which? network card

ikthius · 07-03-2005, 11:33

Sorry couldn't resist the heading,

but anyway, I am looking to get a network card for my computer, it came with one, and I currently use this for home networking, but I want another card (singular) so that I can change my modem connection from USB to Ehternet.

what do you guys recommend?

system:
AMD Athlon XP 3000+
1.21 Gb Ram
Windows XP Home SP2
Ambit cable modem (NTL Home 120)

if you need any other specs, just ask.

ik

Neil · 07-03-2005, 11:50

Ditch the extra NIC idea, get a router.

ikthius · 07-03-2005, 11:55

so could you explain what the beneifts of a router is and how much they cost?

ik

07-03-2005, 11:59

you can connect all of your home network machines to the router and all will then have access to the NET

Share printers too (might need a print server but some routers have this built in)

Hardware firewall

ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£40+

ian@huth · 07-03-2005, 12:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikthius

so could you explain what the beneifts of a router is and how much they cost?

ik

With a router you do not have to leave the PCs connected powered up all the time where using your method you have to have the PC connected to the cable modem on for other PCs to use the connection. A router can be a firewall as well. You can get routers from around ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£18 http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=52897

etccarmageddon · 07-03-2005, 12:11

avoid Belkin wireless routers - I have taken 2 back to PC in the last month due to problems and bumped into someone at pcworld who mentioned the belkin pre n router which I was returning had already had a lot of problems reported on another forum.

50420 · 07-03-2005, 13:03

depends who you ask i suppose...as with most things PC people have their favorites.. browsers, operating sytems, email clients, AV/Firewalls.. service providers..

I've had a belkin wireless router for nearly a year now, was a doddle to to set up and has been faultless.

ikthius · 07-03-2005, 14:12

so why are routers better than just getting a network card? is it safer? quicker?

will I get cables with it?

I don't know anything about routers.

ik

etccarmageddon · 07-03-2005, 14:28

you get cables and it means you dont need to have your pc on all the time in order to share the connection.

ian@huth · 07-03-2005, 14:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by etccarmageddon

you get cables and it means you dont need to have your pc on all the time in order to share the connection.

You don't get cables with the Ebuyer router I mentioned in post #5 but they only cost from 37p upwards

ikthius · 07-03-2005, 14:44

ah, I am starting to see an up side to this router thing!

so what routers, apart from post #5, does everyone recommend?

ik

Aragorn · 07-03-2005, 15:10

Personally I use a Linksys router - no problems with it in 2 years. Something like http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...tml?LIN-BEFSR4 - although this doesn't have a print server.

keithwalton · 07-03-2005, 15:26

depending on your budget en all. but if your only connecting a modem to it. the cheapo lan cards will suffice (cost a few ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£ tops) no need to splash out on a 10/100/1000. I'm not a big fan of routers myself but then thats just me!

Edit- bargain! http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=42061
since you'll be using 10mbit tops cpu usage will be negligable

ikthius · 25-04-2005, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikthius

Sorry couldn't resist the heading,

but anyway, I am looking to get a network card for my computer, it came with one, and I currently use this for home networking, but I want another card (singular) so that I can change my modem connection from USB to Ehternet.

what do you guys recommend?

system:
AMD Athlon XP 3000+
1.21 Gb Ram
Windows XP Home SP2 & mandrake 10.1
Ambit cable modem (NTL Home 120)

if you need any other specs, just ask.

ik

I added another OS

I am looking to buy a router in the next few days, but I would like one that will be able to go through Mandrake as well.

also, what does the 10/100/1000 part mean?

ik

zovat · 25-04-2005, 16:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikthius

ah, I am starting to see an up side to this router thing!

so what routers, apart from post #5, does everyone recommend?

ik

Personally I use Linksys - I have the WRT54G (wireless) which works really well.

Netgear are a little more expensive - but pretty reliable (I get less calls from friends/family who have them

)

Belkin are cheap, but can be flaky - if you get a good one, they seem to be easy to setup and run.

D-Link are normally ok as well, but not many people I know are using them.

HTH