Cable modem vs DSL options

[mcs328]

Previously I had at most 4 computers connected to DSL with 360/360 speeds. Two computers weren't being used for anything intensive and mostly were just on and connected. The other two were actively used for online gaming and surfing. So the speed seemed sufficient.

Now I have a new roommate who brings his friends daily and nightly until the AM hours to play LAN games and go online also to play online. The old roommates took his two computers with him. The new roommate has 4-5 computers hooked up together in his room with 4 more ready to be setup and hooked up in the converted dining room. Potentially 10 computers will be actively online for gaming (RTCW, Jedi Knight II, Half-Life, Counterstrike..etc) and surfing.

Our DSL has died and the option before me is a higher speed DSL or cable modem (The other option is just move out but that's a seperate issue). Which option is cost effective and will support this much online activity? Since cable modem has a 128 upload limit I think, would this be noticeable?

[i6s1]

Every broadband connection is different in every neighboorhood. There is no way to tell by looking at the numbers (or technology) what is going to be faster.

As far as cost-effective, how much is cable/DSL in your area, and what kind of buisiness services are available?

I would bite the bullet and have them both hooked up. Try them both out for a month, side by side. Then cancel the one that sucks.

[DoPeY5007]

you 360 up must have been nice, my DSL is inly 128 up....





so yeah you need to see the speed packages that everyone can offer around you.....

[Jihforce]

Originally posted by mcs328

Since cable modem has a 128 upload limit I think, would this be noticeable?

Not necessarely true. My friend has cable modem and his upload is 340.
I have DSL and my upload is 128. Which blows. Cable modem is nice, its roughly the same price as DSL, but its performance is erratic.
DSL is pretty consistant. But you don't get much upload bandwidth with it.
Also, try to get a place that gives you a static IP.
And yes, with 10+ computers accessing the net, it will be very noticeable. I tried hosting Dungeon Siege with 5 players once and the bandwidth didn't seem to be enough.

[mcs328]

Yah Dungeon Siege is another game they play. Hmmm...so the concensus is that cable is more than enough to handle the download demands, it's the uploads from potentially 10 computers limited to 128 or 320 that will be the downfall right?

Stupid ppl...don't they have a home.

[Jeffbx]

Originally posted by mcs328
Yah Dungeon Siege is another game they play. Hmmm...so the concensus is that cable is more than enough to handle the download demands, it's the uploads from potentially 10 computers limited to 128 or 320 that will be the downfall right?

Yes and no - if possible, you really should do as i6s1 says & try them both for a month to see which is better (as long as you can cancel with no penalty). On an unloaded system, cable can be WAY faster than DSL (I've seen speed tests as high at 7Mbps). However, if your local connection is overloaded with too many users, it can also be slower than a 56k modem during peak times (5pm - midnight).

DSL is limited to a lower bandwidth, but it's a dedicated bandwidth - you don't share it with your neighbors. If you can get 768k SDSL, you might get away with 10 concurrent users, but 1.5Mbps would be better.

What are the different DSL options available? You might go with a more expensive (higer bandwidth) connection, and then split the cost with your roommates on a 'per connection' basis... that might clear a few machines out of there. :P

[penguin_hash]

If you're planning on playing a lot of games, then of the standard choices, DSL will have greater potential as upload speeds will be the limitatation, by far.

Not sure what cable modem, you'll be using, but if it's ATT, then they've started standardizing all access, so it'll be 1.5M download and 256k upload. If you want to pay more, then you can get 384k upload, etc. Technically, on the ATT contract, you're not supposed to run any servers off of it.

Btw, the DSL commercials about cable-modem bandwidth sharing limitations are BS, IMHO. The whole neighborhood is probably using 10% of the bandwidth, and with restricted upload/download speeds, either that will be the limitation, or the site you're trying to connect to.

Btw, if you're in desperate need to get some bandwidth from your roomate, Linux has some load-balancing options for routing that you can try out.

I'd hate to think of your electricity bills each month.

[Ladogaboy]

I say, install both Cable and DSL... keep the one you want, and make your roommate use/pay for the other connection.

[mcs328]

I gave him the literature for cable and DSL. Probably move out in October. Yah..I hate to see the electricity bill too. What a SOB. He has 4 computers hooked up, a big tv and four 20 gallon fish tanks going 24/7, his friends coming over and he asks me to save electricity by shutting down my computer and not letting my tv run all night long. Gee...I guess installing my 15 watt compact flourescent light bulb into my lamp wasn't cutting corners enough. :hmm:

[CluelessSi]

Originally posted by mcs328
Yah Dungeon Siege is another game they play. Hmmm...so the concensus is that cable is more than enough to handle the download demands, it's the uploads from potentially 10 computers limited to 128 or 320 that will be the downfall right?

Stupid ppl...don't they have a home.


hmm if this is an issue with your roomates then maybe it will be better to just settle a deal with them or have two DSL lines.. one for them one for u... anyway I know how u feel I have roommates that run FTP servers... I keep having to close them down when I need to use the internet for heavy d/l or gaming..