-
We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.
Best wired router available for $150 or less
Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
I just recently purchased a D-link DG-4300 gaming router, and I had stability problems with the router and had to RMA it. I should be getting a replacement anytime. The problem I had with the router is that it would reboot at least once a day, and after countless emails and one phone conversation with tech support they sugguested I return the router for a new one.
As for stability, I would have to agree with other members that cisco is rock solid. As captante sugguested you might have to spend almost double the amount you stated to get a cisco router. Also if you're not familiar with cisco routers, setup can be a pain, even though they now do come with a somewhat user friendly interface called SDM.
One thing to mention is that cisco updates are not free, you will need to have a support contract to be able to download updates to the cisco IOS.
As for stability, I would have to agree with other members that cisco is rock solid. As captante sugguested you might have to spend almost double the amount you stated to get a cisco router. Also if you're not familiar with cisco routers, setup can be a pain, even though they now do come with a somewhat user friendly interface called SDM.
One thing to mention is that cisco updates are not free, you will need to have a support contract to be able to download updates to the cisco IOS.
Have you looked and the new Wireless N. I havent used one but if you are going wireless why not try the new wireless N
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/prod...tail.aspx?sku=A0642956&cs=19&c=us&l=en
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/prod...tail.aspx?sku=A0642956&cs=19&c=us&l=en
InlineFive
Diamond Member
Games are designed to use Kbps of bandwidth for Internet connections versus Mbps of bandwidth for LAN connections. And since LAN pings are generally under 1 Millisecond I don't see why Gigabit will help you at all.
Fallen Kell
Diamond Member
Stay away from the belkin Pre-N devices. They have some major flaws in them, like throttleing network bandwidth when high demad is requested (even have seen 3-5 seconds with NO packets being sent).
That said, I am currently using a linksys WRT54G running DD-WRT OS. It works for the most part, but I believe it is the bottleneck in my network (I have a 16 port managed gigabit switch which I have all my computers connected to, with 2 truncated connections to the Wrt54g for 200mbps theoritical connection to the router, not that the other end of the router can communicate that fast as it is a 6mbps comcast line...)
That said, I am currently using a linksys WRT54G running DD-WRT OS. It works for the most part, but I believe it is the bottleneck in my network (I have a 16 port managed gigabit switch which I have all my computers connected to, with 2 truncated connections to the Wrt54g for 200mbps theoritical connection to the router, not that the other end of the router can communicate that fast as it is a 6mbps comcast line...)
cgeorgeisaac
Junior Member
Dlink's DI-604 is very good for the price and specifications.
cgeorgeisaac
Toronto
cgeorgeisaac
Toronto
MercenaryForHire
Lifer
Get a stable wireless one, and shut off the wireless or remove the antennas. 😛
- M4H
bob4432
Lifer
what about a older gen (v2 wired/wireless) router running a 3rd party firmware? currently over 280days with no issues and there are 100s of GB of data through this little guy. maybe i got lucky, but it has been the best $50 i have ever spent, plus the 3rd party firmwares give you much better options. this firmware is what they should have come stock with....
I'd be more than willing to run modded firmware on a router in my own home but I just can't see doing that for clients in their offices and homes. With the home theaters and whole house audio systems I'm installing requiring a robust and reliable network, it's essential to have a router that works and isn't the weakest link when so many other things can go wrong!
bob4432
Lifer
unless you can find something better, i feel that a modded router is better than anything new. i uderstand the crowd you are talking about because friend of mine use to do high a/v installs ($20K on up, along with whole house automation in homes that may have 5 or 6 a/c units and all the different zones).
unfortunately all of the dlink, linksys, buffalo and consumer stuff out there has severe limitations and then there is enterprise stuff. sadly, even the "extreme" routers from dlink and linksys are not any better than their cheap stuff.
this area you are looking at is sadly very lacking, honestly most of the non-modified consumer routers are lacking in terms of stabilty. you may want to still look at modified firmwares, they are the only thing i can think of that would be able to give you what you are looking for. maybe look at http://www.linksysinfo.org/ and see if there is anything you can use - maybe one of the "better" routers mixed with a 3rd party fimware. there is no way i could be over 293 days straight on a stock linksys firmware without any issues, and i run regular websites, secured websites, regular ftp and ftp-ssl, a couple game servers, a bt client and torrent tracker that is exposed to the outside world - again with no issues, mixed in with it running the wifi portion for the laptop
good luck
Zap
Elite Member
Wow, this thread's been around for a while.
I would not recommend that one. I had one, and it was problematic. Searching at DSL Reports forums and others had the same problem. Besides really slow LAN-to-WAN speeds and difficult to configure VPN, it would occasionally... lock up. Just out of the blue. Some people had ones that didn't lock up at all, but too many had one that did lock up.
I too have had seen too many routers have issues, both my own and ones owned by others. The best luck I've had is with using a computer. Of course my earlier computer-turned-router died (MSI socket 370 board, developed the dreaded burst capacitors after 3 years of service). I'm now about 1½ years into a mobile P4 on a desktop board.
That's an idea.
I would not recommend that one. I had one, and it was problematic. Searching at DSL Reports forums and others had the same problem. Besides really slow LAN-to-WAN speeds and difficult to configure VPN, it would occasionally... lock up. Just out of the blue. Some people had ones that didn't lock up at all, but too many had one that did lock up.
I too have had seen too many routers have issues, both my own and ones owned by others. The best luck I've had is with using a computer. Of course my earlier computer-turned-router died (MSI socket 370 board, developed the dreaded burst capacitors after 3 years of service). I'm now about 1½ years into a mobile P4 on a desktop board.
That's an idea.
I'd say the DGL-4100 just based on it's maturity, performance and features.
As a a lower cost option, The Zyxel X-550 is a very similar product with the "GamerLounge" QoS feature of the DGL-4100 and MIMO wireless (which could be disabled). It performed similarly to the 4100/4300 on Tom's router benchmarks but is around half the price after rebate at Newegg.
Do not see the following in light of Good or Bad it is a description of reality.
I think that if you follow the nature of forums like this and the people that participate you should know that when it come to pro work that has to be good and reliable the hardware involved is like Cisco etc., expensive but very reliable and does the Job.
On the other hand, the main discussions here are about how enthusiasts get the max out of the minimum and enjoy their own good work.
All the rest is kind of Middle of the Road that does not matter whether you get one plastic box or the other.
Vendors take a different approach and other sets of consideration (not necessarily Bad, different). They cannot install every other day some thing else because it was on sale that week. They have to consider margin of profit term of financing etc.
If Vendors consideration would satisfy evrey one there would be no need for most of the online Forums.
In a forum like this the idea is to find a $40 Router that with a little work can do more then a $100.
Finding a Zyxel on sale that can do the same for half of the price does the trick aorund here.
Unless there some specific function that D-Link does and the Netgear Does not (or vice versa), you realy think that there is a difference.
Actually, as an example, due to poor QAthe variation of quality and performance within Brand (i.e between unit of the same model of Netgear) can be larger the between Brands (I.e. between similar device of D-Link and Netgear).
I think that if you follow the nature of forums like this and the people that participate you should know that when it come to pro work that has to be good and reliable the hardware involved is like Cisco etc., expensive but very reliable and does the Job.
On the other hand, the main discussions here are about how enthusiasts get the max out of the minimum and enjoy their own good work.
All the rest is kind of Middle of the Road that does not matter whether you get one plastic box or the other.
Vendors take a different approach and other sets of consideration (not necessarily Bad, different). They cannot install every other day some thing else because it was on sale that week. They have to consider margin of profit term of financing etc.
If Vendors consideration would satisfy evrey one there would be no need for most of the online Forums.
In a forum like this the idea is to find a $40 Router that with a little work can do more then a $100.
Finding a Zyxel on sale that can do the same for half of the price does the trick aorund here.
Unless there some specific function that D-Link does and the Netgear Does not (or vice versa), you realy think that there is a difference.
Actually, as an example, due to poor QAthe variation of quality and performance within Brand (i.e between unit of the same model of Netgear) can be larger the between Brands (I.e. between similar device of D-Link and Netgear).
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes + WCL Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 24K
-
-
