Major Issues Downloading Blockchain

[Seatownkid]

Apologies if this specific issue has been covered but I wasn't able to find anything via search.  My issue is even after several WEEKS, I am still only 39% of the way through the blockchain.  This despite confirmed internet download speeds of 220Mbps.  That said, I noticed via task manager that Bitcoin core specifically is only getting roughly 0.1 Mbps.  Any guesses as to why the large disparity and if it's related to the overall issue?

Any and all input is greatly appreciated.  As an FYI, I'm using Bitcoin Core v14.0

[1714555517]

1714555517

[LoyceV]

What computer specs do you have? If your computer is very limited on memory/CPU, it will indeed take many weeks to download and verify 129 GB of blocks.

[mindrust]

Apologies if this specific issue has been covered but I wasn't able to find anything via search.  My issue is even after several WEEKS, I am still only 39% of the way through the blockchain.  This despite confirmed internet download speeds of 220Mbps.  That said, I noticed via task manager that Bitcoin core specifically is only getting roughly 0.1 Mbps.  Any guesses as to why the large disparity and if it's related to the overall issue?

Any and all input is greatly appreciated.  As an FYI, I'm using Bitcoin Core v14.0

I started downloading it yesterday and i am already %55. My hourly progress is about %0.6  right now which sucks badly.

The reason of this slow progress is probably because of the slowass uploaders we got. If you go help>debug window>peers you can manually set the peers who you download from.

Just disconnect the slowass high pings or better, ban them so you won't connect them again. This must solve your problem. (or improve at worst)

*also click the peers one by one and check the last time you received any bytes. If Last receive > 1minute , delete the peer.

[Seatownkid]

What computer specs do you have? If your computer is very limited on memory/CPU, it will indeed take many weeks to download and verify 129 GB of blocks.

Running Windows 10 Home
Processor:  Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4200U CPU @ 1.60GHz 2.30 GHz
RAM: 4.00 GB (3.89 usable)
System: 64 bit OS, x64 processor

So nothing too flashy but not atrocious either.  That said, the machine runs really sluggish overall.  Especially while downloading the blockchain.

[LoyceV]

RAM: 4.00 GB (3.89 usable)

So nothing too flashy but not atrocious either.  That said, the machine runs really sluggish overall.  Especially while downloading the blockchain.

I think the 4 GB ram could be a big limitation if you're also running other applications. Try closing as much applications as you can when you're not using your computer, and let it just run Bitcoin Core for a day (or night).
See if that speeds things up.

I've been running Linux on my i3 with 4 GB memory and swapfile on SSD for a long time, and I usually closed Bitcoin Core to save memory when I didn't need it. Until I added 8 GB more memory, that solved everything. I don't need a swapfile anymore, I can keep Bitcoin Core running without slowing down anything. If at all possible, you'll love a memory upgrade.

[Seatownkid]

RAM: 4.00 GB (3.89 usable)

So nothing too flashy but not atrocious either.  That said, the machine runs really sluggish overall.  Especially while downloading the blockchain.

I think the 4 GB ram could be a big limitation if you're also running other applications. Try closing as much applications as you can when you're not using your computer, and let it just run Bitcoin Core for a day (or night).
See if that speeds things up.

I've been running Linux on my i3 with 4 GB memory and swapfile on SSD for a long time, and I usually closed Bitcoin Core to save memory when I didn't need it. Until I added 8 GB more memory, that solved everything. I don't need a swapfile anymore, I can keep Bitcoin Core running without slowing down anything. If at all possible, you'll love a memory upgrade.

Appreciate the reply and helpful tips which i'll be sure to reply.  That aside, any guess as to why i'm seeing such a large disparity in dl speeds between say my browsers(220Mbps) and the actual bitcoin core application(a putrid 0.1 Mbps)?

[Seatownkid]

I should also note another reason it's taken me multiple weeks to get to 39% is due to my machine continuing to go to sleep after a few hours despite a clear conflict with my power plan which is set to "Never".

[Seatownkid]

Anybody?

[achow101]

There is a significant difference between what your browser is doing and what Bitcoin Core is doing. Core is not just downloading data; it is also verifying every single block and transaction and writing them all to disk. That means that there are multiple bottlenecks, not just network. You could have a CPU, RAM, or disk bottleneck. Given the specs of your machine, I am not surprised that it is taking so long to sync; your computer simply is not powerful enough to sync quickly. You have a low powered CPU and not a lot of RAM so it is going to take a long time. 4 GB RAM is barely enough, but your dual core CPU at 1.6 GHz is also going to slow you down. Unfortunately, there isn't much that you can do except wait.

[Seatownkid]

There is a significant difference between what your browser is doing and what Bitcoin Core is doing. Core is not just downloading data; it is also verifying every single block and transaction and writing them all to disk. That means that there are multiple bottlenecks, not just network. You could have a CPU, RAM, or disk bottleneck. Given the specs of your machine, I am not surprised that it is taking so long to sync; your computer simply is not powerful enough to sync quickly. You have a low powered CPU and not a lot of RAM so it is going to take a long time. 4 GB RAM is barely enough, but your dual core CPU at 1.6 GHz is also going to slow you down. Unfortunately, there isn't much that you can do except wait.

Appreciate the reply.  While i completely agree with and understand every word in your statement out of curiosity, shouldn't at least the DL speed for BC Core be a lot more than 0.1 Mbps being displayed via task manager even if the overall process is being impeded by the other aforementioned bottlenecks and overall weak machine?  Or do the other issues someone manage to directly impact the DL speed itself?

[achow101]

Appreciate the reply.  While i completely agree with and understand every word in your statement out of curiosity, shouldn't at least the DL speed for BC Core be a lot more than 0.1 Mbps being displayed via task manager even if the overall process is being impeded by the other aforementioned bottlenecks and overall weak machine?  Or do the other issues someone manage to directly impact the DL speed itself?

IIRC Bitcoin Core does not download the blockchain synchronously with the processing. It will download blocks as quickly as possible, minimally check them, and store them to be processed later. So what likely has happened is that the entire blockchain has been downloaded, but since your node is still processing them, you aren't synced yet.

[Seatownkid]

Appreciate the reply.  While i completely agree with and understand every word in your statement out of curiosity, shouldn't at least the DL speed for BC Core be a lot more than 0.1 Mbps being displayed via task manager even if the overall process is being impeded by the other aforementioned bottlenecks and overall weak machine?  Or do the other issues someone manage to directly impact the DL speed itself?

IIRC Bitcoin Core does not download the blockchain synchronously with the processing. It will download blocks as quickly as possible, minimally check them, and store them to be processed later. So what likely has happened is that the entire blockchain has been downloaded, but since your node is still processing them, you aren't synced yet.

Ah, well that would explain it...

[LoyceV]

IIRC Bitcoin Core does not download the blockchain synchronously with the processing. It will download blocks as quickly as possible, minimally check them, and store them to be processed later. So what likely has happened is that the entire blockchain has been downloaded, but since your node is still processing them, you aren't synced yet.

Unfortunately, you are wrong here. Bitcoin Core verifies each block before downloading the next one. Or it might download a few at once, I'm not sure about that.
You can easily verify this by checking the size of it's directory, or your Network History graph. When Core is syncing, the directory size slowly grows. Once in a while, I see a short burst at high download speed, then nothing for a while. During this "nothing", my CPU shows high activity processing the data.

[PeaMine]

I had a similar issue, my blockchain would stop downloading with no error.  CPU, Disk, Network, all seemed to be idle.
I tried everything, the one fix for me, was to stop the bitcoin core program properly, wait a bit, restart computer, then try again.
It instantly sped back up and did the same progress it did in the past 12 hours, in about 30 minutes.
i7, 16GB of RAM, 512GB SSD SATA3, Windows 10.