USB Ethernet NICs

[CptObvious]

My ethernet port was fried by lightning, and I have no free PCI slots (SFF PC). Instead of paying $45 to get it serviced out-of-warranty, I was thinking about buying a cheap USB ethernet adapter. Couple questions:

1. Will I see a performance hit (e.g. pings) using a USB NIC rather than onboard or PCI?

2. Is there a difference in transfer rates between a USB 1.1 NIC and a 2.0 NIC? My broadband speed is 4000/512. Thanks

:beer:

 

[phisrow]

You'll see somewhat higher CPU utilization; but that should be about it. It is possible that you'll see some minimal increase in ping. USB ethernet adapters don't totally suck, and they are better than they used to be(especially those with standardised drive support); but they aren't as nice as the better PCI NICs(e.g. expensive cards and embedded NICs on servers).

As USB 1.1 is 12 megabits/sec(theoretically) it should do for a 4 megabits down .5 up. On the other hand, though, some random adapter may or may not actually hit anything close to theoretical capacity. Unless the price delta is pronounced, you might be better off with something newer.

 

[CptObvious]

Thanks for the info phrisrow :thumbsup:

I might just go with a wireless adapter, like this Gigafast one for $8 after rebate link. Any thoughts on wireless NICs for gaming?

 

[phisrow]

They are worse than wired; but not a disaster by any means. I've done some gaming on the old laptop over wireless, no hideously notable problems(though this was WOW, not some twitchy shooter) and all the people with wireless bridges to their Xbox don't seem to mind much. It will add a touch of ping, and quite possibly CPU utilization, compared to a wired solution. My prejudice would still be in favour of a wired solution for those situations where you can manage it with little trouble; but if you prefer wireless, you shouldn't have any real issues.

 

[jamesbond007]

Ok, I gotta ask. How the hell did it get fried!? I'm guessing the router got zapped and the jolt was sent through the ethernet cable? Man that's whack! :Q

I thought those things happen only in the books...wow.

Good luck on your new NIC! :thumbsup:

 

[Pulsar]

Unfortunately, they do NOT happen just in books.

If you have a relatively non-clean power source, say you live in the country or in an area in a city that's really high density with older utilities, you can fry cards quite often.

I've fried 2 modems (WITH UPS and surge protectors on the lines) at my current house.

At my old house, I killed an ethernet card that were hooked up to a cablemodem when lightning nailed the transformer in my back yard.

 

[CptObvious]

Originally posted by: jamesbond007
Ok, I gotta ask. How the hell did it get fried!? I'm guessing the router got zapped and the jolt was sent through the ethernet cable? Man that's whack! :Q

I thought those things happen only in the books...wow.

Good luck on your new NIC! :thumbsup:

Yep, I believe that's what happened. Everything else was off but my router and cable modem, which was connected to a surge protector. My router was zapped, along with the ethernet port on my modem. Somehow the surge traveled along the cable and zapped my PC's ethernet port too, even though my PC was off.

 

[jamesbond007]

Does house insurance or any kind of insurance protect against that? My APC unit has something like $125,000 replacement guarentee, but I don't feel like testing how much they back that figure up.

 

[CptObvious]

I don't have apt. renters insurance so unfortunately I don't know the answer to that. My surge protector has a guarantee on it too but I didn't even bother filing a claim.