diff --git a/src/download.js b/src/download.js
index 062f454..6e671ea 100644
--- a/src/download.js
+++ b/src/download.js
@@ -1,13 +1,36 @@
 import 'dotenv/config';
 import { getDb } from './database.js';
-import { acquire, release, shutdown } from './nntp.pool.js';
-import { decodeYenc } from './yenc.util.js';
+import { acquire, release, shutdown, setPoolSize } from './nntp.pool.js';
+import { decodeYenc, parseYencMeta } from './yenc.util.js';
 import fs from 'fs/promises';
 import log4js from './logger.js';
 
 const logger = log4js.getLogger('download');
 
-async function downloadFile(fileId) {
+async function downloadPart(partNumber, segment, targetBuffer) {
+  let conn;
+  try {
+    conn = await acquire();
+    await conn.group('alt.binaries.test');
+    logger.debug(`Downloading part ${partNumber} with message ID: ${segment.id}`);
+    const bodyBuffer = (await conn.body(`<${segment.id}>`)).data;
+    decodeYenc(bodyBuffer, targetBuffer);
+  } catch (error) {
+    if (error.code === 430) {
+      logger.error(`Article not found for part ${partNumber} (Message ID: ${segment.id})`);
+    } else {
+      throw error;
+    }
+  } finally {
+    if (conn) {
+      release(conn);
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+async function downloadFile(fileId, numConnections) {
+  setPoolSize(numConnections);
+
   const db = await getDb();
   const file = await db.get('SELECT * FROM files WHERE id = ?', fileId);
 
@@ -16,56 +39,54 @@ async function downloadFile(fileId) {
     return;
   }
 
-  logger.info(`Downloading file: ${file.filename}`);
+  logger.info(`Downloading file: ${file.filename} with ${numConnections} connections.`);
 
   const messageIds = JSON.parse(file.message_ids);
   const sortedParts = Object.entries(messageIds).sort(([a], [b]) => parseInt(a, 10) - parseInt(b, 10));
 
-  const parts = [];
-  let conn;
-
+  // Download the first part to get the total file size
+  const [firstPartNumber, firstSegment] = sortedParts[0];
+  let firstBodyBuffer;
+  let conn = await acquire();
   try {
-    conn = await acquire();
     await conn.group('alt.binaries.test');
-    for (const [partNumber, segment] of sortedParts) {
-      if (!segment || !segment.id) {
-        logger.error(`Message ID for part ${partNumber} not found.`);
-        continue;
-      }
-      try {
-        logger.debug(`Downloading part ${partNumber}/${file.parts} with message ID: ${segment.id}`);
-        const bodyBuffer = (await conn.body(`<${segment.id}>`)).data;
-        const decodedPart = decodeYenc(bodyBuffer);
-        parts.push(decodedPart);
-      } catch (error) {
-        if (error.code === 430) {
-          logger.error(`Article not found for part ${partNumber} (Message ID: ${segment.id})`);
-        } else {
-          throw error;
-        }
-      }
-    }
-  } catch (error) {
-    logger.error('Error downloading file parts:', error);
+    firstBodyBuffer = (await conn.body(`<${firstSegment.id}>`)).data;
   } finally {
-    if (conn) {
-      release(conn);
-    }
+    release(conn);
   }
 
-  if (parts.length === file.parts) {
-    const completeFile = Buffer.concat(parts);
-    await fs.writeFile(file.filename, completeFile);
-    logger.info(`File "${file.filename}" downloaded successfully.`);
-  } else {
-    logger.error('Could not download all parts of the file.');
+  const meta = parseYencMeta(firstBodyBuffer);
+  const totalSize = meta.total;
+  if (!totalSize) {
+    throw new Error('Could not determine total file size from yEnc metadata.');
   }
+
+  const targetBuffer = Buffer.alloc(totalSize);
+  logger.info(`Allocated buffer of size ${totalSize} for file "${file.filename}".`);
+
+  // Decode the first part and write it to the target buffer
+  decodeYenc(firstBodyBuffer, targetBuffer);
+
+  const downloadPromises = sortedParts.slice(1).map(([partNumber, segment]) =>
+    downloadPart(partNumber, segment, targetBuffer)
+  );
+
+  await Promise.all(downloadPromises);
+
+  await fs.writeFile(file.filename, targetBuffer);
+  logger.info(`File "${file.filename}" downloaded successfully.`);
 }
 
-const fileId = parseInt(process.argv[2], 10);
-if (isNaN(fileId)) {
+const args = process.argv.slice(2);
+const fileIdArg = args.find(arg => !arg.startsWith('--'));
+const connectionsArg = args.find(arg => arg.startsWith('--connections='));
+
+const fileId = fileIdArg ? parseInt(fileIdArg, 10) : null;
+const numConnections = connectionsArg ? parseInt(connectionsArg.split('=')[1], 10) : 10;
+
+if (!fileId || isNaN(fileId)) {
   logger.error('Please provide a valid file ID as a command-line argument.');
   process.exit(1);
 }
 
-downloadFile(fileId).finally(() => shutdown());
+downloadFile(fileId, numConnections).finally(() => shutdown());
diff --git a/src/nntp.pool.js b/src/nntp.pool.js
index 1bd9248..f511b23 100644
--- a/src/nntp.pool.js
+++ b/src/nntp.pool.js
@@ -3,9 +3,15 @@ import log4js from './logger.js';
 
 const logger = log4js.getLogger('pool');
 
-const POOL_SIZE = 5;
-const connections = [];
-const queue = [];
+let POOL_SIZE = 10;
+const allConnections = new Set(); // Tracks all connections for proper shutdown
+const idleConnections = []; // Tracks available, ready-to-use connections
+const waiters = []; // Queue of promises for tasks waiting for a connection
+let createdCount = 0; // A counter for total connections created
+
+export const setPoolSize = (size) => {
+  POOL_SIZE = size;
+};
 
 const createConnection = async () => {
   const config = {
@@ -19,41 +25,46 @@ const createConnection = async () => {
   const conn = new NNTP(config.host, 119);
   await conn.connect();
   await conn.login(config.user, config.password);
+  allConnections.add(conn); // Add to the set for shutdown tracking
   return conn;
 };
 
 export const acquire = async () => {
-  if (connections.length > 0) {
+  if (idleConnections.length > 0) {
     logger.debug('Reusing existing connection from pool.');
-    return connections.pop();
+    return idleConnections.pop();
   }
 
-  if (connections.length + queue.length < POOL_SIZE) {
-    logger.info('Creating new connection.');
+  if (createdCount < POOL_SIZE) {
+    createdCount++;
+    logger.info(`Creating new connection (${createdCount}/${POOL_SIZE}).`);
     return createConnection();
   }
 
-  logger.info('Waiting for a connection to become available.');
-  return new Promise(resolve => queue.push(resolve));
+  logger.info(`Pool maxed out at ${POOL_SIZE}. Waiting for a connection to become available.`);
+  return new Promise(resolve => waiters.push(resolve));
 };
 
 export const release = conn => {
-  if (queue.length > 0) {
-    logger.info('Releasing connection to a waiting consumer.');
-    const resolve = queue.shift();
+  if (waiters.length > 0) {
+    logger.debug('Releasing connection directly to a waiting task.');
+    const resolve = waiters.shift();
     resolve(conn);
   } else {
-    logger.debug('Returning connection to the pool.');
-    connections.push(conn);
+    logger.debug('Returning connection to the idle pool.');
+    idleConnections.push(conn);
   }
 };
 
 export const shutdown = async () => {
   logger.info('Shutting down all connections in the pool.');
-  const allConns = [...connections];
-  connections.length = 0; // Clear the pool
-
-  for (const conn of allConns) {
-    await conn.quit();
+  const shutdownPromises = [];
+  for (const conn of allConnections) {
+    shutdownPromises.push(conn.quit());
   }
+  await Promise.all(shutdownPromises);
+  allConnections.clear();
+  idleConnections.length = 0;
+  waiters.length = 0;
+  createdCount = 0;
 };