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Speed Up Your Torrents, Tips from a BitTorrent Developer
torrentfreak.com — BitTorrent is without a doubt the best way to share large files, as long as you follow some basic rules, that is. We asked one of the leading BitTorrent client developers for some tips and tricks so you can speed up your BitTorrent downloads.
MakiMaki- 1235 diggs
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- bjarkebech, on 07/19/2008, -2/+61Good article, but most of these things are pretty damn common, they're probably great for newbies...
- expert01, on 07/20/2008, -0/+2Agreed. As another "bittorrent developer" (although mostly trackers), I have to say the last one is just promotion (of course). Number five isn't a way to speed up, it's just saying "deal with it". Number four... while availability might not be optimal, and it's always important to have a lot of seeds, I'd rather pick a torrent with a horrible ratio but tons of peers than one that had a good ratio with only a few total peers. The parts that most of the swarm has should be available much faster.
They also missed a big one: use PeerGuardian or MoBlock to reduce junk chunks - every junk chunk you get has to be thrown away and re-downloaded. - Jhiaxuz, on 07/20/2008, -1/+1I'm probably a newbie when it comes to tinkering with uTorrent and I've always been puzzled about one thing. Even though I download at 600 kb/s, the upload calculator on that site tells me I should limit my connections per torrent and globally to 130 and 217. However, does it work in my favor to just raise those up a lot higher to grab more seeds which results in better speed or is that bad? I normally don't download any more than one or two files max at the same time so I figure it wouldn't be something which would bottleneck across the board...
- Jhiaxuz, on 07/20/2008, -0/+3Ooops, this is an upload calculator...
- expert01, on 07/20/2008, -0/+2Agreed. As another "bittorrent developer" (although mostly trackers), I have to say the last one is just promotion (of course). Number five isn't a way to speed up, it's just saying "deal with it". Number four... while availability might not be optimal, and it's always important to have a lot of seeds, I'd rather pick a torrent with a horrible ratio but tons of peers than one that had a good ratio with only a few total peers. The parts that most of the swarm has should be available much faster.
- MarianaPeyton, on 07/19/2008, -10/+11Didn't know about private trackers. Great tips. Another one is to check if your torrent port is open and non-firewalled.
- Memnochxx, on 07/20/2008, -1/+52. Be connectable.
Make sure you’re not “firewalled”...
- Memnochxx, on 07/20/2008, -1/+52. Be connectable.
- bbliss17, on 07/19/2008, -15/+12I am on a lot of private trackers and man they are incredibly fast. It is amazing!
- kris33, on 07/19/2008, -9/+6Yeah. I get an average download speed of 11MB/s on some of them.
- indiancompanion, on 07/20/2008, -0/+11i want your type of bandwidth
- TehProphet, on 07/21/2008, -1/+1That's insane.. The most I EVER get is 1.5MBps on a good day, and that is with comcast.
- TruthKid, on 07/20/2008, -0/+3I'm all about digging down as much as the next guy, but would someone like to explain why he's getting dugg down?
- tito13kfm, on 07/20/2008, -1/+13Because people are jealous that he's on private trackers and they are not.
- whahaa, on 07/20/2008, -1/+12the first rule of private trackers is you do not talk about private trackers.
- SquareEnix, on 07/20/2008, -7/+1tvtorrents.com FTW.
- kris33, on 07/19/2008, -9/+6Yeah. I get an average download speed of 11MB/s on some of them.
- nublet, on 07/19/2008, -12/+138utorrent > azureus.
- seldon452, on 07/20/2008, -3/+40azureus used to be some good before it decided to go "Web 2.0" and get fat and bloated. I really don't need a social networking youtube clone built right in to my torrent program.
Its also coded with java.
nuff said.- RyomaNagare, on 07/20/2008, -9/+2its still faster than transmission on mac though
- deviantsteve, on 07/20/2008, -0/+2ewww java...Java makes me fa...err software fat.
- wintermute0, on 07/20/2008, -1/+1I don't get the new hate-on for Az/Vuze.
My old settings carried over from before the update. All I have are two tabs, 'My Torrents' and the statistics, and I haven't been bothered by any social media / Web 2.0 junk. It runs stable, is pretty slim on memory (which is still surprising for Java), and downloads what I need relatively quickly. That's all I really asked for. - alexforcefive, on 07/20/2008, -0/+1While we're on the subject; ***** this "friend boost" nonsense. Aren't we all fighting for network neutrality?
- RyomaNagare, on 07/23/2008, -0/+1i got dugg down, i should have explained.
transmission does not let me set the number of upload connections per torrent, so it starts connecting to an indiscriminated number of peers, 8, 16 sometimes even 24, chocking my connection, vuze/azureus, lets me set a maximum of 4 or 6 upload connections per torrent which works much better, thus giving me better speeds. the client is a hog though, but its the only other client that supports encryption.
- UberNick, on 07/20/2008, -12/+2seldon452, was with you up until the Java part
- jtbandes, on 07/20/2008, -14/+5µ != u
- lazyrussian, on 07/20/2008, -0/+24µTorrent on Windows
Transmission on Mac :) - xkorbin, on 07/20/2008, -8/+5Java is like concentrated evil. I've shat things more pure than Java.
- Ovalteen, on 07/20/2008, -3/+5ctorrent > utorrent.
Take your GUIs and shove them, command line torrenting FTW, the way nature intended!- skyshock1, on 07/20/2008, -1/+4+1 Can SSH to your home machine, open torrents in screen session, let the download run, disconnect the screen session, walk away as if nothing's going on. :)
- skyshock1, on 07/20/2008, -4/+3* > Azureus
- klitzbtc, on 07/20/2008, -1/+3deluge > utorrent
- kokoshka, on 07/20/2008, -0/+1Still like old versions of azureus for isps that block traffic.
- seldon452, on 07/20/2008, -3/+40azureus used to be some good before it decided to go "Web 2.0" and get fat and bloated. I really don't need a social networking youtube clone built right in to my torrent program.
- sandaruwang, on 07/19/2008, -6/+0Friend Boost seems to be a nice idea. It's good if other torrents clients are going to implement that too.
- Tyrghast, on 07/20/2008, -3/+86Sharing is caring. Don't just be a leech, help keep the information flowing.
- Hitpoint, on 07/20/2008, -17/+14Transmission > Everything.
- digitallysick, on 07/20/2008, -1/+6Transmission was slower for me than azureus, with all the same settings
- HappyTux, on 07/20/2008, -1/+0Less peers to be found as well when I last tried it a few months ago.
- McMaster88, on 07/20/2008, -1/+1win so hard...
too bad im on a PC, but I used trans. for many moons before i got my gaming PC. - skyshock1, on 07/20/2008, -1/+2I like uTorrent better on Windows. On mac and linux though, it's not even a contest, transmission rocks.
- digitallysick, on 07/20/2008, -1/+6Transmission was slower for me than azureus, with all the same settings
- nicenerd, on 07/20/2008, -2/+18Perhaps Alex Albrecht should read this post?
- d4ktu, on 07/20/2008, -6/+1dugg for diggnation reference
- TheLastFreeMan, on 07/20/2008, -0/+70Wow. BitTorrent speed tips from the guy who helped turn Azureus into bloatware. Can you just taste the irony?
- BonersMilloy, on 07/20/2008, -0/+26I know what you mean, i was happy with simple azureus then all the sudden i updated into what looked like some media center program. uTorrent is the way to go. Its simple, its effective, that's what torrenting is meant to be.
- Phucked, on 07/20/2008, -12/+5Azureus is NOT BLOATED... I run it on my spare 450mhz pentium2 with 384 MB ram, and it runs for days and only uses 1/6 to 1/3 of my memory MAX, sure its not as lean as utorrent but Azureus is faster at downloading and I get to play with a bunch of plug-ins
- BedPost, on 07/20/2008, -3/+10Faster at downloading? You're so uninformed it's ridiculous. Stop talking, please.
- deviantsteve, on 07/20/2008, -0/+5Try uTorrent then watch that drop to nothing...
- Pixelpaws, on 07/20/2008, -0/+21/3 of your memory max? That's 128MB. Most people were throwing fits about other programs *cough*Firefox*cough* for using amounts even close to that.
- Farik, on 07/20/2008, -5/+8Best tip: http://www.giganews.com
- BonersMilloy, on 07/20/2008, -5/+1usenext seems better
- Farik, on 07/20/2008, -2/+2Well this month I've pulled over 250GB so limited packages at the same cost as Giganews seems far inferior.
- reformation, on 07/21/2008, -1/+1250g of what? Buy a DVD or CD for once!
- reformation, on 07/21/2008, -1/+1250g of what? Buy a DVD or CD for once!
- Evi1d33d, on 07/20/2008, -6/+3Although usenet speed is incomparable bittorrent has way more content.
eMule>BT>Usenet for contents and vice versa for speed.- deviantsteve, on 07/20/2008, -0/+1I've always had ***** luck with the edonkey p2p network, BT for most content and usenet for speed (if u can actually find what u want and not just random *****)
- isntreal, on 07/20/2008, -0/+2I was going to suggest that. Nice!
- xkorbin, on 07/20/2008, -0/+4I use Usenet for speed (giganews), BitTorrent for content that I can't get there.
- DeathAxe, on 07/20/2008, -7/+5The first rule of Usenet is, you don’t talk about Usenet.
- YoctoYotta, on 07/20/2008, -4/+1The first rule of memes is shut up.
- B3nno, on 07/20/2008, -0/+3The trial is 10 gb free, but all the rest costs money...
I'm sure I'm missing something.- tnoy, on 07/20/2008, -1/+2Get a job. The monthly fee is hardly an issue, and far worth it for the speeds you get.
- deviantsteve, on 07/20/2008, -0/+1Check your local usenet, some ISPs provide their own servers I can usually find alot on their.
- Farik, on 07/20/2008, -0/+2With retention time probably around 2 weeks... Giga News just announced a few days ago that they increased retention time to 240 days.
- seeeymour, on 07/20/2008, -0/+4This guide helped me when I was new to bt..
http://www.bootstrike.com/Articles/BitTorrentGuide ... - Gioleb, on 07/20/2008, -0/+3I'm now on Cox Communications (comcast) in SoCal.
They blocked limewire and are slowing down uTorrent even when it's encrypted!
It's really gotten ridiculous.- McMaster88, on 07/20/2008, -0/+2fios much? Verizon has fiber run to almost everywhere down here.
- erasedgod, on 07/20/2008, -0/+2Except all of San Diego
- McMaster88, on 07/20/2008, -0/+2fios much? Verizon has fiber run to almost everywhere down here.
- acemilo, on 07/20/2008, -4/+1Or you use a real service like usenet, get full speed, and you don't have to sacrifice your connection. I know when I download a torrent the upload kills my connection and I can't do anything until it's finished.
- Cherubim, on 07/20/2008, -1/+1Usenet binaries are not available with most ISPs you dunce.
- ctonks, on 07/20/2008, -0/+1you mean most ISPs don't provide binaries on their servers. you can always access binaries on other servers.
i'm lucky - mine does :-D but i haven't had a chance to verify how long they store messages for yet. - deviantsteve, on 07/20/2008, -0/+1TWC here actually does for their road runner service. Its still worth a dheck... PAR file suck ass those, who still uses that crap?
- ctonks, on 07/20/2008, -0/+1you mean most ISPs don't provide binaries on their servers. you can always access binaries on other servers.
- Memnochxx, on 07/20/2008, -0/+2You're supposed to limit your upload speed.
- Roryking, on 07/20/2008, -0/+3I tend to lump people who brag about using Usenet with the same people that brag about owning a fleshlight. All you've really proven is that you're willing to pay top dollar to be a total loser.
- willfe, on 07/21/2008, -1/+1Configure your client properly before boasting about "real" services. Reduce your maximum upload speed to less than 90% of your maximum upload rate. To prove this applies everywhere, not just BitTorrent, try uploading something large (over 100MB) somewhere as fast as possible while downloading a large binary in multiple parts from your favorite Usenet server. Lag created by saturating your uplink interferes with *all* downlink connections (partially because incoming transfers over TCP/IP require acknowledgments, which must compete with your other uplink traffic).
- Cherubim, on 07/20/2008, -1/+1Usenet binaries are not available with most ISPs you dunce.
- crownedgriffin, on 07/20/2008, -1/+147. Get FiOS. :D
- Hellothere123, on 07/20/2008, -0/+3I'm not moving to another location to get FiOS.
- whahaa, on 07/20/2008, -0/+3give me fios. now.
- naterpoke, on 07/20/2008, -0/+27a. have FIOS burn your house down
- ileftfark, on 07/20/2008, -0/+17Spoiler alert: there are no spoilers in the article. These are all things every half-decent torrenter already knows. The swarm + your (port forwarded) connection = your success. There's no magic setting that will give you 20gb/s.
- indiefan, on 07/20/2008, -1/+1wait, i thought the new Azureus had had a 20gb/s checkbox?
- zomgz, on 07/20/2008, -1/+9tip #1 upgrade your internet line
- SLockhart, on 07/20/2008, -1/+6I used to take pride in seeding more than I took until I found out that my ISP (Shaw) imposes a 60GB per month data transfer limit. Now I don't seed anymore. If you have a problem with that talk to Shaw.
- jazzbeaux, on 07/20/2008, -3/+2If you can't seed at least a couple gigs a month, then you're a turd. Plain and simple. Float on....
- saketome, on 07/20/2008, -5/+3Then limit what you download, or don't download at all. Better yet, switch to another ISP. Leeching is just pure, unadulterated faggotry.
I use µTorrent on Windows, Azureus is and always has been a bloated piece of crap. Transmission is the way to go on Linux. Both of those clients get the job done for me pretty much out of the box with no problems, whilst being very easy on system resources at the same time.
Also, for me private trackers aren't worth the bother. I have a Demonoid account but hardly use it, it sucks in comparison to MiniNova or TPB.- netant, on 07/20/2008, -0/+1But you leave yourself open to HBO creating a trojan torrent and then complaining to your ISP that you are illegally downloading copyrighted material. If your ISP ignores it, gravy. If not, you'll have to look for a new service provider.
- Ex3poo, on 07/20/2008, -0/+3Alex Albrecht needs to open his ports!
- Retrospekt, on 07/20/2008, -1/+7I needed a Bittorrent "developer" to tell me to forward my ports?
***** genius. - brightshadow525, on 07/20/2008, -10/+2rapidshare>bittorrent
- TheSnuffster, on 07/20/2008, -0/+1Stay in /rs/ then
- NathanCH, on 07/20/2008, -3/+3Sign up for a private torrent site. 1mb/s on a bad day
- contradictator, on 07/20/2008, -0/+10Vuze? Really?
- Youssif, on 07/20/2008, -4/+1Hope this helps get my final chapter of Avatar a bit faster !!
- AppleMacStud, on 07/20/2008, -8/+1BitTorrent is always best on a Mac as you don't have to worry about viruses from the free vids and software.
- deviantsteve, on 07/20/2008, -0/+4If you're that stupid to execute "teen ***** horse.avi.exe" then you deserve what you get...Not to mention you're a sick *****
- scarwars, on 07/20/2008, -4/+2find yourself a wifi hotspot (public building, university etc) and torrent from there.. you'll get -amazing- speeds.
- MrBrome, on 07/20/2008, -2/+0While I agree that BitTorrent is an excellent means to share file with the whole planet in an almost anonymous way, I think there are better ways to share large files amongst friends or within a small community.
KDrive was one of them, but the project is now dead, and it never became what it should have been.
Wuala ( http://wua.la ) is another one, using an efficient P2P technology to let you share files of any size, or just store them online for your own personal use. It's very user-friendly, allowing drag-and-drop of files, and even integrates to your system so that your online account appears as a network-mounted drive on your computer.
Wuala is currently in closed alpha, but if you want an invite, just drop me a line at brome(at)free(dot)fr and I'll send you one. - over9k, on 07/20/2008, -0/+2Best thing to do is upload more! When you upload more, people will also give it to you faster.
- xtraa, on 07/20/2008, -0/+5"Speed Up Your Torrents, Tips from a BitTorrent Developer"
There is only ONE tip: SEED! - Moment, on 07/20/2008, -2/+2Uh, this is pure advertisement for Vuze.
- MrViklund, on 07/20/2008, -0/+4Seed more.
- ATKuriboh, on 07/20/2008, -2/+1shouldn't this article be called "how to download your illegal games faster"?
- RSterkenburg, on 07/20/2008, -0/+2No you *****, don't even start on the ISPs' "Oh torrents are only used for illegal downloading!!1!11!!!" Look at youtorrent, just reopened with over 67000 legal torrents.
- ShadowofAres, on 07/21/2008, -0/+0"Without a doubt the best way to share large files"? Really? I think that "the cheapest way" is more accurate.
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