Optimal BitTorrent Settings

Although BitTorrent is a very popular and efficient tool for sharing files, it still requires optimization. Each user will have to optimize their network for their system, because no two systems are alike.

In fact, most users of BitTorrent will simply download a client and begin downloading a file without taking the necessary steps to ensure the best possible downloads. Many users of BitTorrent that have a router must forward the proper port. The process of forwarding ports will differ for each computer and router, but it must be done for optimal download speeds.

Another thing that must be changed is your maximum upload speed. Many ISPs only allow 40-45 kilobytes to be uploaded per second. If your client is trying to upload at those speeds, your connection will be slow and unresponsive. Set the speeds to something like 10-20 kilobytes per second. This will allow your downloads to remain fast, but you will also be helping out others that are trying to download the torrent. Your download speed should be set to unlimited, because you will most likely never exceed the maximum download speed provided by your Internet Service Provider.

Also, many BitTorrent clients aren't internally optimized for you. The best two clients are uTorrent and Azureus. These two clients are easily the most popular, best supported, and best optimized. Many clients tend to report false data to the tracker, but these clients will not. If you choose to not optimize your BitTorrent client for maximum speeds, you could suffer from various problems.

For example, if you do not properly forward the port on your router settings, you might not be uploading back to the community. Also, downloads will be slower than normal. If you do not properly set the upload speeds, your entire connection will lag. Every page on the internet will seem like it's loading at dial-up speeds, and you will become frustrated with your BitTorrent client. Finding the right upload speed can be difficult; it usually takes some trial and error. If it is set too slow, you may not be seeding enough back to the community.

Also, some believe that the more you upload, the higher priority the user will get in the torrent. If you upload at 20 kB/s versus 10 kB/s, your download speeds at the 20 kB/s will be much faster. There are also several advanced options in some of the popular BitTorrent clients, like in uTorrent. While it is difficult to set some of these options, community members on BitTorrent forums are usually more than willing to help you. Remember, setting the proper configuration on both your network and BitTorrent client is imperative. Too many users are just using a client without the proper configuration. Set yourself apart and have the best upload and download speeds by tweaking your settings for optimal performance.

Also:
More BitTorrent Tips
BitTorrent Glossary
uTorrent Client Review