Does a router deteriorate performance?

[TheNiceGuy]

Hello-

I just built a new PC. I want to hook my 2 PCs up to the internet and to share a printer. Currently, I am running the old PC through my new one, but three may be a better solution. Will performance suffer (online games for new PC) if the second PC is pluged into the router? I know it will in both cases if the old PC is turned on, but if it is off?
I have an ADSL hookup through the phone line through a small tower style modem here in Japan. Its called "Yahoo!BB", and there is only on lineout, but I understand I can buy something called a router.

Thank you!

 

[SpunkyJones]

Performance will not suffer with the pc's turned on, unless they are all downloading large files. I game all the time online and I have 2 to 4 pc's active at any one time. If the pc's are idle they will not effect you.

 

[TheNiceGuy]

Right on! I guess a router is best, then I don't have to have my new PC on all the time if my wife wants to use the old one? Can 'routered' PCs swap files?

 

[Kelemvor]

A router is the way to make a "real" network. Both PC scan get online, can see each other, transfer files, etc. Just have to set up your network properly and get them both in the same workgroup. Routers are made to share connections so you won't see any performance hit using them. Even if both were on at the same time, you still wouldn't notice anything. THe speed of your internet connection might limit you but the router won't. They can handle speeds far above the normal internet speeds.

 

[TheNiceGuy]

Thanks FrankyJunior! And thanks for help on the other thread too!

 

[Dragonbate]

The addition of a router actually sped up my first dsl connction. Originally, my ISP was using ppoe which sucked/ slowed down/ crashed. The router was able to establish the connection in hardware speeding me up and stablizing my connection at the same time.