Different OS, Different speedtest result ...

[#1]

I've been meaning to post about this for ages.
When I run the BBMAX speedtest on my Acer laptop (wired) running XP Home SP2 using Opera I never get more than 5900 kbps down. Switching off ZA and AVG on the Acer makes no difference btw.
When I run it on one of my (old desktop) Linux boxes (wired) using Opera, I get about 6400 kbps down.
This is a consistent, repeatable result.
Ideas?
Paul

[#2]

Linux is faster than Bill Gates

[#3]

Have you optimised RWIN/MTU on the Windows laptop?
When you refer to wired I assume you mean Ethernet and not USB?

[#4]

I got the same effect on BBMax and the Plusnet beta speedtester when comparing XP to Vista 64 bit. The Vista result was significantly higher than my IP rate

[#5]

@spraxyt -- yes all RWIN'd and MTU'd, and yes Ethernetted

[#6]

Linux may not be downloading the latest updates which could slow the results. Also AV may have an effect if its scanning download files and the firewall.

[#7]

hmm did you read my original post ? [quote="paulh"]Switching off ZA and AVG on the Acer makes no difference btw
and speedtests don't "download updates" ...

[#8]

I used to have a similar issue with MacOS X 10.2/10.3 using Safari - speedtest results would always be lower on the Mac than on the PC's on my network.
However, in Mac OS X 10.5 (Safari) speeds are faster than WinXP (Firefox). A bit of RWIN tweaking has got XP up to speed however. I kow it's not a 'fair' test as I'm using different browsers.
Maybe pierre_pierre is correct - perhaps the implementation of TCP/IP in your Linux distro is better than the MS effort?
What happens if you try another browser on both OSes?

[#9]

Linux dynamically adjusts things like RWIN.