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Atheros 8121

Markbnj

Elite Member <br>Moderator Emeritus
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Has anyone had experience with this onboard NIC? I replaced my motherboard the other day with an Asus that has this chip, and am running Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit. I've tried the current release and beta 64-bit drivers that Asus links, and whether I use them or the native driver the NIC won't negotiate a 1gig link with my switch. The previous board had a Marvell that ran at 1 gig w/o issues for several years using the same cable to the same switch (XP/Vista 32). The Asus drivers also caused a BSOD last night while streaming some video, so I removed them and let Windows handle the NIC for now, since I can't get 1 gig either way. I'm wondering whether it's worth futzing around with this, or whether I should just spend the $30 for a decent Intel 1 gig PCI NIC. Any thoughts?
 
If you have another computer with a gig-E NIC, try connecting the two NICs directly to each other and see what speed is negotiated. I've heard of some stories of consumer switches not being able to negotiate gig speed.
 
Thanks, guys. her209, I have another machine connected to that switch, running Debian and it negotiates 1000 mbps just fine. The previous motherboard on-board NIC also negotiated 1000 mbps with the same switch, so I have assumed the switch was working.

Jack, thanks, I'll have a look there. Perhaps they have something newer than the Asus site.
 
Originally posted by: Markbnj
Thanks, guys. her209, I have another machine connected to that switch, running Debian and it negotiates 1000 mbps just fine. The previous motherboard on-board NIC also negotiated 1000 mbps with the same switch, so I have assumed the switch was working.

Jack, thanks, I'll have a look there. Perhaps they have something newer than the Asus site.
No, I mean connect the two NICs directly to each other via a patch/crossover cable and see what it negotiates for the speed. There may some "incompatibility" issue when you use the NIC and switch together. The switch may be "working perfectly" with other NICs.
 
Originally posted by: her209
Originally posted by: Markbnj
Thanks, guys. her209, I have another machine connected to that switch, running Debian and it negotiates 1000 mbps just fine. The previous motherboard on-board NIC also negotiated 1000 mbps with the same switch, so I have assumed the switch was working.

Jack, thanks, I'll have a look there. Perhaps they have something newer than the Asus site.
No, I mean connect the two NICs directly to each other via a patch/crossover cable and see what it negotiates for the speed. There may some "incompatibility" issue when you use the NIC and switch together. The switch may be "working perfectly" with other NICs.

Ok, thanks. I see what you mean. I may give that a try, though I don't have a crossover patch cable handy. With a new Intel 1000mbps NIC at $30 shipped there is a limit to how much more I'll do to try and make this one work. Not that I am not intellectually curious 🙂.
 
Originally posted by: Markbnj
Originally posted by: her209
Originally posted by: Markbnj
Thanks, guys. her209, I have another machine connected to that switch, running Debian and it negotiates 1000 mbps just fine. The previous motherboard on-board NIC also negotiated 1000 mbps with the same switch, so I have assumed the switch was working.

Jack, thanks, I'll have a look there. Perhaps they have something newer than the Asus site.
No, I mean connect the two NICs directly to each other via a patch/crossover cable and see what it negotiates for the speed. There may some "incompatibility" issue when you use the NIC and switch together. The switch may be "working perfectly" with other NICs.
Ok, thanks. I see what you mean. I may give that a try, though I don't have a crossover patch cable handy. With a new Intel 1000mbps NIC at $30 shipped there is a limit to how much more I'll do to try and make this one work. Not that I am not intellectually curious 🙂.
With gig-E NICs, you can use a patch cable and the NIC will auto-cross.
 
Originally posted by: Markbnj
Has anyone had experience with this onboard NIC? I replaced my motherboard the other day with an Asus that has this chip, and am running Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit. ...

I'm wondering whether it's worth futzing around with this, or whether I should just spend the $30 for a decent Intel 1 gig PCI NIC. Any thoughts?

I have one computer which has been running such a NIC (Asus P5Q Pro) with no issues under Vista x64 (driver version 1.0.0.39). Don't know the state of W7 drivers. It might not be worth the hassle/wait -- I'd suggest a PCIe NIC however.
 
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