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56 Replies Last post: Feb 14, 2008 5:49 PM by coastie65 1 2 3 4 Previous Next

mcbarker

664 posts since
Aug 10, 2006

Jan 25, 2008 8:15 AM

Extremely slow loads in large forum threads

Why do some large forum threads take forever to load (and sometimes never do)? This is the first website forum where I've ever seen this happen.

SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING, BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.

snorg

1,621 posts since
Nov 28, 2007

1. Jan 25, 2008 8:50 AM

in response to: mcbarker

Re: Extremely slow loads in large forum threads

Yup, everybody knows that mcbarker, & I have seen the same trouble on other forums, but rarely.

If you access Would You Like to Play a Game of Questions? from here, it will load faster.

I am Snorg, The Sultan of sadness, The King of chaos, The Master of disaster, The Duke of delirium, The Prince of perturbation. Everyone can chat at Snorg's Chat Room!!

bcappel

283 posts since
Jun 27, 2007

2. Jan 25, 2008 9:32 AM

in response to: mcbarker

Re: Extremely slow loads in large forum threads

We are aware of the slow load issues and have some fixes coming soon.

Bill

smax013

3,608 posts since
Jan 28, 2007

3. Jan 25, 2008 10:26 AM

in response to: mcbarker

Re: Extremely slow loads in large forum threads

mcbarker wrote:Why do some large forum threads take forever to load (and sometimes never do)? This is the first website forum where I've ever seen this happen.

I frequently see this happen on threads with a lot of responses on other forums too. Keep in mind that a forum is essentially a database type program. It has to "retrieve" all those responses and properly assemble them on a page to display for you. Thus, the more responses, the more time it will take to get those responses properly retrieved and assembled for display. On one forum that I visit, there are a couple of "hanging out" thread that are literally into the thousands of pages of responses...and they typically take about 30 secs or more to load, depending on traffic conditions.

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snorg

1,621 posts since
Nov 28, 2007

4. Jan 25, 2008 11:12 AM

in response to: smax013

Re: Extremely slow loads in large forum threads

AND......
I think with the forum having to send an email for every thread we post to by default really grinds the gears of this forum's server.

I am Snorg, The Sultan of sadness, The King of chaos, The Master of disaster, The Duke of delirium, The Prince of perturbation. Everyone can chat at Snorg's Chat Room!!

Knifeblade

673 posts since
Apr 5, 2007

5. Jan 25, 2008 11:06 AM

in response to: snorg

Re: Extremely slow loads in large forum threads

Hi, snorg, yeah that has to be a drain somewhere. I also find I get "subscribed" to threads I visit, but don't even post in, that is another drain.

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mcbarker

664 posts since
Aug 10, 2006

6. Jan 25, 2008 1:19 PM

in response to: smax013

Re: Extremely slow loads in large forum threads

smax013 wrote:

mcbarker wrote:Why do some large forum threads take forever to load (and sometimes never do)? This is the first website forum where I've ever seen this happen.

I wish I were talking about 30 seconds, but I actually went and washed the dishes while waiting, and when I got back, it still hadn't opened the thread. I guess I'll just have to be patient like everyone else, until PCW fixes the problem.

SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING, BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.

smax013

3,608 posts since
Jan 28, 2007

7. Jan 25, 2008 1:21 PM

in response to: mcbarker

Re: Extremely slow loads in large forum threads

mcbarker wrote:

Yes...that is a weeeeeeeeeee bit long. Sounds more like potential Internet connection issues, although the PCWorld site has been a little slow in the last couple of days. Nothing nearly that bad for me, however.

[soapbox] Backup good...no backup bad!! [/soap box]

snorg

1,621 posts since
Nov 28, 2007

8. Jan 25, 2008 1:47 PM

in response to: smax013

Re: Extremely slow loads in large forum threads

Nope.....
Not a web connection issue, many other sites load like, Shazam.
Often times it sits with "Waiting for pcworld.com" for a Coon's age, not a single packet goes by, till it times out, all you see is a blank page.

I am Snorg, The Sultan of sadness, The King of chaos, The Master of disaster, The Duke of delirium, The Prince of perturbation. Everyone can chat at Snorg's Chat Room!!

smax013

3,608 posts since
Jan 28, 2007

9. Jan 25, 2008 2:00 PM

in response to: snorg

Re: Extremely slow loads in large forum threads

snorg wrote:Nope.....
Not a web connection issue, many other sites load like, Shazam.
Often times it sits with "Waiting for pcworld.com" for a Coon's age, not a single packet goes by, till it times out, all you see is a blank page.

It still could be a "web connection" issue. It just might be that the "path" you have to take to PCWorld has some bottlenecks that you don't encounter with other sites. Slow websites are not always just the fault of THAT web server. Connections to website are almost NEVER direct...you are going through a ton of relay switchs, routers, servers, etc. Any one of them could be the problem.

[soapbox] Backup good...no backup bad!! [/soap box]

mcbarker

664 posts since
Aug 10, 2006

10. Jan 25, 2008 2:07 PM

in response to: smax013

Re: Extremely slow loads in large forum threads

Definitely not an Internet connection problem. PCW forums website is the only one affected. Tried cleaning out cache, cookies, temp files, etc., but no difference. Checked my connection speed several times at testmy.net, and am getting a steady 10.5 Mbps download speed. I'm sure PCW will fix it soon.

SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING, BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.

smax013

3,608 posts since
Jan 28, 2007

11. Jan 25, 2008 2:13 PM

in response to: mcbarker

Re: Extremely slow loads in large forum threads

mcbarker wrote:
Definitely not an Internet connection problem. PCW forums website is the only one affected. Tried cleaning out cache, cookies, temp files, etc., but no difference. Checked my connection speed several times at testmy.net, and am getting a steady 10.5 Mbps download speed. I'm sure PCW will fix it soon.

Again, it depends on how you define "web connection" or "Internet connection". "Going to" the PCWorld website is like driving to San Francisco. Just like driving, there are a lot of routes that you can take...and there are possible road blocks or bottlenecks or delays on any route. It is entirely possible that what ever route your connection is taking to the PCWorld site is taking you through some server/router that is having trouble. If it was purely a PCWorld server issue, then my connection would be just as slow as yours and it is not. It is moving rather nicely for me today. As such, when you are going to the other site, you are likely NOT being routed through the same bottleneck that you are going through to PCWorld...thus, they appear to be working fine. Thus, to me, it is still an Internet connection issue.

[soapbox] Backup good...no backup bad!! [/soap box]

smax013

3,608 posts since
Jan 28, 2007

12. Jan 25, 2008 2:18 PM

in response to: smax013

Re: Extremely slow loads in large forum threads

As a case in point, I just tried the The never ending game thread to see how long it would take for it to load for me. While it was longer than every other thread I have done recently, it was still no longer than about 20 to 30 seconds. If it was some global PCWorld issue, then I should have be able to go clean my dishes like you did (and yes, I do have dishes that need some cleaning

). Now, I am not saying that it still might not be a PCWorld issue (at least partly, if not wholely), but it appears to be more of a general Internet issue to me based upon those differences.

[soapbox] Backup good...no backup bad!! [/soap box]

mcbarker

664 posts since
Aug 10, 2006

13. Jan 25, 2008 2:22 PM

in response to: smax013

Re: Extremely slow loads in large forum threads

I understand what you're saying, and I have had server issues in the past, specifically with the AT&T NYC servers during peak hours, but I have to think this is entirely a database problem since the PCW home website isn't affected, nor are the shorter forum threads.

Also, doing a tracert doesn't show any server slowdowns.

SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING, BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.

smax013

3,608 posts since
Jan 28, 2007

14. Jan 25, 2008 2:23 PM

in response to: mcbarker

Re: Extremely slow loads in large forum threads

mcbarker wrote:I understand what you're saying, and I have had server issues in the past, specifically with the AT&T NYC servers during peak hours, but I have to think this is entirely a database problem since the PCW home website isn't affected, nor are the shorter forum threads.

What you are saying make sense...but it still could be a connection issue. It might be that some server/router has some sort of a short "timeout mechanism", so when you do get a longer thread with more responses that takes the PCWorld servers more time to recieve, it might be that some router/server that you are going through "timesout". And if that server/router was just patient for a few more seconds, you would have gotten a reponse similar to what I have been getting...that it takes some time, but does not time out or dramatically slow down.

Of course, I am largely speculating...or educated guessing.

[soapbox] Backup good...no backup bad!! [/soap box]

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Jan 25, 2008 8:15 AM

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