Cox Internet Essential vs Preferred (to sell, streaming, high speed Internet)

[Solere]

Is there a noticeable difference in speed between Cox High Speed Internet Essential vs Preferred? I use the internet primarily to read content on different websites and watch videos on YouTube.

[PinkElephant]

Not that I've noticed.

[Bungle]

Yes there is. Essential is 5Mbps down and Preferred is 50Mbps down. I have the Preferred and I'm actually getting around 60Mbps down which is great for streaming content...you'll be buffering quite often with the Essential package if you want HD content.

[ajonesaz]

Originally Posted by Bungle

Yes there is. Essential is 5Mbps down and Preferred is 50Mbps down. I have the Preferred and I'm actually getting around 60Mbps down which is great for streaming content...you'll be buffering quite often with the Essential package if you want HD content.

There will not be any buffering a 5Mbps despite what Cox tells you. HD video streams at 2-3mb per sec. You would only need more if you had more devices accessing the internet. Example, you are streaming Netflix at 2.5mb (max they do) and someone in the other room is streaming Youtube at 2.5mb sec. You might get buffering in that case because you are maxing out. Cox usually tries to sell more than you need. I use to stream netflix using their 1.5mbps plan, it wasn't HD but still worked just fine.