Gigabit Home Network

**Boogieman117** · 04-28-2006, 03:38 AM

I bought a D-Link GamerLounge Router last month, and realized that the NIC in my 'backup box' is a 10/100 NIC.

My laptop (Sager 8790) is equipped for 10/100/1000 speeds, so does anyone have a Gigabit network, or ever worked with a Gigabit network?

I can drop $35 for a 10/100/1000 NIC from Newegg, but I just want to know if the results I think are coming are realistic.

**lynx** · 04-28-2006, 08:46 AM

Gigabit networks usually operate at 1000 Mbps bidirectionally, a total of 2000 Mb/s.

Assuming your "backup box" only has standard pci you have a maximum data transfer rate of about 1056 Mb/s, and that's for all the I/O in the system. If you consider that everything except memory and graphics also operate on this bus you haven't actually got enough bandwidth to operate a gigabyt network successfully at sustained operation. It is for this very reason that many gigabit MACs are built directly into the northbridge chip.

That being the case you won't gain much of a noticable improvement in performance by changing from fast ethernet (100Mb/s) to gigabit. The router will handle the speed change for you, so your laptop will still connect to the router at gigabit speeds.

In any case, none of this will affect your online performance which is still dependant on your router's internet connection speed. My advice would be to save your money.

**fkdup74** · 04-30-2006, 04:34 AM

Originally Posted by lynx

Gigabit networks usually operate at 1000 Mbps bidirectionally, a total of 2000 Mb/s.

Assuming it's running in full duplex, correct?

Other than that your post made absolutely no sense to me.
Of course, it could be the drink that[s responsible for that....