USB or NIC?

vicoman · Post by **vicoman** » Sat Oct 19, 2002 10:16 am

What's faster, a cable modem hooked to a NIC or to a USB port. and why?

MadDoctor · Post by **MadDoctor** » Sat Oct 19, 2002 10:27 am

https://www.speedguide.net/forums/ ... +or+NIC%2A

vicoman · Post by **vicoman** » Sat Oct 19, 2002 7:46 pm

Thanks Mad, but I was looking for more like facts then opinions. I want to know why? Does data not transmit as fast with USB? How does a NIC transfer faster than a USB?

just curious

Faust · Post by **Faust** » Sat Oct 19, 2002 9:09 pm

on the WAN side of the modem it's all the same..... just a data stream.

on the system side (your computer), there are many different advantages to having a dedicated communications device over a USB device.

i will just mention a few facts and let others with more time (was just about to crack open my first beer of the evening) expound upon them and/or add some.

busmastering, PCI bus bandwidth vs. USB bus bandwidth, more host CPU involvement in processing communications with a USB device, DMA, and also the fact that USB is nowhere near as polished and dependable as ethernet.

MadDoctor · Post by **MadDoctor** » Sat Oct 19, 2002 11:49 pm

Foud this from an older post. Does it help?

Originally posted by YeOldeStonecat
USB has more CPU cycles used but todays computers, USB NICs are fine for average broadband use, only the most hardcore of game users and users of home LANs who deal with large file transfers really need to stick with PCI NICs.

In later versions of Win95...USB devices were flakey. But in the hundreds and hundreds of computers I've plugged a USB NIC in....it works. But in our service department, I got a few Netgear USB NICs.....so we could plug that into computers we're working on....link to our 6 meg DSL connection...and download Windows Updates, anti-virus defs, drivers, whatever. Sure beats opening up computers just to pop in a PCI NIC, fighing with hardware conflicts due to IRQ's, and risk damaging the customers computer. And that Netgear USB NIC will download from Microsofts website at 400 - 600 just as fast as a PCI NIC.

So if you're a hardcore gamer....I'd say 3COM or Intel PCI NIC, better hardware control, offloads CPU, lower ping. If you do work on a LAN at the office or home, and deal with transferring huge files across your network...then again, 3COM or Intel PCI NIC. But for the average Joe internet user.....a USB NIC is painless to install, and performance the same...again, your broadband connection is the bottleneck....not the NIC.

vicoman · Post by **vicoman** » Sun Oct 20, 2002 1:20 pm

enough said, thanks.

I wonder if onboard nic's are better than PCI nic's or vice versa?
I have 1 onboard, and I have a spare SMC laying around. I wonder which woud perform better? I'm not a gamer.

MadDoctor · Post by **MadDoctor** » Sun Oct 20, 2002 1:27 pm

I'd give them both a try for a day each and see which one works the best for you. Works with the women.

Cypher · Post by **Cypher** » Sun Oct 20, 2002 10:27 pm

NICs are the way to go if you value speed. Never be afraid to crack your case open and upgrade. The data transfer rate is much faster.

Besides it gives you a more intimate understanding of how your computer works, and gives you a sense of accomplishment.

Faust · Post by **Faust** » Sun Oct 20, 2002 11:30 pm

as far as which NIC (onboard or PCI card), i am leaning towards the PCI card, as it may have more onboard (the card) controller capabilities. then again, SMC is a VAR that caters to the not-high-end market. if it were a 3Com or an Intel NIC, the choice would be easy.

i would go with MadDoc's advice and try them both out. give it some time and then change.

vicoman · Post by **vicoman** » Mon Oct 21, 2002 9:58 am

Thanks. I will try them both.