Strange difference in browsing behavior between iMac G5 and iBook question

[reprobate]

When I read these forums using the iMac and expanded threads, it's very slow to reload a page. For instance, when I'm reading a whole thread and then go back to the main page of that forum the iMac can take up to thirty seconds to reload and display the entire page with expanded threads, and during the process the fans increase in speed and loudness until the page has finished reloading. At the same task the iBook G4 is almost instantaneous, and I can't figure out why the difference.

Both machines are running OS X 10.4.3, and Firefox 1.0.7. And I regularly clean the cache of both browsers. One would think that the G5 should be faster than the G4 at this, so I'm at a loss to find the reason that they would act so very differently.

Any suggestions?

[politicat]

1. DH says network is most likely at fault.

It's not a CPU issue unless the site is flash heavy and DU isn't. It's likely to be the placement on the network.

Is the iBook using a wireless card and the iMac using ethernet?

DH also mentioned trying a different browser - Camino is supposed to be good about loading text before images.

[reprobate]

2. Thanks for the reply, politicat. Actually, they are both wireless.

And the G5 is within two feet of the router, while the iBook G4 is probably fifty feet away. By all rights the G5 iMac should load faster, but even being so far away with weaker wireless signal, the G4 is faster by far at reloading.

To quot Yul Brenner: Tis a puzzlement.

[politicat]

3. Empty the caches.

Reset prefs on the desktop.

Bench test with a non-safari browser. If Camino or Firefox is slow to load, then you know it's not software. If they're quick to load, then it's the safari installation on the G5. Wipe its library, clear the prefs, and start over.

Above a G3 on a fast internet connection, caching may actually slow down a browser. I have it turned off.

[politicat]

4. duped.

Sigh....