I pay for the cheapest cable internet plan I can get which is advertised as 30 Mbps down. Using speedtest.net, I am only getting around 20 down consistently on my desktop with a wired connection while my laptop on wifi can get up to 40 sometimes. My router and desktop both have gigabit ethernet. I would think I could get the full 30 on the desktop and if anything I should get faster speeds on that then on the laptop. Anything I should check? Contact provider? Just accept it? In reality it's fast enough for anything I'm doing at home.

Hello,

If you are obtaining cheap cable with an advertises speed of 30mbps then this is as you say, pretty good and should be fine for everything, including streamed TV and film,

As you mention that your wireless laptop seems faster than wired, I agree this is not usually what would be expected.

One option is to connect the laptop "wired" and see what you get then.

Another option is to try something other than speedtest, usually the cable provider will provide something for testing speed on their help / issues webpage.

Try something easy like move the gigabit Desktop connection to another port in your router. Does the problem remain?

Try replacing the ethernet cable for another one - sometime the cable can be a problem, though it is rare.

I suspect that the 40mbps on the laptop is a "false reading" and in reality, your speed will be nearer the 20mbit. If you are paying for 30mbit then it would be worth enquiring with your provider as to why you are only getting a lower speed - especially if it is static. I.e. The speed ramps up to 20mbit and then stays constant. This suggests "throttling" of the connection, it is artificially pegged back by your service provider.

It may be possible that your provider offers "up to 30mbit" but does not guarantee this, and quietly pegs it back.

It is also possible that your provider only allows a certain speed "per device" on your network, regardless of the overall speed of the connection. It is also possible there is a configuration issue in the router but again, this is unlikely.

it is possible there is a configuration issue in the desktop but this is unlikely also - are you able to check the speeds of the network by send - receive to other devices in your network?