NEED Help!! Connecting 2 Computers!

[scarfase99]

Ok, as trivial as this question may sound, keep in mind i am new to this so i really need ur help.

Ok, i am getting Cable Modem today installed and i have a roomate, so i need to connect his computer to mine to share the internet.

We both have Network RJ45 Cards installed in our Computers. My PC is an Athlon 650, 256 Ram, his is a Celeron 533, 64 Ram.

I thought you could do this with a Cable, crossover??, but after talking with a friend, he said i either Needed a Hub or the 3Com Homephoneline Network kit. Both cost far more than just a simple cable would. ANd i would believe him, except that i keep reading that a cable will work if there's ONLY 2 Computers. Is there any truth to this?

I'm a poor college student. Bottom line, what's the least expensive way to go about doing this?

Please Help, ASAP

 

[warlord]

you can do it with a crossover cable, but you are going to need 2 NICs in the host computer, unless your modem is USB. one NIC to the modem, the other to your roommates computer. it will work.

 

[BCYL]

The cheapest way to do this is using a crossover CAT5 cable... if only connecting 2 PCs the cable will work fine, no need for hubs/switches... Afterwards, just follow the instructions at HomePCLAN to configure your network and use some kind of ICS software (eg. Windows ICS, Sygate, etc...) to share the connection...