Why Does My High Speed Internet Slow Down When Streaming Video?

Streaming video can bog down a computer's Internet connection

Streaming video allows people to watch video clips or segments on their computers without having to download them first. In most cases, streaming video won't have a major impact on Internet performance. Occasionally it will, likely for one of a few reasons.

Full Web Cache

Streaming videos require enough space for temporary storage on your computer. This storage is found in your Web cache. If a computer's Web cache is full or close to full, streaming videos, particularly large ones, will run slowly, as will any other Web page. Clearing out the cache will speed up the video and ensure smooth surfing as well.

Lack of Free Resources

A computer running a streaming video requires sufficient free resources to operate normally. Cleaning out the computer's registry, where information regarding updates and installs are kept, is a good place to start. Registries soak up a computer's resources, so the fewer items in the registry, the more resources the computer can devote to Web browsing and streaming video.

Slow Processor

Even with a high-speed Internet connection, a user may find that a slow processor will be unable to handle streaming video and still allow for fast Web browsing. The only way around this problem is to close down anything else that might be running at the time, and limit the amount of surfing done while the video is playing.

References

• Delete Computer History: Slow Streaming Video Problems
• Video Lectures: Troubleshooting Video FAQ