Comparing V2Ray + VLESS with V2Ray + SOCKS5

Comparing V2Ray + VLESS with V2Ray + SOCKS5 and noticing differences in speed and performance. Here are some reasons why V2Ray + VLESS might be slower than V2Ray + SOCKS5:

1. Protocol Complexity

VLESS Protocol: VLESS is a lightweight protocol used in V2Ray, but it still involves some encryption and handshake processes. Although it’s lighter than VMess, VLESS may require more protocol handling than SOCKS5, potentially leading to delays.
SOCKS5 Protocol: SOCKS5 is a simple proxy protocol that mainly forwards traffic without much encryption, so it might be faster in terms of transmission speed.

2. Encryption and Performance

Encryption Overhead: VLESS supports stronger encryption methods, whereas SOCKS5 typically doesn’t involve encryption (unless using an encrypted SOCKS5 variant). This means VLESS might sacrifice some speed in exchange for better security.
CPU Usage: The encryption and decryption processes in V2Ray + VLESS could consume more CPU resources, especially if the VPS has limited CPU performance, potentially affecting overall speed.

3. Connection Management

Multiplexing and Reuse: VLESS often uses multiplexing, allowing multiple connections to share a single transport layer connection. While this can reduce overhead under high load, it might add complexity in some scenarios, affecting speed.
Handshake and Verification: VLESS may involve more handshakes and verification steps when establishing connections, whereas SOCKS5’s connection process is relatively straightforward.

4. Network Routing and Optimization

Routing Differences: Different protocols might take different routes over the network. VLESS traffic might encounter different routing strategies, leading to speed differences.
Packet Size and Fragmentation: VLESS might fragment data to fit transport layer requirements, while SOCKS5 might forward larger packets directly, which could also affect speed.

5. Network Environment and Configuration Optimization

Server Configuration: The VPS configuration might support different protocols differently, and insufficient optimization could impact VLESS performance.
Network Environment: In a poor network environment, VLESS’s encryption, handshake, and other complex operations might exacerbate issues, while SOCKS5, being simpler, might perform better.

Summary and Suggestions

Debugging and Monitoring: Use network monitoring tools to analyze where delays occur, such as during handshake, encryption, or transmission.
Optimize V2Ray Configuration: Try adjusting VLESS settings, such as encryption methods, handshake frequency, and transmission modes, to find a balance between performance and security.
Comparison Testing: Conduct multiple tests under the same network conditions with both V2Ray + VLESS and V2Ray + SOCKS5, and record metrics like latency and bandwidth utilization for analysis.

If your priority is speed and security isn’t a major concern, V2Ray + SOCKS5 might be a better option. However, if you need higher security and more advanced features, V2Ray + VLESS could be more suitable, even though it might be slightly slower.