[RESOLVED] Best NICs for small LAN

[SNAFU]

What is the best NIC for a small LAN (T1, Cisco Router, 3 24 port SMC 10/100 Hubs, 2 8 port Hubs, CAT 5, all stations WIN98se PII-PIII, and a few Duron's tossed around)? Most of the machines have Realte *GASP* or 3com 905b(or c's) that gimme nuthin' but trouble. some work beautifully...others I just want to pop in a toaster or send though an ICOP. Any favorite cards? Most dependable? etc? Just wondering... http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm30.gif http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm29.gif http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm30.gif

[standsølid]

I like anything with a TI chipset. They're usually inexpensive and work very Well.

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You can't triple-snap a double-snap!! You can't triple-snap a duoble-snap!!

[Mustang]

have a small network at home of 3 machines
2 have netgear fa311 cards and the third has a linksys card
all are 10/100
also using a netgear router
and having no trouble with any of it

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"May the force be with you ." Obi-Wan Kenobi

[This message has been edited by Mustang (edited January 30, 2001).]

[condor]

I never had any serious problems with 3Com 90x cards but If you like something else I would highly recommend the Intel 55x based cards (I love the Intel Pro 10/100+ )



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Computers do exactly what you tell them to do - not exactly what you want them to do ...

[iamtheman]

I agree with Condor, if you don't want problems go with an Intel Pro 100+, there are a few different models. I can not stand anything 3Com. I know everyone has their opinions but I've seen enough 3Com crap to know to stay away.

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Born to Network

[StevePorter]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by iamtheman:
I can not stand anything 3Com. I know everyone has their opinions but I've seen enough 3Com crap to know to stay away.</font>

I've had just the opposite experience. Chevy or Ford? Ford or Chevy? It's interesting how a bad experience skews our thinking forever.

I just installed four D-Link DFE-530TX+ into both Win98SE and W2K computers without any problem. I picked up those little suckers for only $15 each at Office Depot about a month ago. They're just giving them away...

http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm3.gif

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Sometimes computer problems require extreme measures. Our hero, the Intrepid Spaceman Spiff, sets his blaster on "deep fat fry..." http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm27.gif

[condor]

I would AVOID ANY REALTEK BASED CARD under windows 2000 - they have lots of problems working in 100Mbit Full duplex !

I had a problem with about 15 cards that didn't work on full duplex in windows 2000 (not in auto negotiation or manual) finally I switched them manually to half duplex and voila - they were working.

we tried the built in drivers as well as d-link and realtek reference drivers (that just messed up the systems).

If you buy any just use the built in win2000 driver and use half-duplex

We ended up replacing all the realteks to 3Com 905b tx-nm and 905c - without any problems.



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Computers do exactly what you tell them to do - not exactly what you want them to do ...

[Tech Head]

Agreed

We use Intel Pro Management 10/100+ for quality/performance

D-Link DFE-530TX Rev A3 or 3COM 90X for performance

or Realtek for cheapskates.

Martin http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/tongue.gif

[x_789]

I would highly recomend Netgear FX310 or Fx311 cards for economy. I like Netgear cause they are a bay networks company. I have never had any problems with the 3com 3c905x series I personally like them alot jsut dont install all that diagnostic junk that comes with them. If you are having problems with the 3coms I would have to agree with the guys above about the Intel cards being a great highend card.
I would rather use a cut to fit isa than a Linksys but thats just my opinon. X

http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm31.gif

[This message has been edited by x_789 (edited February 06, 2001).]

[underfunded]

The D-Link DFE-530TX or TX+ cards are awesome.... I've installed them in dozens of machines with little to no problems. I haven't used them under win2k so i'm not sure about that but in any 9x they are flawless. Good Luck, Ian.

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You make me com...
You make me complete...
You make me completely miserable.
--Lit, Miserable.

[scutterboy]

I use 3com 905xx and DFE530TX.. they work fine in 2000 btw. I prefer the few Intel cards we use, they are really good. I recommend Intel pro 100 cards, the drivers are really good. You can team them etc.. Really solid.



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And Control Enter STILL wont let me post a reply.
:)

[Eagle PC Diagnostech]

Intel, D-Link, Kingston

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An obstacle is something you see when you take your eyes off your goal.

[MacGyver]

For personal use the DLINK 530 mentioned above is great. It does the job and won't clean out your bank account if you need three or four of them!

For business use or mission critical applications, I'd pick a 3com 905 series card any day. Just make sure you get the latest drivers.

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sHIFT hAPPENS11

[Gabriel]

It is quite personal Opinion BUT
I like 3Com 90xx Series NICs
they have the best Price/Performance/Troubleshooting Ratio

But other will argue

One thing for sure - Don't buy a cheap LAZY card - cause it will drive you crazy ( http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm13.gif ) @ the end of the Day.

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It Works Better if you Plug it in, It Works far better if you Turn it ON!

[Manicheya]

My real world experience with NIC's is this.

Realtek, DLink, any cheap cards are most likely made by a company called Accton, an OEM manufacturer. Have you heard a saying, "You get what you pay for"?

I actually use a Realtek at home, but in a work environment no way. One reason only, they tend to do a little too much broadcasting.

I myself have had issues with 3Com products, so I switched to Intel cards. The main reason i use Intel is administrative, one floppy disk for the driver, lets see 3COM do that with all the 3C90x models.

Thats my 2 cents (Canadian money not worth much).

[evilcabbage]

I like the Netgear FA310TX's ... pretty much every machine in the office uses one, and we havent had any major hassles with them.

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Its like shooting fish in a barrel, in the head, at point blank range, with an elephant gun.

[pkessie]

aww ya, REALTEK!!!!!!!!!!!!
or is it REALTEC!!!!!!!!!!!

http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm9.gif

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Paul Kessie

[dantanna]

working for a place that has 900+ computers I have found the D-Link 530 seems to work well with win98. this is a card that has the least problems in setting up.

[Larommi]

Not sure what is the best?

I know that I have had good luck with D-Link 530TX+

At home my laptop had a D-link and my towers are running Cnet One of them that has my cable modem is running two and they work great! Best part is they almost cost nothing!! http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm9.gif

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You spend your whole life believing that you're on the right track,
only to discover that you're on the wrong train.

[Sebring]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Larommi:
Not sure what is the best?

I know that I have had good luck with D-Link 530TX+

At home my laptop had a D-link and my towers are running Cnet One of them that has my cable modem is running two and they work great! Best part is they almost cost nothing!! http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm9.gif

</font>

Same opinion here. I've got four of the D-Links going myself and one of the systems is Win2k and another is WinMe (other two are 98). No issues at all. Best bang for the buck!

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Don't insult the momma alligator until AFTER you've crossed the river

[xtac]

3com
intel
dlink

[Cable Modem Tech]

i like Kingston, yes it is true that a company of the same name makes second rate food fir riverside/bilo markets.... but the networking kingston makes some good stuff, i have been installing kingston 10/100 cards here about 5 to 10 a day for about 7 months with only one bad one and that was from the other installer messing up the install............KIDS!!!

if it is just a small home network then it really does not matter..... as long as you can get the driver loaded with out pulling out your hair and the things works with out problems then you have yourself a good network card..

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They get mad when they come to raid my pad and i'm out in the nine duece cad.

[3fingersalute]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Cable Modem Tech:
i have been installing kingston 10/100 cards here about 5 to 10 a day for about 7 months with only one bad one</font>

I agree...we use 3COM for heavy use businesses, and Kingston (mostly the KNE-120) for small businesses (2-4 pc's peer-to-peer) and home use. I just replaced my 1st bad Kingston card 2 days ago...and ironically enough, it was in one of our shop pc's, not a customer's!



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Make something idiot proof, and they will invent a better idiot!

[jrwilson]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by evilcabbage:
I like the Netgear FA310TX's ... pretty much every machine in the office uses one, and we havent had any major hassles with them.
</font>
agreed, but we use nothing but intel's for our server builds. why take chances? i use netgears at home and love them. i got a box of 10 for $100 from a buddy and in 2 years i havent lost one.


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"Don't hate the media....BECOME the media!!" Jello Biafra - Dead Kennedys

[kannibul]

my home network consists of:
cable modem (from cox)
feeds into my 3com 509B-TPO ISA NIC
on my windows 2000 server (NAT)
to a 3com 905B-TX
to a Netgear FS105 Switch (great little f^cker)
to my other machines (2) (3com 905c TX-M)

at work - we use compaq nics on the servers (compaq servers)
on the proxy - i have a 3com 905B-TX (multihomed compaq - compaq is the internal nic)
and our hubs and switched are all 3com.

when it comes to netorking - you get what you pay for, nothing more.

[NTTECH1]

3 Comm and Intel NIC cards are best on large networks. Have not had any problems with these NICs on DHCP Servers or small office networks.
You do get what you pay for in reguard to OEm cheap NICs.

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Computer Shop Owner A+ COMPTIA Master Tech

[crtlaltdel]

Have had good luck with Netgear's FA-311,
not to fond of 3-com cards (had some issues)
http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smilies/cwm30.gif

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I'm on the right track but the wrong train...or is it the right train but wrong track ?

[houseisland]

I have never had any problems with Intel Pro 100 series NICs, nor have I had any problems with Kingston NICs.

For the most part my experience with 3Com NICs has also been positive, the exception here being in the facility where I currently work. I work in a heritage building dating to the late 1800s, and this structure has rather peculiar ground properties - can you say "Ground loop?" The 3Com cards do bizarre things in this environment: they fail to work at all; they develop inappropriate subnet masks; they corrupt data; etc.; etc.

[wbatten]

3Com 905c
Intel Pro100+

-wayne


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I use The best program that cures Windows problems, Far more reliable than Norton Utilities, It's called FORMAT C:...®

[cyberhh]

D-Link, Linksys, Bay.

Intel was running a promotion for a while - turn in 50 network cards (including ArcNet) and recieve a network connection kit free (10 100bT Nics, 1 12 Port 100 BT Switch)

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Death is lighter than a feather - duty heavier than a mountian.

[mikecso]

Netgear has got great networking stuff period. Best price for what their products offer. I don't think we have had a single return on any Netgear NIC, hub, or router. Works great w/ 98, Me, and Win2K.

[Melmac]

Intel Pro 10/100. I don't buy anything else.

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Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it.

[computerpro]

I used to be (in the old days) a 3COM only guy.

Now..For personal and business use I go with the DFE-530TX 10/100 NIC's from D-Link.

Why?

They cost $14. and work as well as any Intel or 3COM card I've ever used.

Don't believe it?
Start transfering some data
Fire up your protocol analyzer and do a read on one...then read a 3COM or Intel card....

Then transfer a (larger)30+ MB file from one workstation to another. Check the transfer time. Then try it with your "favorite" card.

Now that you are convinced, (admit it...you are)leave the card in the system for a couple years...don't worry it will still be there running fine....and if it does fail (I doubt it) go spend another $14 bucks for a new one. The money you save will let you upgrade all those ancient 3COM hubs you've been holding on to and trade them in for some nice fast 100Mbs switches http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum/smile.gif

[LagMonster]

The Dlink DFE-TX+ works great and costs little. What more could you ask for.


Besides free beer!

[x_789]

Man I just repalced a rinky-D-Link card that was brand new on saturday cause the cable installer tech couldnt get the internet up dead dlink out of the box. Still they are better than LinkSys butNET GEAR IS THE BOMB BABY FOR LOW END. I am even starting to like SMC better than dlink and linksys. X

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No really That paper thingy you took out of the box with all the words on it was not packing material its called a "MANUAL"