Gigabit NICs - PCI or PCI-E? And is Intel worth price premium?

[jrichrds]

I'm looking to add gigabit NICs to desktop computers to speed up large file transfers. They're all Core2Duo systems with Intel G41 motherboard chipset. Does PCI-E have any advantage over PCI for gigabit NICs? And is it worth the price premium for Intel NICs? Newegg has Realtek-based gigabit PCI NICs for $10 and PCI-E NICs for $15, while Intel NICs start at $30.

And is it possible to use jumbo frames on the network when I use wireless for a laptop, smartphones, and printers? (thru a non-gigabit wireless router which also supplies the Internet connection to the network).

 

[Gibson486]

I would imagine there is a difference. However, you are not going to see it unless you take out some script or software that measure the speed and throughput. Whether or not, however, the Intel one outperforms the non Intel....I do not know.

 

[Tsavo]

PCI vs PCI-E should make no difference unless you've got other things on the PCI bus using lots of bandwidth.

Intel NICs...I use them in everything and my network reliability is astounding.

 

[jrichrds]

PCI vs PCI-E should make no difference unless you've got other things on the PCI bus using lots of bandwidth.

Intel NICs...I use them in everything and my network reliability is astounding.

Would a PCI TV tuner card be considered as using lots of bandwidth on the PCI bus?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Would a PCI TV tuner card be considered as using lots of bandwidth on the PCI bus?

Yes.


Btw, PCI-E can both send and receive at the same time. I don't believe that PCI can. So for a full-duplex gigabit ethernet connection, then PCI-E would be a much better choice.

Intel is always a solid choice. But Realtek isn't too bad, IMHO.

Btw, no, you cannot run jumbo frames on a mixed network. It has to be all gigabit, and all jumbo frames, or nothing. Most internet routers, unless they have native gigabit ports, don't support jumbo frames.

 

[mcturkey]

Intel NICs are superior to Realtek and Atheros. Whether or not the price difference is worth it is something only you can answer. My two desktops both have Realtek integrated NICs, and I've never had any problems getting 70-80MB/s transfers, but the HTPC I built a few weeks ago has an Atheros, and I was lucky to sustain 60MB/s. I bit the bullet and got a low-profile Intel PCI-E NIC for $30 for the HTPC, and bursted at 110MB/s with sustained rates over 90MB/s between the HTPC and my primary desktop. When I have the spare cash, I plan to add Intel NIC cards to the rest of the systems in the house.

 

[Arcanedeath]

Considering how cheap the Intel NIC's are just buy them, I'm still using a 1st Gen Pro 1000PT PCI-E intel NIC from my Athlon 64 3200 + rig and it's still better supported and performs better than any of the onboard crap that comes with motherboards today, and it's bulletproof 5+ years later.

 

[bobdole369]

From a business perspective in the IT world, the Intel NIC's are worth the money. The standard driver package, the rock solid reliability (only 1 failure out of about 35 deployed, vs my predecessors track record using onboard NIC's - 8 failures out of about 30 PC's) Ability to support large frames, (though i understand Realtek does too), and the rather OCD perspective of having every NIC being roughly the same on the network. In terms of raw speed - likely no different. PCI vs PCI-E - should make no real-world difference.

 

[fleshconsumed]

You can usually get system pull Intel NICs very cheaply on ebay if you wait for the right auction. For the price they are going on ebay I think it's worth small premium over atheros/realtek.

 

[Fallen Kell]

PCI vs PCI-E should make no difference unless you've got other things on the PCI bus using lots of bandwidth.

Intel NICs...I use them in everything and my network reliability is astounding.

Well, considering the total bandwidth of the PCI bus is 127.2MB/s and a full 1 gigabit connection will do 128 MB/s both directions (for a total of 256 MB/s bandwidth required), you WILL max out a PCI bus with a gigabit card running at full speed both ways. But that assumes you have both servers that will support that level of connectivity in the first place.

 

[imagoon]

Well, considering the total bandwidth of the PCI bus is 127.2MB/s and a full 1 gigabit connection will do 128 MB/s both directions (for a total of 256 MB/s bandwidth required), you WILL max out a PCI bus with a gigabit card running at full speed both ways. But that assumes you have both servers that will support that level of connectivity in the first place.

PCI is 133MB/s half duplex and 1000Mb/ps is 125MB/s full duplex. Theoretical. Theory still stands just the numbers are off. In a purely one way transfer PCI can keep up with gig. Granted most people that bothered with Gigabit on PCI used either 64bit or 133mhz PCI which handed it no problem at 1064MB/s.