.

It would be really interesting to try a Mac with a real ethernet port vs using the thunderbolt to ethernet dongle.

AFAIK they should give you gigabit but perhaps it is the dongle itself that is the problem.

I am using our corporate internet connection which is 1gb/sec. When our sysadmin plugs in his laptop to my ethernet port, he is getting about 800mbps up/down... But my MBP will only get about 375up and 478down.

The actual method of testing here would also be important.

You might find for example if you are copying files to a local server that Mac is slow due to using wrong protocol. Even for internet testing via one of the standard sites might not give you correct reading in some situations.

If you want to pursue it further measure your speed copying a file to a file server on your local network.

You can also use tools like iperf which is available in command line if they have suitable setup.

Again reviews on the Apple store are very mixed.. I was surprised to be honest at just how many people found them problematic.

Customer Reviews: Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Ad… - Apple

I appreciated your comments. It seems the thunderbolt port might be the issue. I wonder if a gigabit USB3 adapter might perform better?

How would your question involve one of the products that we support on this forum......the AirPort Extreme, Airport Time Capsule, and AirPort Express......the products pictured below?

It would appear that you have a question about a MacBook Pro. If that is the case, you might want to post your question in the MacBook Pro support forum linked just below:

MacBook Pro

I would not think the difference would be major. USB is known to be very CPU hungry.. and gigabit connection over USB 3 adapters might not have drivers for Mac.. remember all these adapters and dongles depend on drivers.

I have the same situation happening. I have a early 2015 MBP... and I just did a fresh factory reset on it so it was clean.

I am using our corporate internet connection which is 1gb/sec. When our sysadmin plugs in his laptop to my ethernet port, he is getting about 800mbps up/down... But my MBP will only get about 375up and 478down.

I'm using a factory Apple Thunderbolt Gigabit Ethernet adapter going straight into a 1000mbps switch. Again, the A/B test between the SysAdmin's Dell and my MBP is startling.

3. Airport Express (bought yesterday) - cant get newer than that

Express only has 100Mbit ports.. it cannot do Gigabit.. you must use the Extreme.

Assuming that the AirPort Express is connected using Ethernet.........the Express has only 100 Mbps Ethernet ports, so the speed of device(s) connected to the Express is never going to exceed 100 Mbps.

Might that explain some of your issue?

PPPOE is bad.. YMMV but I doubt this is the issue.

When you tested the windows machine did you plug directly into the ONT.. ie no Airport Extreme??

Have you tested by plugging a Mac directly to the ONT with no router??

Wireless off in the laptop to ensure no problems of wireless getting priority.

The simple fact is.. even if PPPOE is working perfectly.. the Airport Extreme cannot route 1GB internet.

now, when I connect my MBPs with:

cable I get following readings using speedtest.net or my ISP designed internet speed test: 400Mbps D 200 Mbps U

This is the expected speed WAN to LAN throughput on an Airport Extreme gen6.

See smallnetbuilder testing of Throughput.

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-reviews/32158-apple-airport-ext reme-80211ac-reviewed?showall=&start=1

Fact is the vast majority of domestic routers cannot handle gigabit.. so this is not unique to the AE.. it is just unfortunate that Apple wrote the firmware themselves and removed the hardware acceleration.

See this list for the best routers.

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/tools/charts/router/view

The top of the list is still the Netgear R7000.. but please do note.. if you turn on firewall or QoS or any packet inspection functionality that speed will drop to around the same as the AE. Packet inspection requires software NAT instead of hardware.. and even the R7000 with 1Ghz dual core processor cannot handle the throughput.

Routing gigabit with full controls you need 3ghz dual core processor and run it on an efficient router OS eg PFSense firmware.. or you need a pro level very high end Cisco router.. and a very large overdraft.

On a great day, the AirPort Extreme might route signals at 350-400 Mbps, but I don't have experience using PPPoE type fibre connections.

If you are getting around 400 Mpbs, that is about the best that the AirPort Extreme can do when it is set up as a router. However, it might do 700-800 Mbps if you have a router upstream from the AirPort, and the AirPort is set up in Bridge Mode.

Separate the problem into two parts.

LAN and WAN speeds.

windows PC connected directly to ethernet cable without router - 1000Mbps download 200Mbps upload

I want you to test the Mac like this. No router at all.

That is your baseline speed.

Let me also note..

windows PC connected to AirPort Extreme via CABLE - 1000Mbps download 200Mbps upload

This is impossible. The AE cannot route that fast.

I suspect you have plugged the ONT to a LAN port not WAN. The only valid test is WAN to the ONT.. (ie the box with fibre in and ethernet out).

Then I want you to test speed.. actual network speed between the two Macs.. both plugged into LAN ports of either router. And do a test of the speed over ethernet with wifi turn off.. and IPv6 set to link-local only on both computers. Copy one large file, say an OS upgrade of a couple of GB.

Do it both ways to see if there is a difference.

If you do not achieve close to gigabit in both directions I would say the Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter is no good.

Then you can also try it on wireless only with ethernet unplugged on one computer.. so you are passing the file over just one wireless link..

Option click the wireless fan and make sure your wireless link speed is showing 1000Mbps or more.. during the actual transfer.

I find sometimes you will find the speed drops dramatically during an actual transfer indicating a poor connection.