I use windows xp pro, 256 megs of DDR (p2100) ram. I have a linksys nic card (upgraded to the latest drivers from linksys and turned to 100 full duplex mode). I use comcast (regular account)and have a 1.5/128 speed connection. I have been experimenting with this tweak for quite a while now and found that it seems to work. I have actually tried ping, download, and upload tests to test this tweak (keep in mind that like in an experiment, i used the system.ini tweak as the only variable; everything else was controlled). I usually run a direct connect hub (which usually has anywhere from 150 to 200 peeps in it), aim, icq, msn, and irc (which i am connected to about 20 channels at the same time). I used that ool server file (from mnosteeles tweak reference page) as my download speed test (cuz i usually reach caps from it). I used the 10 site ping (also from mnosteeles tweak page) as my ping test. I used the upload speed test on "
www.pcpitstop.com" for my upload speed test. I also used a particular 1 on 1 Unreal Tournament server (that I know has lots of bandwidth and that i usually ping the same everytime and that only I am in at that moment cuz no specs allowed) for an additional download/upload speed test.
Keep in mind that i use cablenut and applied the speed file my particular connection speed (1500/128).
First experiment (the time without the system.ini tweak applied), I downloaded at about 180 kb/sec from the ool server (64 megs, i think). On average, I would reach around 170 peeps for my direct connect hub. My upload speed would show as 140 kb/sec on average. That Unreal Tournament server that I was talking about, well, i would ping about 80 ms. Also, while about 170 peeps in hubs, i would be connected to all of my messengers (aim, msn, icq, and mirc) at the same time and experience lots of disconnections, ping timeouts, and drops (if theres any difference between any of those terms
) from one and not the other or from the other and not one or from 2, and not the other two or even drops of like 15-25 peeps from my hub, etc...etc...basically, I would experience lots of drops.
Second experiment (the time with the system.ini tweak applied at 4096), I downloaded at about 189 kb/sec from the ool server (64 megs, i think). On average, I would reach around 190 peeps for my direct connect hub. My upload speed would show as 153 kb/sec on average. That Unreal Tournament server that I was talking about, well, i would ping about 69 ms. Also, while about 190 peeps in hubs, i would be connected to all of my messengers (aim, msn, icq, and mirc) at the same time and experience little disconnections, ping timeouts, and drops (if theres any difference between any of those terms
).
Third experiment (the time with the system.ini tweak applied at 7168), I downloaded at about 185 kb/sec from the ool server (64 megs, i think). On average, I would reach around 185 peeps for my direct connect hub. My upload speed would show as 147 kb/sec on average. That Unreal Tournament server that I was talking about, well, i would ping about 73 ms. Also, while about 185 peeps in hubs, i would be connected to all of my messengers (aim, msn, icq, and mirc) at the same time and experience a moderate (not too much) disconnections, ping timeouts, and drops (if theres any difference between any of those terms
).
So, what am I trying to say? Well, I am trying to say if you want better performance, TRY THE SYSTEM.INI TWEAK!!! Besides, wutz the worst that could happen, it not work? Think about it peeps; If you do it and it works, you're good to go. If you do it and it doesn't work, well, then it doesn't work (nothing lost, nothing gained). Trust me, when i say itz worth a try. I think that the reason reserving 4096 kb as opposed to 7168 performed better, even though it is physically more, is because too much probably makes the cards throughput ineffiecient and therefore doesn't maximize the performance. So using 4096 kb, in my opinion, is your best bet. Uh...maybe if you have a devastating (512 and above) amount of ram, then you could try 7168 for experimental purposes. Um...for all those that want to know exactly how my system.ini looks with the system.ini tweak applied...it looks like this (with realistically, no big gap at the top of it, and starts with "; for 16-bit app support" and ends with "Irq18=4096"):
; for 16-bit app support
[drivers]
wave=mmdrv.dll
timer=timer.drv
[mci]
[driver32]
[386enh]
woafont=dosapp.FON
EGA80WOA.FON=EGA80WOA.FON
EGA40WOA.FON=EGA40WOA.FON
CGA80WOA.FON=CGA80WOA.FON
CGA40WOA.FON=CGA40WOA.FON
Irq18=4096
Well, thatz basically all I gotta say. I just had to write something because I've heard so many questions about it. Keep in mind that I am using windows xp pro.
-Fred
