Windows 95 & DSL

[twoslosmiths]

Our new Dell is hooked up to a DSL. We also have an older machine with a 1st generation Pentium chip, 64 MB of RAM, running Windows 95. Is it worth the small cost of installing a Firewire card and adding a router so the older machine can access the DSL? Would there be enough increase in speed compared with the dial-up connection to warrant the change? TwoSLOSmiths

 

[UlricT]

why would you need a firewire card? Do you mean Ethernet card, which can be hooked up to a router?

Since you said "our", im goin to assume that there are at least 2 of you. So, go ahead and get the Old computer hooked up, as one of you can browse the net on that one while the other person does all the power-using(!) on the dell...

/EDIT: oh, btw, welcome to the forums!

 

[StraightPipe]

Welcome to anandtech forums!

just buy a Network Interface Card (NIC) , sometimes called ethernet adapter.

you can plug your DSL into it, it's the prefered choice, and you can probly get on for less than $10. (SEARCH the hot deals forum for the best prices)

you can put one in as long as you have a PCI slot available

DSL is worth the money if you want to use the net for anything more than email. dial-up sucks for surfing the web, you'll notice a huge difference, particularly if you start downloading.

Ps, you should really post these types of questions in the NETWORKING forum (most anything that has to do with the NET)

Edit: just re-read your post, you'll need a router too, check out the linksys befsr41 at Linksys.com
you can probly find a good deal on that too

 

[Ionizer86]

What about a simple straight-thru cable to network the Dell PC and the Win95 PC? Wouldn't that be simpler.

I think 98SE is the 1st OS with 1394 firewire support.

 

[brianp34]

Originally posted by: Ionizer86
What about a simple straight-thru cable to network the Dell PC and the Win95 PC? Wouldn't that be simpler.

Probably, but then the Dell would always have to be on for the other to access the connection (probably not a big deal.) Wouldn't you need to use a cross-over cable if you're connecting the two together without a hub or switch?

 

[StraightPipe]

Originally posted by: Ionizer86
What about a simple straight-thru cable to network the Dell PC and the Win95 PC? Wouldn't that be simpler.

actually what you can do it get 2 NIC's in your dell (assuming it doesnt have 1 adapter already included) and 1 in you 95box.

hook the dell to your DSL modem (will be supplied by DSL provider, they may charge you, but usually give rebate) using straight (same as patch) ethernet cable.

then hook the second NIC (in the dell) to the 95 box using a crossover ehernet cable (not patch or straight).

once all cables connected:
then runn the internet connection wizard on the dell box (assuming you have win XP)
tell it you want to connect to DSL, and you want to share your connection with another box. check option to make the boot disc for the 95 box.

runn the disc in the 95 box and you should be hooked up!

this method will give the 95 box a little slower connection than using a router, but it will still be plenty fast (and a little cheaper)

downsides:if you ever want to get another computer online (3 or more) you'll wish you bought the router