What do i choose Hub or Switch!

[woodenman80]

Im at a problematic stage of my networks improvement.

I have 5 pc's at home which at present have all 100/10mbs network cards, but are connected to a 5 port 10mbs hub 4 ports cat 5 cable and one old style tpiece jobby (MRI) which is a real pain as one pc has to have an old card in it :( to use the old BNC cable. (as you can tell networks are a gray area to me). Ive been looking for a new 5 port Hub etc, But i came across switches which i assume send data where it is needed not everywhere. THe Switch is about 40 squid.

NETGEAR FS105 - Switch - 5 Port(s) - 10Base-T, 100Base-TX - 100 Mbps - EN, Fast EN

And i assume this switch is faster than a standard hub?

Now the 5 port 10/100mbs hubs are almost as expensive as this switch ive found. about 3 pound in it or an 8 port for cheaper but i will never need more than five as my house has no room lol plus the electric bill lol..

So please can you tell me which would be fastest for gaming but predominately data throughput as i shift large files around .
Hmm im really stuck

Woodenman

[eh?]

get a switch, they are smarter. A hub will ping every port until it finds the one its looking for, a switch goes straight there. I bought a black switch offline for 53 shipped actuallive bought 3 let me see if i can find the place.

[eh?]

right here (http://www.electroseller.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?) never had a problem with the seller or the seitch, it is an 8 port but i usually only use 4 on mine unless some friends come over:D. and its droped in price...$32 plus shipping

*edit*you can get in black too:D

[foxforcefive]

With a hub, you get a shared 100MB connection between boxes...with a switch, you get a dedicated 100MB connection between boxes, and there is no (or very limited) broadcasts. Once the boxes transfer data betweek each other, the switch learns where the other is and knows for next time where to send data.

These days, with prices as low as they are, switches are the way to go.

My .02.

BL

[woodenman80]

I think i will get the switch but I will get it from the UK as USA is to far and i pay for shipping then importing etc. What i need is someone who buys cheap gear in america and sends it to the UK as a Present as such so we dont pay import tax :). ram in USA for $50 whilst same amount in UK £100 no joke. But thanx again.

Woodenman

[eh?]

well, if you want i buy it and then give it to you as a present if you pay me back :)

[Escuchamezz]

for a home network it may be better to get a hub - its cheaper and with 3 or less computers on the network you won't notice the difference

[foxforcefive]

Originally posted by Escuchamezz
for a home network it may be better to get a hub - its cheaper and with 3 or less computers on the network you won't notice the difference

You will notice if you are copying large amounts of data between all of the computers....