Clock your computer:

You get what you pay for. Well how do you know that's true for broadband? I mean, oh sure, they tell you that you can download something at X Mbps, but how can you prove it? Well, there are certain sites that have put together these broadband speed tests. Essentially, what these broadband speed checks do is measure the rate of data transfer – the bandwidth. These tests also measure your broadband connection speed (how fast you access the net). If you do sign up for one of these tests remember other external factors can alter the results. Two of the more popular problems are lack of processor power & internet traffic.