External modems: Serial or USB. What to do?

[Skoop]

I want an external, hardware modem. What are the pros and cons of choosing serial or USB? Particularly, does a USB model hit on the CPU like a winmodem does? What about a serial device--what's the cost to the CPU?

Any recommendations would be appreciated, as well.

Regards to all.

Please--no shouting matches over the winmodem/hardware modem issue.

 

[vi edit]

Go serial. What do you use those com ports for anyway?
Serial modems have a hardware based controller. Very few USB modems are hardware based IE, they are winmodems.

For the extra 10-20 that a serial costs, I'd say definitely go for the serial.

In 8 years of using an external modem, I've only had one die and that was due to a faulty power cable connection.

Just my opinion.

 

[vi edit]

Oh, and without getting into a full blown flame war, the serial modem will generally yield better ping times during online gaming and will generally tolerate line noise better than their winmodem counterparts.

 

[shine]

I have a usb modem and My Q2 fps took 5-10fps hit. For example-you wouldnt be able to Play a mp3 on winamp, then connect to the internet. The mp3 will hang and skip like crazy till the modem is done.

 

[andri]

Basically, USB modems are winmodems too
Ok, not winmodems because other OSes support them, but still software modems.