Hello and a couple of questions

[leee211]

I've become a recent fan of utorrent...I can't believe how well it works compared to everything else I've tried (including Kazaa, Limewire, et all) I've been trying to find out as much information on my own about proper settings and just general do's and don'ts. But I keep running into conflicting information. So I decided to join this forum and here is my very first post!

My biggest concern is (I'm sure shared by many others) is to get the fastest download speed but also have my settings acceptable for uploading (seeding). I've read so many different ways of setting preferences I'm left kind of confused. For example I read that you should limit your upload speed to 22 kB/s, but I also read that if everyone did that then no one would get good download speeds.

Here is my latest speedtest: Download 2640kbps and Upload is 242 kbps and I'm obviously running on a cable modem.

I'm sure this has been discussed millions of times before, but can someone help out an old newbie?

I'd like to know the "prefered" settings for the following (my current settings are in parenthesis) :

Maximum number of connected peers per torrent: (80)

Number of upload slots per torrent: (4)

Global max upload rate: (22kB/s)

Global max download rate: (unlimited)

Also my seeding ratio on most of my completed downloads are over 1.000 (1.244, 1.155) should I just keep them online or at what point can I take them down?

And FINALLY, are there any concerns about getting a virus while uTorrent is doing it's thing?

I know I threw out a lot of stuff here, but I'd greatly appreciate some guidence, even if you can just point me towards a FAQ or tutorial.

Thanks!!!!

Leee

[µtorrent-Guest]

The pointer to the FAQ:

http://www.utorrent.com/faq.php

22kb is no global setting for everone but for the people that has the corosponding uploadspeed for that value. for a troublefree, newbie friendly operation of µtorrent use just what the speed guide (CTRL+G) recommend for xx/256k. Thats closest to your Uploadspeed.

Virus: Only if the creator of the tiny .torrent file has created a torrent of a virus and not of the content you want you can get a virus. The BT-protocoll itself makes it impossible to send you a virus instead of the intendet content by some malicious peers.

[stihia]

welcome among us, leee211, and long stay!

1. the upload cap you set is absolutely correct for your speed (22-23 kB/s)

2. the download should not be limited - correct again

3. Maximum number of connected peers per torrent: I set mine at 40 peers for a DL speed of 110 kB/s - I think 80 is a good value for you

4. Total number of connections: 3-4 times the value above, so: 80 x 3,5 = 280

5. Upload slots: in my opinion you should set it at 3 and check the option "Open extra slots..."

Regarding the speed, you can vary the settings at 3 and 4 by 10 or 20 increments at a time, until you reach the max. DL speed; very important!!! do this only on torrents published on private trackers and only on very well seeded torrents (min. 40 seeders, seeders/leechers ratio > 4)

6. it' very good if your ratios are above 1.000 for each torrent, but if your torrents are on private trackers you should pay attention too at the overall ratio on that tracker (total UL / total DL); every private tracker is informing you about that ratio in the main window or in a section named usually "my profile' or "my stats"

7. I downloaded until now approx. 100 GB and never had any infected files...

Good luck and congratulations for the general exposure of your problems!

[leee211]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info!!!

Leee