So do browsers make a difference in speed? I am using Chrome and my internet

[Maraya1969]

gets real slow pretty quickly now. When I check task manager I see several Chrome processes going on.

I wonder if I used a different browser if my internet wanderings wouldn't become so clogged up.

Anyone know?

[luvMIdog]

1. I really don't know I'm using Chrome and having trouble with Links clicking open if my cursor goes

any where near them. I dunno if it's my browser or my pc doing that. The only time it slows for me is during bad weather when my internet is about to go out . I have satellite internet

[Rollo]

2. I use Firefox, but...

The biggest speed improvement I found was when I went from a Pentium XP system with just 2 GB ram, to a Windows 10 system with 16 GB ram and an i7 processor. Even so, the number of tabs open affects browser speed. And some web sites seem to slow down the browser more than others. It can be a matter of trial and error to figure out which web site is the culprit. But it seems to me that as more web sites are set up to play streaming media content automatically, they place a greater burden on the browser. Limiting open tabs of such sites can help overall performance.

[Maraya1969]

7. I can't stand the websites that automatically load videos without asking you

They really cause congestion.

[Rollo]

8. Used to be the browser had a setting to prevent automatic running of videos.

Can't find that switch in the latest Firefox... it is still possible to make the browser ask before Flash content is run, however, more and more streaming content doesn't rely on Flash, so it's back to square one on that.

It's especially annoying if one is listening to streaming audio and it is suddenly interrupted/overlain with some dipshit video advertisement from a supposed news site one has opened.

The Web has become pushy and rude.

[SwissTony]

14. Type in "about:config" in the address bar

That's the bar where you see the address for DU. Don't include the quotes.

Accept the risk to your warranty.

Scroll down till you find

media.autoplay.enabled

Set this to false.

Do you use adblockers in Firefox? I use ad-blocker and uBlock Origin.

Even that combination doesn't stop everything!!

And it can also cause other limitations. Sometimes YouTube videos won't start. You just get a circle of dots rotating. Just click on the stop button and then on the play button (same button actually).

Animated gifs may also be a problem.

[Rollo]

15. Thanks! I'd forgotten about the about:config utility...

... this will help a lot ...

[hrmjustin]

3. Chrome is faster but it uses a lot of memory and eats up more batteries.

Firefox is not as fast but it doesn't share your browsing history and it doesn't eat up your batteries as much.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Try this:

In the upper right hand corner on a Chrome page there's a menu icon (3 vertical dots). Open that and go to "More Tools." In that menu go to "Clear Browsing Data." You can choose how far back you want to clear. Then click on the Clear Browsing Data button at the bottom. The process will take a few minutes. I've found that doing this every now and then definitely speeds things up.

[Beartracks]

5. This might be hepful...

https://www.howtogeek.com/124218/why-does-chrome-have-so-many-open-processes/


Explains why there are so many processes running. But I'm not sure about the speed issue; that is, whether making separate processes to speed up browsing actually produces the desired result.

=======================

[elleng]

6. Been using Chrome,

but only recently has REALLY slowed down.

[vlyons]

9. I'm a big Mozilla Firefox fan. Have been for years.

Mozilla Firefox is open source. I think Chrome is also based on Mozilla. When your browser starts slowing down, it's probably because your browser cache is full. It's really easy to empty the cache in Firefox, less so in Chrome. You may also need to run some anti-virus software to clean your system. A lot of web sites attach cruddy junk to your browser to track your page views, so they can sell the info to advertisers, who pitch products to you. That crud can slow your browser.

I set my browser cache at 500MG, and it rarely exceeds that. I usually empty my cache when it gets to about 350MG. In Firefox, emptying the browser cache doesn't interfere with browsing or cause me to reboot. Running anti-virus software causes the system to restart. But it's just a necessary housekeeping chore about once a week.

Google "clear [browser-name} cache" to get instructions, if you don't know how to do it.

[NJCher]

10. extensions and add-ons

will slow you down.


Cher

[hunter]

11. Chrome with uBlock Origin speeds things up.

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ublock-origin/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm?hl=en

The Opera web browser is now based on chrome and has it's own ad blocking software. In my experience Opera is faster than Chrome too.

http://www.opera.com

uBlock Origin is available for both Opera and Firefox in their respective web stores.

Home page of uBlock Origin, all the technical information and source:

https://github.com/gorhill/uBlock (Scroll down to see "about" of it.)

I used to have a mess of scripts that killed any advertising that moved or made sound, and blocked advertising from some of the more obnoxious advertising sites, but that got too complicated. I simply don't give a damn anymore about the ethics of blocking ads, and only allow advertising on sites I regularly visit, but only if the advertising is polite and unobtrusive.

Some sites simply won't load if their advertising is blocked, but who needs 'em? They are dead to me. Note to web site owners: Don't allow advertising that sucks. If it moves, flashes, makes sound, or misleads, it sucks.

There are certain sites I will pay for, such as DU.

[silverweb]

12. Thanks for this.

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]I just removed the ABP extension and added uBlock to my Chrome browser. Looking forward to trying it out.

[Bongo Prophet]

13. Browsers take up a lot of RAM. That slows you down, because of virtual memory use. Here is a fix.

There is an extension for chrome (and I think Firefox) called "The Great Suspender". It gives user control of individual tabs, allowing you to manually or automatically suspend processes/tabs. That save a lot of real memory, making overall faster experience AND allowing many more open tabs without slowing your system to a crawl. Even a bunch of video tabs, which are the most ram intensive.

I use a lot of tabs, but use very few resources at one time. I just counted, 3 windows, each on a separate screen, with 81 tabs.
Sounds crazy, and probably would be impossible without the extension. But I go and clean up when I have time, which can be a dozen or more for a particular subject i am researching, website I am programming etc.

Related to this, another extension called "One Tab", allows one to groups a series of tabs into one tab. It can expand/contract a groups of tabs and also free up their memory.


Hope that helps, whichever browser you decide to use.

[Maraya1969]

17. My jaw just dropped! 81 tabs open? Color me impressed!

I'm reading everyone's advise and bookmarking this thread. Right now I'm only keep 2 or 3 tabs open and have been cleaning things out and it is going fine. But I know that will get old and I will do some changing.

Thanks!

[Egnever]

16. My first suggestion is to clear your history

if that does not solve it then reset chrome completely that should address any slow downs.

Alternatively check and make sure your internet connection is working as it should be running a speed test as well.

to clear history

https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95589?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en


to reset chrome

https://www.howtogeek.com/171924/how-to-reset-your-web-browser-to-its-default-settings/

[steve2470]

18. I love Opera, which is basically now a Chrome clone with their own GUI on top of it

You can get similar extensions for Opera, clear history and cookies, etc same way. It's fast enough for me. I can't handle more than 6 or so tabs at a time, it just overwhelms me. I'd have to adjust big time if I ever started working FT on the web LOL

http://www.opera.com/download