How to Speed up Torrents

A torrent is a small file that allows users to download the larger files that it is linked to using the BitTorrent peer-to-peer sharing protocol. To download from torrent files you have to use a BitTorrent client which is a software that can access the peer-to-peer network where the files associated with the torrent are being shared. Torrent speed is often a big concern since files on a shared network can download very slowly, however there are many ways that you can speed up torrent downloads.

Steps

1. 
   1
   Increase your Internet connection speed. You can do this in the following ways.
   • Contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider) to subscribe to the fastest connection that they offer.
   • Change your ISP to a faster service provider.
   • Don't connect other computers to routers using the same Internet connection. This will ensure that your connection speed is not divided among other computers.
   • Don't browse to other websites while your BitTorrent client is running. In particular you should not browse on websites that stream heavy audio or video content since this will decrease the Internet connection speed available for your BitTorrent client.
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     2
     Install a fast BitTorrent client. Some BitTorrent clients that are recommended by PC Mag and other review websites include Deluge, uTorrent and Vuze.
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     3
     Download torrents with healthy seeders and a large number of peers. Peer computers download and upload the torrent files simultaneously while seeders are the computers that have already downloaded the whole file and are now distributing the file to other computers. Of course, downloading a torrent from more computers gives you a faster torrent speed.
   • 4
     Unblock your BitTorrent client on your firewall settings to permit all connections to be made by your BitTorrent client for downloading files. You can access your firewall settings and unblock your BitTorrent client using the following method.
     • Go to "Control Panel" from the Start menu located at the bottom-left of your screen.
       
     • In Control Panel click on "System and Security" and click on "Windows Firewall." Some Windows version the "Windows Firewall" will appear in the control panel automatically (specifically Windows XP), just double click on it.
       
     • Now click on "Allow a Program or Feature through Windows Firewall." On Windows XP click on the Exceptions tab.
       
     • Put a tick next to the name of your BitTorrent client to unblock it and click the OK button to save your settings.
       
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     5
     Change the port settings. BitTorrent shares files using different port numbers and if 1 port becomes too busy you should try switching to another. You may want to try using a port number that is higher than 10,000 since these ports are usually less busy.
   • 6
     Limit your connections with other peers. You can do this by changing the following settings on your BitTorrent client.
     • Global Maximum Number of Connections: this is the highest number of connections that your BitTorrent client can make with all other users on the network. If this number is too high you will too many other users downloading from your computer, but keeping the setting to around 150 connections lets you download from enough peers without uploading to too many other users.
       
     • Maximum Number of Connected Peers Per Torrent: although you want many connected peers when you download from torrent files, you should keep this setting to around 70 peers so you have enough peers to download from without uploading to too many.
       
     • Number of Upload Slots Per Torrent: keep this setting at a low number limits the number of peers that can download a torrent from you at once. Setting the upload slots number to 3 lets you prevent too many other users from downloading through your computer while still letting your BitTorrent client recognize you as a good user.