Your computer specs aren't going to have anything to do with this problem, unless you can't even load a file from your harddrive, then I'd be worried.
If you are wireless, are there any wireless electronics around the area that can effect the signal?
If you are wired, you share a hub with your neighbors, and sometimes most people are on the same hub as the entire block, at peak times, your dl speed will be slower.
How many computers are sharing your network at the same time? That's usually my problem, I have three computers hooked up and if we are all running torrents and messengers at the same time, it gets ugly fast.
