Why can a remote desktop lag even with enough bandwidth?

Why is the remote desktop still lagging even if the bandwidth is sufficient? Throughput, latency and stability are checked separately — Original article illustration. Some labels may be in Chinese; see the text and linked sources for details.

Bandwidth and latency

Bandwidth describes how much data can be transferred per unit of time; latency describes the time needed for a round trip. A continuous screen stream does not mean every keystroke will receive an immediate response.

Stability matters too

Variation in latency is called jitter. Packet loss can trigger retransmissions or image-quality adjustments. Check wireless interference, network congestion, remote system load and local decoding capabilities separately.

Keep test conditions comparable

For comparisons, use the same device, similar times of day and the same display settings where possible. Record the symptoms and test conditions; a single speed test is not enough to establish the cause.

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