32-bit PCI Gigabit NIC Roundup...

[Bullfrog]

Here you go, it's a pretty interesting read and gives a lot of good information.

http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/gigeth32bit/gig-eth-32bit-2.html

[acelefty]

Intel's card sure looks sweet, huh? Wonder how much it would speed up my network if I put one of them in my server since I have an ATA 133 card / 7200 RPM drive and UW SCSI (soon to be 160, Mikey *cough* *cough*, :D ) / 10K drives on a poor little 32 bit PCI bus?

[LawJp]

I am betting my network would still be slow! LOL :hittard:

P.S. - I just had to use this emoticon as soon as possible...

[acelefty]

P.S. - I just had to use this emoticon as soon as possible...

Are we here to talk tech, or look at the pretty emoticons? How's this one? :fu:

J/K

Ace :D

[Bullfrog]

Believe it or not but putting in a good NIC can really do wonders for your network performance. A card that has good driver support and uses less CPU / PCI bandwidth improves performance. Also using good wire helps especially if you have a long run. The less interference you get the better the connection stays. Espeically under a heavy network load.

Personally the only NICs that I use are Intel. I used to be a big 3com fan but their driver support has really fall off in my opinion. Even though I am only running 100mbit...I can get a good 90+ percent utilization.

[acelefty]

I used to be a fan of the 3Com NIC, however due to two reasons I am now a Intel fan as well. The first problem I had was after I purchased a $75 10/100 SOHO 3Com NIC, 3Com announced that they were not going to support Win2k because home users were not expected to run Win2k! Then I had nothing but incompatibilities with the 3c905 series NICs and my Abit BE6-2. So to 3Com I say :fu:. Now I run Intel NICs and I have had zero problems with them. I get about 10 - 12K transfering from my server to dekstop (through my 3Com switch) with FTP :cool: so I am pretty happy with my 100mbit network.
To sum it all up, Intels NICs are the way to go IMHO.

[Bullfrog]

Amen to that! I have a huge stack of 3com NICs laying around at home. If anyone wants some let me know :P

[Hoss]

Intel really has started (or did a few years back) to put some major resource into Networking, both Wireless and Wired/Gigabit technology. Some really cool stuff. I actually got to see some of the 10Gig gear when I was up in Oregon at the Network Comms site. REALLY impressive.

I work in server chipsets, and I can't tell you how many times I've had to test and test ....and test, at the request of a customer why their Broadcom (3Com uses Broadcom) controller hangs the system or has really poor performance. In all cases (15+) the issues have either been resolved by Broadcom (not 3Com even though it's their card) sending us some new driver to fix the error, or by getting a new card all together. Getting a new card fixed a couple of problems cause the card I had was from an early batch and the new one didn't exhibit the problem. There would still be people out there with the bad cards though and they would probably not know why their card sucked. Who knows...

While an organization called PCI Sig wrote the 64/66 and PCI.X specs, Intel has been neck deep in the early development of both technologies. Coupled with the largest software division (even bigger than M$FT), Intel really can whoop anyone's ass in network products. I know this....MAN!!!

[Moddy]

Intel really can whoop anyone's ass in network products.

Sigged.

[Bullfrog]

Intel really can whoop anyone's ass in network products. I know this....MAN!!!

Can I get amen brother!

[LawJp]

Can I get amen brother!

AMEN!!...so does anyone want to buy three 3com NICs?? :shock: :|

[Bullfrog]

We can always use them for table-levels at the lan...that is if you are willing to sacrafice such a valuable piece of equipment!.
:rocket:

[Moddy]

If you put a gigabit NIC on a 10/100 switch, will it outperform a 10/100 card on the same switch? Is that a valid question?

[Bullfrog]

If you put a gigabit NIC on a 10/100 switch, will it outperform a 10/100 card on the same switch? Is that a valid question?

In that scenario you will most likely not see much performance difference but it all depends on the age of the 10/100 card. The gig cards are typically newer and the drivers tend to use less CPU under load. While it will not make the packets go any faster, it won't tax your system as much. Make sense?

[Moddy]

If you put a gigabit NIC on a 10/100 switch, will it outperform a 10/100 card on the same switch? Is that a valid question?

In that scenario you will most likely not see much performance difference but it all depends on the age of the 10/100 card. The gig cards are typically newer and the drivers tend to use less CPU under load. While it will not make the packets go any faster, it won't tax your system as much. Make sense?

yeah, makes sense. I was just thinking that sometmies when I xfer stuff between 2 10/100 cards, I only get 70% network utilization. Now if I had 1 10/100/1000 and 1 10/100 and was xferrring, i was thinking that it'd push thru faster....maybe by using more of the available network resources. I'm a tool.

[acelefty]

I'm a tool.
Roger that :cheeze: J/K I think that the problem with your network is that all of your CAT-5 is running into your UBER-1337 Linksys hub and somehow bypassing the 3500 Series Cisco goodness :rolleyes:
Acelefty

[GotNoRice]

Are there going to be any gigabit ports at the next FLG?

[Bullfrog]

We will have a extra Fiber gigabit port off the cisco for sure. I am working on a copper gigabit switch right now. Don't know if I will have it in time for #2.