Internet Cable Speed

explain something about internet speed to me?

ok so i did a speed test and found out my cable connection is at about 4,000 kb/s ok, so then why when i click on a file to download, the highest i ever get is 500 kb/s? if my connection is 4,000, shouldn't i be able to download at 4,000? does it just depend where i'm downloading from? if i'm only able to download 500 kb/s, what good does that other 3,500 kb/s do me? no need to be rude! this s*it can be quite confusing. i see now.. i didn't know about kilobits vs. kilobytes crazy stuff

Public Comments

1. There's a difference between kilobytes and kilobits, you stupid idiot.
2. You never will get full speed rate of any ISP and 3,500kb/s Is a great speed.
3. your connection speed is in kilobits and the download speed is in kilobytes, there are 8 kilobits in a kilobyte so 500 kilobytes = 4000 kilobits, your speed is absolutely correct
4. Kilobits vs. Kilobytes... Your ISP always rates your speed at kilobits (looks more impressive) , you see you download speed in kilobytes on the PC. There is 8 bits to a byte so divide you kilobits by 8 to find the real speed you will get on your pc which just so happens to be 500kB/s.