cable modem choice

[speedlever]

I've been looking at either DSL or cable to replace my dialup connection. I finally decided on cable (RoadRunner), and have a choice of putting a NIC card in my computer or using a USB cable modem negating the need for a NIC.

I'm running W2kpro sp1. Is there any reason to choose the NIC over the USB or vice versa?

If NIC, I plan to get a 3com or Intel ethernet card.

Thanks!

 

[bex0rs]

The NIC option will allow you much more flexiblity if you ever decide to get another computer. I've also found that ethernet over USB tends to be slower and use more CPU cycles. And finally, USB modems and such are generally only "supported" under Win98 and Win2k. If you decide to run some *other* OS, you may run into difficulties.

3com and Intel are both good choices, but my personal preference is toward the Intels.

~bex0rs

 

[bex0rs]

And BTW, the only reasons for choosing USB (that I can think of) would be for someone who doesn't like the idea of opening his/her (usually her ) computer to install a real NIC, or for someone who's computer can't physically take a NIC.

~bex0rs

 

[speedlever]

>> I've also found that ethernet over USB tends to be slower and use more CPU cycles.<<

That's what I was wondering. Looks like NIC it is. Asusprobe reports slots 1 and 4 available.

know a good source? I checked online a bit last night. Found the Intel pro/100+ for ~$53 from Onvia. But no more free shipping, I think.

Thanks!

 

[TatSteeL]

If you're going for speed it's best to get brand name NIC. You can tell the different between the bad and the good one, once you have broadband connection. Personally I like 3Com over Intel, they are pretty good when it comes to networking.

 

[Supergax]

No, you cannot tell the difference between a &quot;good (read expensive)&quot; and a &quot;bad (read cheap)&quot; nic really. Yes, Intel and 3com nics are nicer, but I've had no problems running a network full of cheap nics I got for about 20 bucks running mostly Realtek chipsets. The more expensive nics do have some nifty utilitys for them and maybe WOL, but there is nothing they really have that makes them so specially. You don't have to worry about them auto-negotiating speed properly, I mean, it's only 10baseT half duplex.

So, if you have the money, I'd go Intel, they are cheaper than 3com usually, and are just as good as 3com if not better (too many people like 3com just because they are 3com). But, if you dont' have the money, dont' sweat it, just get something like an SMC or Netgear, you can snag one for about 20 - 25 at CompUSA.

Oh yeah, check out Mwave.com, they have a bunch of nics, including the 10/100 Pro for $38 as a bare card. (Not sure what the warranty period of it is, but you can ask mwave, probably is 1 year if it's OEM.)

 

[bex0rs]

<< No, you cannot tell the difference between a &quot;good (read expensive)&quot; and a &quot;bad (read cheap)&quot; nic really. >>



Sure you can. It's called &quot;support.&quot;

Go with the Intel, and be happy.

~bex0rs

 

[Supergax]

bex0rs, do you mean support as in technical or support as in the OS'es that support the nic? Either way, time for a comparrison.

SMC - 10/100 EZ NIC, 17.50 from mwave retail, has realtek chipset and therefore is supported by a very wide range of operating systems, also has WOL. Toll free 24x7 tech support. Lifetime warranty.

3com - 3c905b, 43.00 from mwave bare, 78.00 retail, has 3com chipset and a wide range of operating systems support, no WOL. Toll free 24x7 tech support. Lifetime warranty.

So, tell me why the 3com &quot;support&quot; is better than the SMC &quot;support&quot;.

 

[bex0rs]

Perhaps I should explain further.

By support, I was referring to &quot;driver support&quot; in (pretty much) every modern OS out there. This is true of 3com, Intel, Realtek, and a few others. I've had bad experiences with Linksys products requiring kernel recompiles (*nix), pci slot adjustment, and needing to download a working driver (win2k). Sure, the &quot;built-in&quot; driver may not always be the best, but it is nice to have one so that you will be able to access the 'Net to download the most recent driver (if that is your thing). I recall purchasing a few linksys cards within the past couple months that came with driver disks lacking Windows 2000 drivers. It is comforting to freshly install your OS and know that you can access your network upon first boot. That is what I mean by support.

I actually do like the Realtek cards, such as the SMC you referred to. They are an excellent value, and like the 3com and Intel cards, are supported natively in _many_ OS's. The advantage to spending the extra few dollars for a 3com or Intel card comes mainly in performance. Now for most &quot;home&quot; users out there who are only concerned with getting online, this shouldn't matter too much. But when you are doing file transfers over a 100 Mbit LAN, you _will_ notice a difference between a Realtek and an Intel. The Intel will do it faster and use fewer CPU cycles.

I was able to puchase Intel cards for my entire network when Intel was having the 2* Pro100+ for $40 deal, but I would still gladly pay $50 for just one. It bothers me when people put together > $1000 systems and can't spend the extra $20-$30 to put a comparable network card in their system.

And finally, there is a reason why OEM's like Gateway exclusively use Intel cards in their computers. They have been proven to cause fewer problems than the so called &quot;value&quot; network cards out there.

~bex0rs

 

[speedlever]

i stopped by Office Depot to see what they had. One Intel InBusiness 10/100 pci network adapter was available for $30. So I picked it up.

They also had a 3com officeconnect (3csoho100-tx) for $20 more. But I saw no reason to spend the difference.

Nosing around the 'net, I was amazed at all the different NIC cards available.. especially from Intel/3Com, etc. Confusing, it was.

Unfortunately, I don't know enuf about it yet to know why I'd want one or the other.