NIC Round-ups/reviews...

[Electric Amish]

I have a friend that is waffling on which NIC to buy in his new system.

Any suggestions/comments??

Links to reviews and/or NIC round-ups are encouraged.

Oh, most likely to be used in Win2K.

Thanks,

amish

ps- I suggested a D-Link DFE530-tx.

 

[Viper GTS]

Only one choice:

Intel Pro/100+ Management Adapter

I LOVE mine.

Viper GTS

 

[Shmorq]

Here's a link to dslwebserver.com which does a comparison on a few cards. It seems that the D-Link isn't such a hot performer. The Intel InBusiness 10/100 looks the best with one of the lowest CPU usage yet one of the fastest as well.

 

[RGN]

No d-link. I have found that Netgear and Linksys are good performers. Intel are ok too.

 

[MGMorden]

Not to go against the grain here but I've tried lots of them (Realtek-based, AMD-based, Intel, 3com, SMC, and TrendNET) and to me they're all pretty much the same. They all have setup quite easily and they all worked fine.

The only exception to this was the integrated ethernet on a PCChips board. It would take down the net connection for several computers in the surrounding area. Other than that just go with what you can get. Personally I love the Realtek 8139 based cards as they're cheap, supported in every OS I've ever seen, and work very well.

 

[Shmorq]

<< Personally I love the Realtek 8139 based cards as they're cheap >>

According to the link I posted, it seems that the performance of the Realteks depended on the manufacturer. Linksys was great but the D-Link wasn't too good.

 

[MGMorden]

I've tried ones by Accton and Asound. Both worked good. I use them mostly for Internet access though (through dorm room ethernet). I've never been able to max out a card on that connection (highest transfer rate I've ever gotten was 7Mbps which was on a Realtek) so peak transfer rate doesn't really matter to me.

 

[Shmorq]

I always buy the cheapest available as well. My crappy switch is the limitting factor so the throughput doesn't matter either. I guess it's more of a concern for servers and stuff.

 

[Bozo Galora]

i always use the intel, theyre twice as expensive $29 at discount as the 312's, but they are absolutely trouble free and windows prob already has drivers in system.

 

[MGMorden]

<< i always use the intel, theyre twice as expensive $29 at discount as the 312's, but they are absolutely trouble free and windows prob already has drivers in system. >>



Realtek's definately have built-in drivers starting at Win98. I know for a fact that the 3com 3c905b's don't as of Win98 (NOT sure on Win2k or Me though). Either way I'd never stick with what's included. No matter what it is I always go out and grab the latest driver from the manufacturer's website.