What is actually necessary for computer users today

[Vich]

All these motherboards are coming out with:
Gigabit MCP features on-chip Gigabit Ethernet.


Is there any benefit to this? I am on a University Connection (my entire school is on an OC-3 but who knows what i am connected to).

All i know is i can download off the internet at around 1.5MB/sec from a fast site. And on speed tests i get upwards upwards of around 6MB's second.

And im on a 100/10 3com card. So whats the point of these gigabit ethernet cards?

Are some people actually hooked right into a gigabit connection? (sarcasm).

Someone please explain the benefit.

Thanks,
Richard

 

[mechBgon]

If you have a home server and are moving around (ahem) "large files," then you will be glad to blow the lid off the typical ~10-megabytes/second ceiling of 100Mbit.

 

[mechBgon]

<--- happens to be plugged right into a gigabit connection at work, too

 

[Vich]

Hmm i see... But if you dont have a homenetwork and you have a regular broadband modem there really is no benefit, right?

-Rich

 

[mechBgon]

Right, it's sort of like having a 1000-watt home stereo amplifier with a set of 100-watt budget speakers... lots of potential, no way to really take advantage of it. But the price of gigabit equipment is dropping fast, so I think it'll be displacing 100Mbit in the next several years as the norm.

 

[Gamingphreek]

You will se no benefit unless you network with someone else with a gigabit connection. You will see no difference in internet speeds however.
I use it just for a bigger headroom .

-Kevin

btw awesome dld rates!!

 

[pspada]

For your wonderful giga network adapter to provide more functionality than the standard 100mbps, you need a giga switch, not to mention giga connectivitly to whereever else might have giga connection. So in a business enviroment where you have such a switch, (oh and let's not forget cabling that will carry giga too) and a number of machines connecting through it, great. Even so, in most cases it's used in the server room to provide a larger pipeline for the mission critical services, not specificially for end users.

but will it provide any additional advantange to a home user? Unlikely at this point, but you never know what's going to come down the pike next month.

 

[Vich]

Thanks for the replys guys!