What Is a Good Download Speed for Streaming Web Programs?
The basic rule for a good streaming video experience is to use the fastest Internet connection you have access to. Major streaming video sites list minimum Internet speed requirements for viewing, which can range from 500 kilobits per second to 4 Megabits per second. Other factors that may affect streaming video playback include video quality, local network connectivity and computer specifications.
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Quality
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Streaming Internet video websites may offer a video in different quality. For an optimum viewing experience, choose the video quality suited for your current Internet connection. If your Internet connection is slower than 4 Mbps, choose lower quality video at either 320p or 640p resolution. Connections faster than 4 Mbps can enjoy high definition (HD) videos, which can come in 1020p or 720p.
Network Speeds
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Wired Ethernet network connections are preferable to wireless because they have a higher throughput and are more stable than wireless network connections. If your computer uses wireless networking to connect to a shared broadband Internet connection like a home network, use an 802.11g or 802.11n wireless card because these standards have a high throughput for smoother video streaming.
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Network Traffic
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Traffic on the network can affect your streaming video quality. Bandwidth intensive activities like downloading large files or playing graphics-intensive video games online by another computer on the network can cause your streaming video to download slowly, stutter or stop during playback.
Buffer
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Most streaming video players have a buffer that fills, allowing you to continuously watch the video without pausing to download more data. If you want to watch streaming video on a slower connection that stutters during playback, allow the video buffer to fill completely before watching the video in its entirety.
Considerations
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Check the streaming video website's minimum system requirements and make sure your computer meets or exceeds them. If your computer just meets the minimum requirements, close any other open programs aside from your browser window to help the computer allocate its processing power to video playback.
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References
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