question for network gurus: what's the best/fastest PCI NIC youve used?

[giambona]

I definitely think the best are Intel and 3Com, although they are kinda expensive. They always have always had excellent drivers (especially for NT)

[Jeffbx]

Yup, 3Com and Intel are the best, but I've also had good luck with Netgear.

Usually, unless there is a problem with the hardware or setup of the cards, there is very little variation in performance - you probably had a bad card.

One other thing to keep in mind - try to stick with one manufacturer throughout your installation if possible. If you use a 3Com hub, get a 3Com NIC. Equipment from the same MFR tends to play nicer with each other.

[topane]

My vote is for Intel, especially on servers, but 3Com is a good choice too. And Jeffbx is right about matching manufacturers with equipment. It does make a difference.

[Memo]

Once again, I say 3Com would have to be one of the best for home users. However, i've also had D-Link NICs in 2 of my computers and have never had a comptability or network problem and they're dirt cheap. Also, SOME of the 3Com NICs that came with DELL Systems have problems with certain cable/dsl modems. Another good manufacturer is SMC and they tend to be inexpensive as well. But like Jeffbx said, it's always best to stick with one manufacturer throughout the network. It tends to cause less problems.

[TommyBoomfiger]

I have an all linksys network at home, and all i can say is its awesome. its super fast and never had any hardware issues.

[ribitch]

I work as a computer technician to students on a colege campus. We have used all sorts of cards. The best i've used has to be the 3com 3c905b-tx

they also make the 3c905c-tx, but the b works a bit better in my mind.

[attgig]

Originally posted by Jeffbx
One other thing to keep in mind - try to stick with one manufacturer throughout your installation if possible. If you use a 3Com hub, get a 3Com NIC. Equipment from the same MFR tends to play nicer with each other.

never really thought that that would make a difference..
if your network is simply say tcp/ip....why should it make a difference whether one is made by 3com and another is made by MyGarageStartup? they should use the same exact protocol, no?

[Memo]

ATT, in a perfect world, that would be the case ;)

[attgig]

yeah....got that much UT :P

so, what about the same brands would make it work better???
if they're using the same protocol, are there some bits that are stuck in there that makes the card put the packets back together faster????
i guess i would like a more 'technical' explanation than, saying that it's not a perfect world that we live in :P

[OC]

I've had good luck with the Netgear FA310X and FA310TX - nice and stable.

-OC

[Apex]

Originally posted by chosenfool
whats the best that money can buy? what's the best value? whats the one you would recommend?

any insight or opinion would be great! thanks!

I'm not sure which is the best one that money can buy. But I think this is the best one no money can buy:

FREE 3Com Gigabit 10/100/1000 NIC (http://www.mcdirect.com/threecom/plsql/form_pkg.display_form?as_campaign_type=CF&as_pro_code=GB8&ai_page=1&as_keycode=1020001&as_refer_url=)

[i6s1]

The fastest NIC I've used isn't a NIC. I use firewire to hook up my laptop to my desktop. 400mb/s. :angry:

I would say try a few, and see what works best. I've always brough a few different cards when I go to put one in. I've never seen a brand that works 100% of the time. :bandit:

[Memo]

Originally posted by attgig


never really thought that that would make a difference..
if your network is simply say tcp/ip....why should it make a difference whether one is made by 3com and another is made by MyGarageStartup? they should use the same exact protocol, no?

I've usually not had a problem with my NICs, usually the HUB was the problem. But now that I have a router and set IPs manually i've never had a problem again.

[sho.gun]

One thing for sure, Realtek = fly infested poop

[LPMiller]

i use 3 com, linksys, SMC, I mix and match as my mood suits. I have no issues. Usually, it comes down to driver issues anyway, not hardware. Though life is usually easier if your setup is the same on each PC, it doesn't always affect speed, if you have good drivers.

[Jeffbx]

Originally posted by attgig


never really thought that that would make a difference..
if your network is simply say tcp/ip....why should it make a difference whether one is made by 3com and another is made by MyGarageStartup? they should use the same exact protocol, no?

Yes, they use the same protocol. That's why you can mix & match equipment & it will all work. However, some mfrs (usually on the higher end of things, like Intel & 3Com) like to throw in a couple of extras that will make their equipment tend to run better together. I read a technical explination of it at one of the vendor's sites a few years back, but unfortunately I don't remember exactly what made the difference (my mind is razor thin).

So, yeah - mix & match all you want. It'll all work fine from a protocol point of view. It just might be marginally more stable or marginally faster with the same MFR throughout.

[giambona]

However, i've also had D-Link NICs in 2 of my computers and have never had a comptability or network problem and they're dirt cheap

i think d-link is made by intel

[AmRivlin]

SMC connected to my Barricade
and 2 Nework everywhere

[pagemap]

Best server NIC? 3Com 980C

Best workstation NIC: 3com 905C

[revil]

Originally posted by Apex
FREE 3Com Gigabit 10/100/1000 NIC (http://www.mcdirect.com/threecom/plsql/form_pkg.display_form?as_campaign_type=CF&as_pro_code=GB8&ai_page=1&as_keycode=1020001&as_refer_url=)
Hehe, thanks for the link

[hapoo]

my network is a mix of smc nics, an smc access point, a netgear wireless nic and linksys nics. never had a problem. I'd love to get my hands on some gigabit eithernet equipment.

[DoPeY5007]

Originally posted by hapoo
I'd love to get my hands on some gigabit eithernet equipment.

I think we all would :drool:

[Grimm]

Originally posted by attgig
yeah....got that much UT :P

so, what about the same brands would make it work better???
if they're using the same protocol, are there some bits that are stuck in there that makes the card put the packets back together faster????
i guess i would like a more 'technical' explanation than, saying that it's not a perfect world that we live in :P

A "protocol" is like minimum system requirements. Manufactures can add onto it, so long as it works with other cards it's ok.
It's also a weakest link issue. If one card is slow at one thing and another is slow at another, they will both be effectively slow in both. This will be much less apparent when all the cards are the same. Then there will be only one choke point instead of two.

[Speedfreak]

That is pretty sad if you change one 10/100 card out for another 10/100 and it is noticably faster connected to a cable modem Considering cable modems don'e even go as fast as 10baseT.

Whatever works. :)

I have a Linksys (With WOL), a netgear, and a generic Us Sertec something.

The Linksys is great. Never had driver problems or connection problems. Fast

The generic is great. Just as good as the Linksys. Fast.

The Netgear is good only on certain cables. When it works, it works just as good as the others, but most of the cables I have used to it will either not find a connection or you have to wiggle the cable for a connection to show up. These are cables that work flawlessly on the other nics I have.

[pagemap]

Linksys...... one of only two companies on my perm-ban list.

Linksys and Acer, permbans for life.

Had a linksys router, was a POS. Sold it on ebay. :)

Acer computer.. most expensive pile of junk i have ever seen

[DoPeY5007]

well I have a few things Linksys and I love them... I feel there is nothing wrong with them...


but hey to each their own :P

[Speedfreak]

Originally posted by pagemap
Linksys...... one of only two companies on my perm-ban list.

Linksys and Acer, permbans for life.


I can agree with you on Acer. Got one of their 17" back in the day and had to return twice. So, I am on the third one, now. I don't have a problem with it now becuase it is on my second pc and that monitor isn't used much. The sad thing is it is a NICE 17". When it works fine it is awesome. It has an almost completely FLAT .25mm Diamondtron grille. I can run it 1024x768 @ 100hertz refresh. It also had dual input: BNC and standard (D-type). What a shame.

[Devhux]

I'm using an Intel Pro/100+ Management Adapter with Alert on LAN (according to Windows XP's Device Manager).

Nice little PCI card that does offer great performance. I don't use the Wake-on-LAN feature, though later on when I start making use of XP's Remote Desktop, it may be a useful feature to enable.