Very slow bitcoin core download

[Abuliglig]

Can anyone please help me, I'm not technical, just a normal guy who wants to do his part in helping the bitcoin network.
I have been downloading from http://bitcoin.org for over 10 days now, unfortunately, it's extremely slow despite my broadband working normally. It's downloading at a rate of 0.08% per hour!
I'm NOT using Tor for download, just normal clear internet. I have stopped and restarted the download several times. I have restarted the laptop several times. the laptop is connected directly to the router via ethernet cable, but nothing seems to be improving this.
Do I need to change the settings?
Please advise me.
Thank you.

[LoyceV]

A few pointers in the right direction:

• To "help the Bitcoin network", you'll have to manually enable uploading. By default, Bitcoin Core doesn't do that.
• Synchronizing the blockchain doesn't download from bitcoin.org, but from other Bitcoin nodes.
• To improve synchronization speeds, in general more RAM helps. If you have 16 GB, increase database cache in Bitcoin Core's settings to 4096 MB.
• A HDD is much slower than a SSD.
• Restarting Bitcoin Core or your entire laptop doesn't help. Synchronizing (and verifying) 336 GB just takes time.

[Abuliglig]

There are few things you should check before change any setting,
1. Does Bitcoin Core utilize 100% CPU?
2. Is your disk usage constantly near 100%?
3. Are there any error message on debug.log file (you can find it on where you store blockchain files) ?

Also, please read [READ BEFORE POSTING] Tech Support Help Request Format, so it's easier to identify the problem & think the solution.

Thank you for your reply,
I'm not technical, so please bear with me can you tell me as you may need to use much more simple language than normal.  

How I can find out if my CPU is near 100%?
I have downloaded 96% of Bitcoin core and have 429GB out of 888 free.
my RAM is 8GB
Intel Core i5-4210U CPU @ 1.70GHz   2.40 GHz

Bitcoin Client Software and Version Number: V0.20.1
Operating System: Windows 10


Thank you

[ranochigo]

How I can find out if my CPU is near 100%?

Using your task manager. Check your disk usage as well.

Have you by any chance shut down your computer before the (shutting down...) dialog disappears after closing Bitcoin Core? I think your debug.log will provide more insight. In your Bitcoin Core, go to Window>Information and click (Open) below the debug log file. After that, scroll to the bottom and see if there's any information indicating block corrupted or connection timeout. Anything that indicates an error of some sort.

[Abuliglig]

Thank you for your message
1. nothing obviously wrong when I open the debug file.
2. I always wait for the dialogue box to go before shutting down the computer.
3. CPU usage at 9%
4. on task manager the disk usage is constantly 98- 100% even though I'm NOT running any other programs on the laptop. Anything I can do about this?
5. anyway I can add Screenshots on here? I clicked on the image icon above and some script happens.
Thanks

[ranochigo]

4. on task manager the disk usage is constantly 98- 100% even though I'm NOT running any other programs on the laptop. Anything I can do about this?

Is it from Bitcoin Core alone? It might be the bottleneck thats hindering your synchronization. But 0.08% is pretty slow. How much free ram do you have? You can try going to Settings>Options>Main and increase the size of database cache to try to increase the speed.

5. anyway I can add Screenshots on here? I clicked on the image icon above and some script happens.
Thanks

You probably can't display pictures. Just upload the picture to imgur and send the link here if you'd like.

[Abuliglig]

4. on task manager the disk usage is constantly 98- 100% even though I'm NOT running any other programs on the laptop. Anything I can do about this?

Is it from Bitcoin Core alone? It might be the bottleneck thats hindering your synchronization. But 0.08% is pretty slow. How much free ram do you have? You can try going to Settings>Options>Main and increase the size of database cache to try to increase the speed.

5. anyway I can add Screenshots on here? I clicked on the image icon above and some script happens.
Thanks

You probably can't display pictures. Just upload the picture to imgur and send the link here if you'd like.

Thank you for your reply.

I have increased cache from 450MB to 900MB, no difference.
It might by disk usage that is slowing this down, dont know why it's near 100% when I'm not running anything else. Using other programs is a little slow, but no way this bad. I downloaded 500MB in a couple of minutes no problem yet bitcoin core is taking ages

[LoyceV]

I have increased cache from 450MB to 900MB, no difference.

If you have enough free RAM: try a bit more.

It might by disk usage that is slowing this down, dont know why it's near 100% when I'm not running anything else.

Bitcoin Core has to verify all data, which takes a lot of search actions on your disk. The only real solution is switching to SSD.

[HCP]

I downloaded 500MB in a couple of minutes no problem yet bitcoin core is taking ages

It's a common misconception that you just need to download 350+ gigs of data to "sync" your Bitcoin Core node... and users are often left wondering why their gigabyte fibre connection is not downloading the blockchain faster. The reality is that you need to download and verify all that data... The verification/processing of all the data involves a lot of reading/writing to disk during the initial sync. And it's usually hardware like HDD and low end CPUs that bottleneck this part of the process.

Hence why you're seeing such high disk usage... being a laptop, it's probably a (very) slow 5400 RPM 2.5" HDD with a small cache... if it was an SSD it would be much faster. Alternatively, cranking up the amount of RAM used for the DB cache helps, because then more of the data is stored in RAM more often instead of being read/written to disk so much. This also helps speed things up during the initial sync.


Unfortunately, there is not much you can really do about it now, but wait. The good news is that it will finish... eventually

[Abuliglig]

Thank you all for your help, I have managed to download the whole blockchain now.

I'm running it through Tor using the proxy IP: 127.0.0.1 Port 9050

Just a couple of questions (sorry if this seems basic):
1) I have checked "allow incoming connections" - would that still work via Tor and does it jeopardise my security to allow incoming connections?

2) in the bottom Right-hand corner, I seem to have "0" active connections the bitcoin network, but when I run it using VPN and NOT use the IP: 127.0.0.1 Port 9050 - I have 10 connections - Am I missing something?

Thank you

[ranochigo]

1) I have checked "allow incoming connections" - would that still work via Tor and does it jeopardise my security to allow incoming connections?

AFAIK, Bitcoin Core cannot prevent other users from connecting to your Bitcoin Core using your real IP address and it will listen on both Tor and on your actual IP. I would indicate bind=127.0.0.1 to prevent others from connecting to my Bitcoin Core using the actual IP as it'll result in your privacy being degraded significantly.

2) in the bottom Right-hand corner, I seem to have "0" active connections the bitcoin network, but when I run it using VPN and NOT use the IP: 127.0.0.1 Port 9050 - I have 10 connections - Am I missing something?

Are you specifying onlynet=onion in your configuration? Try connecting to some peers on here[1].

[1] https://bitnodes.io/nodes/?q=Tor%20network

[Abuliglig]

Dear Ranochigo

Thank you for your reply, but sounds like I'm in way over my head here... I'm a doctor, with no IT background.

I think I'll get bitcoin core to connect via VPN, it's much simpler. If I connect via VPN, does it still compromise my privacy?
I want to help others, but not at the expense of privacy and security, so should I UNCHECK "allow incoming connections" while using VPN?

Many thanks for your help on this 

[ranochigo]

I think I'll get bitcoin core to connect via VPN, it's much simpler. If I connect via VPN, does it still compromise my privacy?

VPN masks your location but your VPN provider would still be able to see your traffic. They can keep logs on what and who you're connecting to as well as seeing the data being transferred from your node and could determine which transactions belongs to you and your habits. Tor, when done right is the best for privacy.

I want to help others, but not at the expense of privacy and security, so should I UNCHECK "allow incoming connections" while using VPN?

You won't risk security or privacy when allowing inbound connections. The main risks arises when you're using Tor, allowing inbound connections and if some nodes connect to you through your clearnet. If you want to avoid this from happening, either bind the IP to 127.0.0.1 or disable it completely which is the default behavior for proxied Bitcoin Core.

Anyhow, my take on Bitcoin Core is that running one primarily benefits yourself. Yes, you will benefit the network as a whole but if privacy is more important to you, you could look at Wasabi wallet which streamlines the process for their users by implementing coinjoin as well.

[Abuliglig]

Dear

I really appreciate your guidance and patience.


[/quote]
You won't risk security or privacy when allowing inbound connections. The main risks arises when you're using Tor, allowing inbound connections and if some nodes connect to you through your clearnet. If you want to avoid this from happening, either bind the IP to 127.0.0.1 or disable it completely which is the default behavior for proxied Bitcoin Core.
[/quote]

Maybe I'm not using Tor correctly.
I have checked the box SOCKS5 proxy: IP to 127.0.0.1  and port to 9050.
I have also checked the box underneath it "use separate SOCKS5 proxy to reach peers via Tor hidden services" proxy: IP to 127.0.0.1  and port to 9050
I allow incoming connections.
I start the Tor browser
When I do the above, there are zero active connections to bitcoin network.

[NotATether]

Maybe I'm not using Tor correctly.
I have checked the box SOCKS5 proxy: IP to 127.0.0.1  and port to 9050.
I have also checked the box underneath it "use separate SOCKS5 proxy to reach peers via Tor hidden services" proxy: IP to 127.0.0.1  and port to 9050
I allow incoming connections.
I start the Tor browser
When I do the above, there are zero active connections to bitcoin network.

Tor browser uses a different SOCKS port than 9050. Port 9050 is the port used by command-line tor. Tor Browser listens on port 9150. You need to change the settings in Bitcoin Core to use port 9150 if you want to get Tor connections while you leave Tor Browser running.