Good excuse though

Pluralist, the reason I did speedtests on my second PC was that recently it had been buffering videos. I know that the processor etc would have some say in this but I just wondered why the speedtest was so much lower. Now I know that the PC specs do have some say on the speedtests thanks to you guys. I had just thought; computer, same thinkbroadband speed test, ethernet cable (both cat5e), same router, why not same result as it's only testing a speed along cables? Still seems a bit counter intuitive.

That's fine . The machine was not performing satisfactorily and you have found the probable reason .

The point I and those after me were making was that chasing speed for its own sake is a choice, not always a necessity. Many people don't think of that.

May I just ask OP what CPU's are in both machines if possible?

Now is not a time to decide on upgrading as the market for components and prebuilt machines is all over the place at the minute, some components are ok and others are 1-3 times their RRP due to C*vid disruption.

Would love to look for the cheapest bang for buck alternative is all.

Redayejedi
Main computer has an Intel i7 4790K at 4GHz with 16 GB of memory
Secondary has an Intel i5 3470 at 3.2 GHz with 8 GB of memory

Both processors are getting long in the tooth now.

Both of those should easily cope with gigabit.

However third party security software (assuming you are running windows) can break everything.

I do go a bit overboard with security software and backup software; AVG Internet Security, AVG TuneUp and Malwarebytes with Acronis True Image backing up to five drives - I once lost a whole computer when drive C: became corrupted so now I have 9 drives of various sizes either storing data or backing up. The secondary computer only has two drives but the same software. Geek or what?

In reply to a post by Wafter:

Redayejedi
Main computer has an Intel i7 4790K at 4GHz with 16 GB of memory
Secondary has an Intel i5 3470 at 3.2 GHz with 8 GB of memory

Both processors are getting long in the tooth now.

I have the same CPU as your main computer in my desktop in the bedroom. It handles a gigabit without any issues.

I got rid of an i5 3470 about a year ago. It also handled a gigabit throughput.

It might be your Ethernet NIC or more likely some kind of security software or anti virus.

Thanks for that info. I'll disable my security software and test it then. I'll also check my NIC but I'm pretty sure they are both GB.

You could always run a speed test just between the 2 machines across the LAN. Before and after.

OpenSpeedTest