Windows 95/98 contain a utility called "tracert" that shows the different hops your IP request takes to reach its destination. It also shows you where information is slowing down on the Net. To run tracert, open the DOS prompt and type"tracert domainnamehere.com".  Each destination is 'pinged' 3 times and each ping returns a response time. Generally, anything under 200ms is good. If  '*'  is returned, there is a very busy server between you and your requested server.