Best network card for under $30????

[BadMuleS]

my isa card just aint cutting it think it might be part of bad speeds on my cable modem, any suggestions?

 

[Macaw]

For just over $30 you can get a 3COM 3C509 which basically isn't any better than the rest of the cards but at least you will never have to worry about driver support. To me that's worth it. I'd rather pay $40 for my network card and always have it work with any OS than pay $15 and hope it works.

 

[BadMuleS]

hmm ill take that in to consideration and yes that does make alot of sense to me as well.. thanks!

 

[Quickfingerz]

ummm... OS support is never really a problem with most NIC's. I say get a Netgear FA311 or FA312 if you need the WOL.

 

[blstriker]

Linksys makes good cards.

 

[Supergax]

You can get an SMC 10/100 EZ nic from CompUSA for 20 bucks, it has support for every OS that the 3com cards have. But, for $38, just 8 bucks over your pricerange, you can get an Intel Pro 10/100 from mwave.com.

 

[goldboyd]

if you're going to get a cheap nic you cant go wrong with a realtec chipset, tcwo has them for $11. although if you dont mind spending a bit more money, i'd have to give props to supergaxs idea of getting an intel

 

[outlamd]

I second the Linksys vote. Great cards, good driver support.

 

[TungFree]

I 2nd the SMC have 3 of them and my cable company uses them on your computer when they install a new modem and card to give u service. The one they use is without wake on lan the one sold by say outpost.com (if u buye over 100$ they ship free) smc EZ card 10/100 pci (SMC1211 Series) outpost sells them for 19.95
but some sell it for as low as 15 at times so u decide where I recommended the what )

I am running win98 and use it on 4 computers.
Tungfree

 

[BadMuleS]

wow thanks for all the responses fellas anyone know of a review or something i can check out? if there is any current ones that is?

 

[jonnyGURU]

I've got four of those $11 10/100 cards.

Three in Windows, one in Linux and no problemos!

 

[StoneG]

i did got two 3com905 at $48 each they work great in win98se and win2000 (wake on lan, managed boot pc agent, complete network managed pc, features are great too)

 

[RanDum72]

check http://www.practicallynetworked.com.

 

[86plymouthcolt]

D-Link 10/100 Fast Ethernet. product number DFE-530tx+ at CompUSA for $19.99. It is totally compatable with Linux.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Is it the D-Link or the Netgear that has problems in the Asus A7V, though?

One of them doesn't work. Can't remember which one.

 

[JackMDS]

The above mentioned SMC card only $12.99 @ buy.com

http://www.us.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10222384&loc=101

Some people claim that Coke is superior to Pepsi, and vice versa. During the years, few serious ?Blind test? were conducted.
In most of these tests people can not distinguish between the two.

 

[Shuxclams]

Netgear FA310TX






SHUX

 

[chemwiz]

I use a lot of the RealTek chipset cards, they're an excellent low cost solution. Use the reference drivers, they update them often and they work well. If it's going to a hub (not a switch) with a cable modem on it, use half duplex mode, if it's a switch, use full.

 

[BadMuleS]

I ended up getting the netgear FA311 thanks fellas!!

 

[jonnyGURU]

Shux are you saying the Netgear is what doesn't work on the A7V? I think it is. I have people call me all of the time telling me that the system doesn't see the network with known good cards, but plug something else into the same slot and it work flawlessly.

 

[Consultant]

I have used both 3C905 (came with my DSL modem) and Linkysys LNE100TX cards and I prefer the Linksys. The 3Com card seems to be more robust and probably utilizes less processor power but the Linksys cards are far cheaper (under $20) and work just as well. I have Red Hat 7.0 on a Linksys and Win2000/Win98SE on another Linksys. You cant go wrong with them in my opinion.

 

[Akash]

i have to recomend intel network cards.. they are the best..

 

[jonnyGURU]

I have to agree with the Intel 10/100 as being "the best".

Here at work we had all 3Com 905s and MOST of them failed with the first year. We replaced them all with Intels and have only had one fail.

Of course, I wanted to prove a point to my boss about cost effectiveness so I put an $11 NIC in my work computer too.

 

[err]

SMC ... definetely.. I've used many of them without any problems. Works flawlessly across multiple platforms

eRr

 

[Jonnybaby]

Anyone have an opinion of 3com's 3c450? It costs a little more than the linksys, smc or netgear, about $30, is it worth it?