What's new

Gigabit vs. Ethernet: What are Differences

  • SNBForums Code of Conduct

    SNBForums is a community for everyone, no matter what their level of experience.

    Please be tolerant and patient of others, especially newcomers. We are all here to share and learn!

    The rules are simple: Be patient, be nice, be helpful or be gone!

VisMan

New Around Here
Hello,

I should preface this by saying that I do know the basic difference between gigabit & ethernet routers: Gigabit = 1000MBps, Ethernet = 100MBps. My system is XP SP3.

I'm looking for a good quality wireless router for 1 computer only (an XP desktop). I'm trying to sell my house and my agent suggested that I should move my computer out of the 2nd bedroom (house only has 2) to a corner of the living room addition. I have a cable modem jack in the bedroom now and where I want to move the computer is about 35 feet away, on the same floor as the bedroom. In a few months I may add a new Win 7 notebook to my new house (in addition to the tower PC) but I'll cross that road when the time comes.

My friends at the Virtual Dr Networking forum have been giving me guidance and Midknyte has been especially helpful. I was thinking about purchasing a Buffalo WZR-HP-G300NH yesterday but then I started to wonder if I truly would need and/or utilise the gigabit capability. My computer does have a gigabit network card.

I currently have cable broadband and a connection speed of 400 Mbps (this number is from my 1394 Connection Status). How would a gigabit router benefit me vs. a fast ethernet? Would a fast ethernet router (100 Mbps) actually slow my current connection down? Is that why Midknyte is recommending a gigabit router? I ran a flash speed test at DSLReports 1 month ago and my down/up speed was 128/695 Kbps.

All I do with this computer is connect to the 'net and surf (no porn sites). I don't play any online games and my home is an XBOX-free zone (no other game systems). I don't use my machine as a phone either. I don't use Outlook or any other POP-based email.

I'm kind of leaning towards the Linksys E1000 and they claim "up to 300 Mbps of transfer speed." Will I be slowing my connection speed down any with this capacity (my last down/up speed was 128/695 Kbps)?

Last, but not least, The Budget: I have a loose cap of $60-70 to spend on a router. Important: I need to purchase any new router from Amazon.com as I have a $25 gift card that I want to use. The ASUS RT-N13U was suggested at VDr as an option and the price is great (there is a $20 rebate) but I have read many people's horror stories about the installation and use at Newegg.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.:)
 
A Reliable Router For Basic Needs

Hello:

Sounds like you have very basic needs. 100 Mbit and 1000 Mbit/s (gigabit) are both ethernet. They are just different speeds of ethernet. Your internet connection doesnt even come close to maxing out 100Mbit or even Wireless G speeds.

I would suggest that you look at an oldie but goody router, the Linksus WRT54GL. This router should give you plenty of speed for your usage and it is a pretty reliable beast, which is more important.

For your reference:
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/ethernet.htm

If the only thing you are doing on your network/internet is basic stuff like email, surfing, watching some Hulu, maybe the occasional online game, this router should suffice.

If you your streaming videos, music, downloading tons, and had many computers on your network then maybe look at a different router but I don't see why you need anything else at this point.

I've had the WRT54GL for a few months now and it has worked great. Hope this helps.
 
Thank you, zurge, for your helpful advice and recommendation. There is still one question on my mind: If I were to buy a Linksys WRT54GL 100 Mbit ("ethernet") router, would my current connection speeds of 128/695 Kbps down/up degrade at all (assuming nothing changes drastically and my cable BB remains great)? This is my primary concern.

I almost never watch online videos and never play online games. Once in a while I download a Top Gear episode but that's maybe once a month, if that.

I found a Linksys WRT54G v8.0 that has been upgraded to DD-WRT v24 SP2 - Build 13064 - Micro (CPU: 240 Mhz; Memory: 8 MB; Flash: 2 MB) on Craigslist Seattle/Tacoma for $28 link.

The seller also has another WRT54G "v2.0", upgraded to DD-WRT v24 SP2 - Build 13064 - Mini (CPU: 200 Mhz; Memory: 16 MB; Flash: 4 MB) for $34. They claim that this router has "Same specs as WRT54GL." I can swing the extra $6 if this is any "better" than the WRT54G v8.0 that they are selling. What do you all think?
 
Last edited:
Thank you, zurge, for your helpful advice and recommendation. There is still one question on my mind: If I were to buy a Linksys WRT54GL 100 Mbit ("ethernet") router, would my current connection speeds of 128/695 Kbps down/up degrade at all (assuming nothing changes drastically and my cable BB remains great)? This is my primary concern.

I almost never watch online videos and never play online games. Once in a while I download a Top Gear episode but that's maybe once a month, if that.

I found a Linksys WRT54G v8.0 that has been upgraded to DD-WRT v24 SP2 - Build 13064 - Micro (CPU: 240 Mhz; Memory: 8 MB; Flash: 2 MB) on Craigslist Seattle/Tacoma for $28 link.

The seller also has another WRT54G "v2.0", upgraded to DD-WRT v24 SP2 - Build 13064 - Mini (CPU: 200 Mhz; Memory: 16 MB; Flash: 4 MB) for $34. They claim that this router has "Same specs as WRT54GL." I can swing the extra $6 if this is any "better" than the WRT54G v8.0 that they are selling. What do you all think?

Amazing CL Dealer for DD WRT Routers
 
Don't need a gig router if you have two gig PCs and a gig switch you for moving gig packets (data) to and from each gig PC. Since most WAN (internet) is not at Gig speeds yet there is not need to worry about going Gig. But some Gig routers give you more mbps on what a 10/100mbps would give you.

Posted:---Real
10mbps = 6mbps
100mbps = 60mbps
1000mbps = 600mbps PCI Gig more like 700mbps on PCI-E Gig adapter it varies
 
I picked up that v2.0 Linksys WRT54G from the Seattle Craigslist dealer yesterday. I asked him to install Tomato firmware, which he did for free! The best thing about this is that a friend gave me his newish, virtually unused Linksys WRT54G router which I in turn "traded in" for the new (to me) v2.0 router. The CL dealer gave me $10 credit which made my total just $24!:) I had to drive approx. 50 miles to Seattle to pick up the v2.0 router but it should be well worth it.

I haven't had time to install and try out my new purchase - mom's in the hospital and I am having some health issues as well but hopefully I can find some time tomorrow. The CL dealer said that I could upgrade the antennas to larger units that can be found on eBay for around $10. I haven't looked for this yet.
 
Last edited:
I picked up that v2.0 Linksys WRT54G from the Seattle Craigslist dealer yesterday. I asked him to install Tomato firmware, which he did for free! The best thing about this is that a friend gave me his newish, virtually unused Linksys WRT54G router which I in turn "traded in" for the new (to me) v2.0 router. The CL dealer gave me $10 credit which made my total just $24!:) I had to drive approx. 50 miles to Seattle to pick up the v2.0 router but it should be well worth it.

I haven't had time to install and try out my new purchase - mom's in the hospital and I am having some health issues as well but hopefully I can find some time tomorrow. The CL dealer said that I could upgrade the antennas to larger units that can be found on eBay for around $10. I haven't looked for this yet.

Well hope you and your mom get better soon. As for the router well it's a lot your doing to get one but I guess you know best. Take care of yourself and your mom!
 
As for the router well it's a lot your doing to get one but I guess you know best.

I'm not too sure about that but for $24 it's a relative bargain. I needed to drive halfway to Seattle anyway to visit my friend and pick up his router and help him with some other stuff so I didn't really mind travelling.

Mom's in the care of a good doctor and will be discharged in a couple days. As for me, the doc just keeps ordering more tests.........
 

Sign Up For SNBForums Daily Digest

Get an update of what's new every day delivered to your mailbox. Sign up here!
Top