Cablenut & tcpOptimizer are both good programs. TCP is the easiest to use. I think you can tweak more with Cablenut. I use Cablenut because it works best for me. Could you post a speed test!
I'll just ask a civil question. Have you cleared your cache before testing? here are a couple test for you to take. They start as soon as you click on them.
12meg download: http://www.testmy.net/tools/test/d_load.php?ni=1&tt=1&s=12160&st=st
50meg test: http://www.testmy.net/dl-48638
2992 upload: http://www.testmy.net/ul-2992
I live in Northern Kentucky. Where are you doing your tracert from?
Tracing route to testmy.net [74.52.182.125]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
1 6 ms 6 ms 7 ms 74-138-160-1.dhcp.insightbb.com [74.138.160.1]
2 7 ms 8 ms 5 ms 74-128-22-109.dhcp.insightbb.com [74.128.22.109]
3 8 ms 8 ms 9 ms 74-128-16-85.dhcp.insightbb.com [74.128.16.85]
4 12 ms 12 ms 11 ms 74.128.8.233
5 19 ms 19 ms 20 ms te-4-1.car2.Chicago2.Level3.net [4.71.250.1]
6 27 ms 18 ms 20 ms ae-31-51.ebr1.Chicago1.Level3.net [4.68.101.30]
7 24 ms 26 ms 29 ms ae-68.ebr3.Chicago1.Level3.net [4.69.134.58]
8 52 ms 52 ms 54 ms ae-3.ebr2.Denver1.Level3.net [4.69.132.61]
9 48 ms 53 ms 54 ms ae-1-100.ebr1.Denver1.Level3.net [4.69.132.37]
10 59 ms 53 ms 54 ms ae-2.ebr2.Dallas1.Level3.net [4.69.132.106]
11 55 ms 52 ms 54 ms ae-82-82.csw3.Dallas1.Level3.net [4.69.136.146]
12 57 ms 63 ms 59 ms ae-34-89.car4.Dallas1.Level3.net [4.68.19.134]
13 52 ms 51 ms 50 ms THE-PLANET.car4.Dallas1.Level3.net [4.71.122.2]
14 51 ms 51 ms 50 ms te9-2.dsr02.dllstx3.theplanet.com [70.87.253.30]
15 51 ms 49 ms 50 ms 7e.fd.5746.static.theplanet.com [70.87.253.126]
16 50 ms 52 ms 51 ms po2.car03.dllstx6.theplanet.com [12.96.160.37]
17 49 ms 49 ms 50 ms 7d.b6.344a.static.theplanet.com [74.52.182.125]
Trace complete.
sillybilly, If you are on a 6/384 package its not going to get any better until your ISP gives you more bandwidth. Your over your max now so be happy with it.
I think that some things that are refurbished tend to be better. They are gone through on a testers bench and not a mass production line. Just my thoughts.
I remember some else having a problem like that. I started to read about password here but thought if it pertained you, you might as well read it. Hope it helps.
http://www.testmy.net/forum/index.php?topic=5802.msg57607#msg57607
Copy and paste your log file here. When my wife had lots of pop ups it was because she clicked on one of those you might have a virus pop ups. It put its self in 02 BHO section of the log. I ran yours and there were a lot of question marks. If you don't know what it is get rid of it. Good luck
http://www.hijackthis.de/
I'm like you Roco about building a new one. I'm really happy with the one I got now. It a 3.2P4 and a cheap Foxconn board.Hell I'm still using onboard video. I run XP and I'm not a gamer so there is no need for a video card. I got one gig of PC3200 CL 2 ram. Until I make the move to Vista or the next best thing I'll stay as is.