slow ethernet speed on Mac Mini (late 2012)

The speed "tests" that you are using are measuring an average for the end-to-end data throughput between your computer and the speed test's servers over the Internet. What would be more important to test is the local area network throughput between your computer over this network. That way you are only looking at how much bandwidth and actual throughput your computer's network adapters can support. You can then compare your two notebooks.

Some test tools to try:

• OS X / macOS Activity Monitor
• IPNetTunerX
• AJA System Test
• Blackmagicdesign's Disk Speed Test

1. Try a different ethernet cable between the router and Mac Mini.

you may have an old Cat5 or bad Cat6 cable.

2. Check your Advanced settings.

go to > macOS Sierra: Use Network preferences to set advanced options and in the "Ethernet hardware settings" section,

look at > macOS Sierra: Set advanced hardware options and/or > macOS Sierra: Use Gigabit Ethernet

Sorry for not getting back sooner!

What kind of numbers do you get using a different speed test?

https://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

http://www.speedtest.net/wave/2ec408206ab42110

(just beware not to click on any of the MacKeeper buttons)

You may want to experiment with the duplex setting for the mini’s Ethernet port. I’m using an iPad to respond to you so I don’t have a Mac in front of me to verify, but I believe you can get to these via System Preferences > Network > Ethernet > Advanced > Hardware tab.

Try different settings to see if they help or not.

Was there ever a resolution to this? I'm finding the exact same issue with a couple 2012 Mac minis. Messing with the hardware settings is getting me nowhere. I have 3 nearly identical minis all showing the same results. (2 running Sierra, one running High Sierra)

My iMac on the same cable/port etc. gets a good ~500Mbps where the mini struggles to maintain 250-300. Uploads are 700-800 on both.

Since the OP has not responded, one way or the other, since Aug. 2017, I don't know.

Unless you have the exact network setup as the OP, I would suggest that you start a new post to gather the attention it deserves vs. reply to a 6+ month old post.

If you did not get to a resolution, some more information could be handy.

I had to tweak my MacOS stack & FiOS router mercilessly to get advertised performance. The good news is it is possible. Even though my AV specialist told me it's 'normal' and can't be fixed (and Verizon won't help with anything once it passes the router, they claim they are only responsible to guarantee the advertised speed to the router.

1) are you wired for ethernet or MOCA (coax) from your on-premise-equip terminal (OPE)?

MOCA can behave differently, ethernet can be easier to deal with

2) what model and firmware revision is your fios router?

Note that ActionTecs are old, twitchy and past end of life. but I have one and got it to work... so don't freak;

3) connect to the admin account on the router (via its web interface) on your network

note any active packet filtering rules or port forwarding rules present, or specific services blocked

report those here

I recall I had better results after enabling certain external pings (which were disabled as a security measure to reduce attack surface)

4) check the MTU packet size if the router exposes it

5) check the same value on your mac and note any difference

your mac should be using a size <= the router

I hope this will lead you on the right path...

if you post back, I'll see if I can help further

Finally, one trick to try

if you have access to an external VPN service/subscription that operates at the system admin level on your mac...

launch that and connect your mac so it is connected through the VPN (and all its traffic will be encrypted, and Verizon can't peek at your packets) [note a corporate VPN may not work]

then run your speedtest and see what you get.

I'd be very curious. I know for a fact verizon interferes with some services (including VPN!) based on that, and when you can encrypt an established connection, their interference goes away...

Also,

If you can dig into your Mac system info on these Mac Minis, post any additional spec info, like manufacturer, etc for:

10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)

the fact it works for windows clients is not inconsistent with variations in TCP/IP stack implementations, settings conflicting w router, etc

with more specific info on the Ethernet hardware, we can check for any known issues floating around out there...and if so, try to work around.

Yea was planning to do that if OP didn't respond first. I should have replied to him instead of you though...