Best way to check server speed
 

I am trying to compare two servers at two hosts to see which is quicker.

Simple ping the best way? Any sites that test speed?

Thanks.

Tracerts from different locations:
http://www.tracert.com/cgi-bin/trace.pl

no
If you are 20 miles from one host and 1500 miles from the other host a simple "ping" will do you no good. Unless of course the host 20 miles away is on some shit provider and your packets have to go across the country first and back to get to the destination.