Cable and DSL are both Broadband ranging in speeds from 1.5 megabits/sec. up to 12 megabits/sec., dial up is very slow 56 kilobits/sec. or .056 megabits/sec. the speeds are not guaranteed of course. Cable is the fastest personal connection with speeds up to 12 megabits with DSL running second with 1.5 megabits, most cable companies offer different rates at different costs ranging from 1.5 to 12. As for the best speed, the faster the better, so cable wins hands down. DSL is basically T-1 without the upload speeds and the static IP address cable offers download speeds greater than T-1, I average 5 to 6 megabits/sec. on a 6 megabit line.