ip proxies

[MoNksBaNe_Agahnim]

how can you tell how fast a proxy server will be other than by adding it and testing it out?

[iago]

I would recommend either:
1. Testing it out
2. Asking people who've used it

[Banana fanna fo fanna]

You can't.

[Adron]

You can traceroute to it and compare the trace to previously known data. By analyzing performance along various routes to various targets you can create a database of statistics which will eventually allow you to estimate the speed/link capacity of any given proxy without actually connecting to it. Of course, other factors may slow a particular proxy down, but you can never account for all factors without actually testing it.