Which cable modem should I buy?

[SagaLore]

Woohoo! I signed up for cable!

I figured that instead of wasting an extra $10 a month to rent the modem, I'll just buy one and I'll see a ROI one year from now. So what do I get?

Circuit City is selling a Motorola for $99. Is that one any good? Does it really matter as far as performance?

 

[Rallispec]

might want to ask this in the networking forum. smart people over there.

 

[Electric Amish]

Motorolla SB4200

amish

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

The RCA DCM245 or the Motorolla Surfboard SB4200 (if you can't find the 4200, get the 4100)

nik (works in cable internet tech support)

 

[Electric Amish]

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
The RCA DCM245 or the Motorolla Surfboard SB4200 (if you can't find the 4200, get the 4100)

nik (works in cable internet tech support)

Motorolla SB4200 $85 at Newegg.

amish

 

[Maverick]

don't get the RCA...I have it and it gets really hot. I think it warms up my room more than my space heater of a computer does.

 

[BeerGod]

i have the linksys cable modem, works like a charm

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
The RCA DCM245 or the Motorolla Surfboard SB4200 (if you can't find the 4200, get the 4100)

nik (works in cable internet tech support)

Okay, I will get the SB4200. Somebody else replied not to get the RCA because it overheats. Circuit City is selling the Motorola SB4200, and I can exchange my proc-bucks I have saved up at work for a gift certificate there. I was going to get a geforece4 with that but I think I'll hold out for their next release... so the geforce4 is cheaper...

thanks

 

[Shelly21]

This is what I just ordered.... (After finding out that my company will pay for my monthly fee for eh... needed afterhour support...)

D-Link DCM-200 for $65.43 shipped
SMC SMC7004VBR Router for $54.83 (not including the $20 rebate which I may or may not get)

I was going to wait for a cheaper modem deal to pop up... .but I can't wait any longer for the fast connection....

 

[dakata24]

woah, you can save $10 for owning your modem? wish AT&T was still like that. i think it's down to a $3 difference between owning/leasing the modem.. not as much incentive to get one for me..

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: Shiva112
don't get the RCA...I have it and it gets really hot. I think it warms up my room more than my space heater of a computer does.

It's one of the best out there, funny guy.

nik

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: dakata24
woah, you can save $10 for owning your modem? wish AT&T was still like that. i think it's down to $3 that you'd save or else i would have bought myself a cheap one by now.

Yes, you now only get a $3 credit for owning your own modem.

nik

 

[Imported]

I got the linksys one as well.. Cost me $40 after rebates and stuff..

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt

Originally posted by: Shiva112
don't get the RCA...I have it and it gets really hot. I think it warms up my room more than my space heater of a computer does.

It's one of the best out there, funny guy.

nik

So... which one is better? They are both DOCSIS 1.1 compliant, right? And I think I just read that the Motorola is using a few DOCSIS 2.0 features...

 

[Maverick]

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt

Originally posted by: Shiva112
don't get the RCA...I have it and it gets really hot. I think it warms up my room more than my space heater of a computer does.

It's one of the best out there, funny guy.

nik

I've heard mixed things about its performance...I've never had a problem but from a heat perspective its one of the worst.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: Shiva112

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt

Originally posted by: Shiva112
don't get the RCA...I have it and it gets really hot. I think it warms up my room more than my space heater of a computer does.

It's one of the best out there, funny guy.

nik

I've heard mixed things about its performance...I've never had a problem but from a heat perspective its one of the worst.

Why do you think it's got holes in the top!? If the holes weren't there, you wouldn't feel the heat

The heat you feel is coming off of the modem so it doesn't get too hot. They're perfectly fine. That's like saying that you're going to get a P3 750 instead of an Athlon XP1800+ because AMD chips usually run hotter.

nik

 

[Maverick]

I've heard mixed things about its performance...I've never had a problem but from a heat perspective its one of the worst.

Why do you think it's got holes in the top!? If the holes weren't there, you wouldn't feel the heat

The heat you feel is coming off of the modem so it doesn't get too hot. They're perfectly fine. That's like saying that you're going to get a P3 750 instead of an Athlon XP1800+ because AMD chips usually run hotter.

nik[/quote]

The difference in performance between an XP1800+ and a P3 750 are NOT analogous to the performance difference between two DOCSIS 1.1 cable modems. Show me some hard numbers that show a significant speed difference between the RCA and the Motorola. I made my recommendation against the RCA because if you're buying two things that perform exactly the same why would you get one that gives off more heat? Go to DSL Reports and I guarantee you'll see people complaining about the heat in the RCA...just because you don't mind it doesn't mean others won't.