Which company is better among these...D-link, Linksys, Netgear...

[gredodenda]

Please tell me. I'm about to buy NIC card and a switch, but i don't know which one to buy.

What is the best among these companies.

D-Link
Linksys
Netgear
3Com
Intel

 

[fergiboy]

If you are only buying a switch with 8 or less ports there is basically no difference between the companies. I have the dlink 5 port. I think that the best switch is the Netgear fs308, that is just because it matches my router. As far as nics go, don't spend 50 bucks on the Intel or 3com. Go with the netgear or d-link.

 

[Viperoni]

netgear is good stuff.
Intel pro100+ managements are CHEAP ($25), and really quick.
3com's are good too, little less CPU utilization + little less speed, more $$
linksys + dlink are evil

 

[Chatterjee]

The SMC barricade (not listed) is very good and is cheaper than the rest of them (99 bucks for a 4-port router). It features a print server as well.

-S

 

[Moving Target]

I have used alot of Linksys and some Kingston and have been very happy with both.

 

[puritan]

Go for the cheapest NIC that your system will take. 3COM cost more but almost always work properly. D-Link cards have more compatibility issues, but are like $9 for 10/100 and you won't see any difference. As for switch vendors, NetGear rocks.

My $.02

 

[Athlex]

I've had troubles with both 3Com (10Mbit ISA, 100Mbit PCI) and Linksys (100Mbit PCI). Both seemed to freeze periodically, especially during big file transfers and gaming. Since then I bought a Netgear FA310TX and I love it. They're only about $25 and it's worked flawlessly for me.
atx

 

[goldboyd]

Intel is definately the best nic you have listed. the older 3com stuff is nice too, but i'm not a fan of the 3c905ctxm. netgear is your best bang for the buck, imho