CNR availability?

[Sunny129]

I recently got an ASUS CUSL2 mobo, and i want to make use of every last bit of it, including the CNR slot. The trouble with this piece of hardware is that i cant find one anywhere in the U.S. i ran a search in the forums here, and all the posts made in CNR threads are from people who also dont know how to acquire such a card. also, i tried to get a price on one, and pricewatch.com doesnt even have "CNR" in their search enngine, which suggests that they are not for sale at the consumer level. does anyone know how to get a CNR?

 

[Windogg]

Someone at CUSL2.com was selling CNRs in the forums. Lurk around and you should find him. The price is abour $15.

windogg

 

[andrey]

CNR (Communication Network Riser) cards use very low quality components to save overall costs. If you're thinking about good performing computer, you definetely wouldn't want to use CNR cards in it. For example, the modem which is included on CNR is PCTel 7.61, which is one of the worst modems out there. For network card you usually would get 'el-chipo' Winbond 10Mb chip, which is not the best network chip in the world either. CNR is for low end systems to save costs on installing multiple cards, and definetely not for people who know how to put computers together

 

[Windogg]

I too thought CNRs was "cheap junk" until someone reminded me that the i815 has an Intel 82558 10/100 ethernet build in the northbridge. The CNR is jjust used to provide a physical interface so it's not like a Winmodem or AC97 Audio which puts a load on the CPU. For the most part, networking using a CNR has been pretty positive. AMRs are another story.

Windogg

 

[BoberFett]

Then why not just include the connection on the motherboard? If the hardware is already there, what sense does it make to require the purchase of an additional board just to provide the external connection?

 

[Windogg]

Bober, the answer is the usual, cost. At the office, we have HP Vectra's based on the 815 that usutilize the onboard NIC (not through the CNR though). The ATX-type plugs in the back are a but funnier. The game/midi port is moved to where one of the serial ports should go and the RJ45 jack fits neatly in. The board is absolutly tiny with only 2 PCI slots available. Everything is pretty much integrated.

Windogg

 

[Sunny129]

So you would say that, even though the analogue modem devices or network devices on a CNR arent top quality, it doesnt matter b/c the actual networking solution is integrated into the north bridge of the 815 chipset? The CNR will only provide a jack for the network cable and a connection to the north bridge which does all the work?

 

[Sunny129]

Well i looked in the forums over at CUSL2.com and found a few people selling them over there. they are indeed very cheap compared to most modems and NICs. apparently, b/c CNRs havent been targetted at the consumer market and rather the OEM market, the people selling them seem to only be able to get CNRs in the minimum of 5-packs.