usb vs. ethernet

tire_iron · Post by **tire_iron** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 2:37 am

ok, right now i have a toshiba pcx1000, which i am renting from my cable company. it goes through my ethernet card obviously, but i was going to buy my own cable modem and have a decision, should i go with a usb modem, or just get a regular ethernet modem? i do uploading and downloading on irc and i have noticed ppl that claim they have usb modems seem to be very fast, but i dunno if it's just coincidence that they seem to have a super great isp, unlike myself, or usb modems speed stuff up for some odd reason. also, wouldnt a usb modem get around all of this reg tweak non sense...ok, i'm rambling now, cookies for anyone who answers this semi intelligently

o ya, does brand make a difference?

DVD Rewinder · Post by **DVD Rewinder** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 2:40 am

ETHERNET!!!!!!!!!!!

enough said

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 6:46 am

Speedwise....no difference. Broad bandwidth throughput will not even near approad the limits of ethernet or USB.

But you're better off going with ethernet for several reasons....one being if you ever move to having a network at your house, sharing a connection through a router, you'll have to go ethernet. Also ethernet is more stable hardware wise. Once you setup an ethernet NIC....it's pretty much always there. With USB...every now and then, from my experience, USB devices will hiccup and you have to re-install them. Plus if you're a hardcore gamer, USB devices have more CPU utilization than hardware NICs, which we don't like.

One of the advantages of USB is on some systems which have no resources free, like no PCI slots, or no IRQ's free on their system to install a network card....then USB becomes the answer for them.

One of the faster cable setups I've ever done was on a netgear USB setup. It flew around 4300/460. There is no performance difference at all between the two. Just a general consensus that good old PCI NICs are more reliable, although I've honestly yet to see a USB cable have a problem, I've seen other USB devices in the past have more problems.

NYR 56 · Post by **NYR 56** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 11:34 am

Ethernet is MUCH faster than USB, if you have a GREAT ISP.

USB limits you at about 5mbps with a modem (I know that isnt the true limit of a modem). I have 8.6mbps, and at that speed, ethernet is faster than USB. Also, USB uses resources and draisn cpu power. Stick with a NIC!

CompGeek83 · Post by **CompGeek83** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 11:58 am

usb should not even be an option, get the real stuff, and stick with ethernet

nelly_7677 · Post by **nelly_7677** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 3:31 pm

ok guys quit hating on the USB k'mon i got USB but i have no modem its and adapter about the size of a FAT wallet and take i think..hld on....ok its 3.8"x2.6"x1.2" (97x66x30mm) and weighs 5oz and runs on 5volts it has a Ethernet and everthing all in one has a LAN port, so is this stil bad or what?its speeds is 1MBPs phone and 10MBPs Ethernet and 100MBPS FAST Ethernet

boss672 · Post by **boss672** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 7:02 pm

umm usb is 12mbits. usb network adapters dont eats up cpu cycles hense the externalness of the external usb adapter

. And speed is equal for broadband purposes. However do go witht he nic if possible

NYR 56 · Post by **NYR 56** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 7:40 pm

Originally posted by boss672
umm usb is 12mbits. usb network adapters dont eats up cpu cycles hense the externalness of the external usb adapter . And speed is equal for broadband purposes. However do go witht he nic if possible

Wrong boss. The USB does use more cpu power. But thats not the major thing. USB IS SLOWER THAN A NIC UNDER HIGH SPEEDS! You cant get more than about 4-5mbps with a USB, but with the same connection you could get 8.5mbps with a NIC.

boss672 · Post by **boss672** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 7:52 pm

bahhh i disagree :P of course usb uses moree cpu power than the nic but hardley enuf to notice anything. I have reached a solid 653k/s from microsoft.com with my usb as well as the nic ...didnt notice a performance diff at all. Also, im assuming ppl with 8mbps connections wouldnt have usb adapter in their mind at all ppl with 8mbps connections would even think of using usb.. just my thoughts

NYR 56 · Post by **NYR 56** » Sat Jul 28, 2001 8:06 pm

Well, tests have proven that the NIC goes faster than USB with ISPs such as Optimum Online.

And why wouldnt people with 8mbps think about USB? I dont understand that comment...