NIC Recommendations.

[dZeus]

I've seen many realtek cards die on people, with various symptoms (anything from being unable to operate in half-duplex mode to not working with the smb protocol any more (=windows network sharing protocol). Have to see the first 3Com card die on me yet.... (currently using 3 3c905c-tx, of which 2 are in a system that's running 24/7). Other than that, I also stronly believe that the 3Com cards use far less CPU time when transferring at a sustained high transfer rate than the realtek 8139 based cards.

[Guru]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by Jammrock:
Get a 3COM 3CR990-TX-97! It's the NIC that comes with a sticker that says it's illegal to export it outside the US or Canada without approval from the Department of Defense =)

Jammrock</font>

Tell me more!

BTW any site that has done a nic roundup latley?

[Jammrock]

Guru,

The 3COM 3CR990-TX-97 has a TCP/IP processor built in that offloads many networking functions off the CPU. It's called the 3XP processor. Things like (blatant rip from 3COM's site):

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Offloads include TCP segmentation/addressing and TCP/IP checksum


IPSec offloads include 3DES, DES, MD5, and SHA-1</font>

Because it offloads many of the CPU intensive stuff, it's supposed to use a lot less CPU and be able to reach sustained transfer rates much higher than any other NIC. The web site has a PDF that details a 'third party test' against some Intel Pro NIC. According to this test, the 3CR990 was able to sustain a transfer rate of 101 Mbps, whilst the Intel only did 86 Mbps.

The reason why it is illegal to export it is because it uses US high encryption algorithms. It is technically illegal to export any encryption scheme that the US can't hack or can be potentially modified so the US can't hack it. It's a big security thing.

Until the mid 1990's it was illegal to export CPU's faster than 200 MHz =) The US is silly like that.

Jammrock

[Bohrn]

had a realtek based nic, got the one in my sig, no going back! its GREAT! and cheap too, 35 bucks canadian.

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AsusP3B-F,P3 880 Slot1, 512megsPC133,G40032megSH, Diamond MX300,13.5gigs of HD's,52X CDrom,WinME, PD 6.21 ,Altec Lansing ATP3Subwoofer,
Envision 17",Terrayon Cable modem,Linksys EtherFast LNE100TX nic,1 grey cat,1 black cat & 1 calico

[SCompRacer]

Guru, here you go.

[Marshmallowman]

yes 3com's are great, never had a problem with them.

Realtek's are cheap and do die quite often, and also have some driver problems(always use the latest drivers, known corruption issues with some cards).

I find netgear stuff to be nice cheapish and reliablish stuff, but given the a choice(and I wasn't paying for it) I would always go for 3com.

[Jammrock]

I finally got my 3CR990-TX-97 put into my new computer. In Win98 I couldn't notice any difference in performance vs. any other old NIC. Win2k is a different story. In Win2k, where offloading can take place, my NIC laughs at the load I put on it.

I haven't had time to run any serious tests, but I can defiantely notice an increase in networking performance. Once I get my rig completed I'll run some tests for you.

[KvHagedorn]

I gotta try one of those, Jammrock!

I have three computers with three different cards. My first was a d-link i got as a gift, it has worked fine. Next, I got an Intel which came built into my motherboard. Also, no problems with that one. Most recently got a 3com for my third computer and it has worked like a charm. Haven't benched it, but it and the Intel seem to do the best. The 3com also gave the best impression of quality out of the box, and updated drivers were easy to find online. I would definitely go 3com again now, with the advantage of taking the load off the processor.

[Fat Tone]

Any opinions on D-Link’s DFE-530TX Fast Ethernet Adapter? Its about half the price of a 3COM.

Cheers

Tony.

[cbman]

I have the D-Link DFE-538TX in my good system and I haven't had a problem yet.

(I am using Two other Different kinds of NIC's in my Cheapie P133... a 3COM Etherlink III 3C509B-TP, and a Ovislink Crap Card PCI Edition. (Realtek 8019 PNP))

I have had the least problems with the DLink as its a new card and when I originally set up the 3Com it was in Non PNP mode without drivers and it wouldn't work with the Windows 98 generic ones. The Ovislink was also touted as PNP but the jumper to make it such was absent.. but a piece of gum and a flathead screw makes a pretty good fix. (To short the Correct solder points on the PCB)

Overall I would buy 3Com if possible... failing that... D-Link seems to be real solid and I don't regret forking over my 35 Dollars Canadian (Much better than 99-200 for a 3Com here).