What are realistic expectations for r610 throughput?

Hi there Paul, 
create a 5GHz specific SSID, set up the channel width for 5GHz radios in your venue to 80MHz, grab a Pixel3 or latest MBP, make sure you connect to that 5GHz SSID (all this is to make sure your client and AP are on the best performance setting), and test away. Finally, download Ruckus SpeedFlex mobile app (its free) to test the air performance between AP and Client, to see what you can get irrespective of your WAN connection. 

cheers
Phal

As Phal stated, it depends on three real factors.  SSID configuration.  Client capabilities and cleanliness of the RF environment. 

The R610 is 3x3:3, meaning as you stated it can achieve a mac MCS rate of ~1300 Mbps. 

You can configure an 80 MHz wide channel SSID but if your client device is only 2x2:2 or 1x1:1 or does not support 80 MHz wide channels, it will be your limiting factor. Basically the least common denominator would decide the max achievable data rate (MCS Index - http://mcsindex.com)

Likewise if you configure an 80 MHz wide channel but 20/40 of it is highly saturated by other networks within range, you would most likely see a drastic reduction in throughput as wireless is very much a shared medium. 

Even in pristine conditions and assuming your client is 3x3:3 capable as well, you'd only ever get maybe 70% of that 1300 Mbps rate at best.  And more than likely it'd be somewhere between ~50
and 70% of the spectral efficiency. 

Agree with Brian. You have to be realistic about your environment, your AP & your test device. Honestly, to get 1300Mbps data rate would mean you need to maintain super high SNR while also being in a position to Tx on 3 spatial streams (not just have a device that support it). And these are the things that are in your control!

Then start thinking about the fact that its a shared medium, do you think you would get 915Mbps download on the wire if your machine was connected to a hub? You have no idea who else could be using that spectrum at the same time, if you are lucky, its on the pilot channel of the 80MHz and CCA kicks in. If not, its on one of the bonded channels and your client gets interference and doesn't ACK.

IMO, if you are getting 500+Mbps on a single client your doing well.