NIC: Full Duplex only or Full and Half-duplex. Does it matter?

[MisterMac9]

I want to replace my current 10/100 NIC's with Neatgear 10/100 NIC's. They have two comparably priced models. One is full duplex only (model FA311) and the other is both half duplex and full duplex (model FA310TX). Does it matter which I buy? My system consists of two PC's - one using Win 98 SE, the other Win Me. The PC's are connected to a 10/100 hub and a cable modem router is also plugged into the hub.

 

[Windogg]

Yes full duplex and half duplex make a difference but the FA310TX will pretty much default to full duplex under 100BaseT. I've only run half-duplex under 10BaseT and I assure you it blows big time. Either card will do just fine. Full duplex means that both parties can transmit and receive at the same time so 100mbps is effectively 200mbps in both directions. Half duplex means that only one part can receive or transmit, not both.

Windogg

 

[R0b0tN1k]

You need a switched port on the other end to achieve full duplex. Get the 310. What's wrong with your current NIC? You aren't going to get any improvement with another one.

 

[dirtboy]

You should get the 310TX just in case you upgrade to a switch later on.

 

[TerreApart]

I have used both of these NICS, get the 310. The 311 is not as compatible. The 310 has been just great, i have used it in workstations and servers. The 311 did not like Win-NT...

 

[MisterMac9]

Thanks for all the advice. I will go with the 310TX.

R0b0tN1k, the reason I want to replace my current cards is I have a lot of trouble with them. The problem may not be the cards or their drivers but I am frustrated with the history of problems and want to try something different. I could be throwing my money away if it isn't really the NIC's problem and it shows up again with the new card.

 

[Mr-Mahem]

A word or warning about duplex (it's been said many times before but we still get customers phoneing up with these problems)...

You must never have a full duplex port connected to a half duplex port. if you do then you will see many collisions on that link, and the throughpout will be greatly affected. Why? because a half diuplex link can only send OR receive. if it receives any data when it's sending then it will stop sending any try again.
Full duplex does allow for sending and receiving at the same time - hence the problem.

Only NIC's or switches can support full duplex. Hubs can not do full duplex and never will if they conform to the IEEE 802.3 standards.

Also, if a port is set to auto negotiate duplex, and it is connected to a full duplex only port the auto negotiate port will negotiate to half duplex - because the full duplex port does not send any negotiation signals.

Mr-Mayhem