What Nic?

JaY_III · 09-29-03, 04:52 PM

just got myself a new MB and it has an onboard NIC like all new boards...

Anyways, i was wondering what would probly be the better NIC to use. the nForce2 NIC or my Intel Pro 10/100?
currently using the onboard, seems ok...
but just thought i'd ask

OSUmaxx · 09-29-03, 05:01 PM

Since the onboard is 10/100 too, I'd just use that and leave an extra PCI slot free. If it ain't broke...

su root · 09-29-03, 06:07 PM

A forums search will bring up my thoughts on the subject (I dont' like onboard NICs).

Friend of mine called me over, said his computer wouldn't start up. The previous night there was a huge lightning storm, and his house got hit twice by lightning. Luckily, his computers had all been unpluged. After a bit of troublshooting, it was found that if I removed his NIC, his machine would start right up. He had left his switch plugged in, and his network card plugged into the switch. The other computer in his house was untouched though. A simple swap-out-bad-nic-swap-in-good-nic fixed it. Try doing that with an onboard NIC. (I know you can disable them in BIOS, but his box wouldn't even POST with the card in).

After you work at a job replacing broken NICs all day, every day, you learn that PCI NICs are infinitely better than onboard NICs, just for the ability to swap them out when they break.

On the other hand, it's up to you, I'm sure lots of people have been successful with onboard NICs (otherwise there wouldn't be a market for them).

JaY_III · 09-30-03, 11:15 AM

generaly speaking i like PCI cards too...
but the onboard sound on this board is really good causing me NOT to use my Sound Blaster Live
So was wondering what the opinions were on the NIC for this board. It doesnt seem to eat the CPU up.. but as my Intel NIC is all hardware and not software.. guess throwing it in cant hurt (expecially if lightning strikes)

{PMS}fishy · 09-30-03, 05:19 PM

I have the same MB and Im using the on board NIC. I also have the Intel Pro 10/100. I really like the Intel, but I can't say that I notice a difference. If you can use the Intel in another computer do that, if not than you can use it in this system. The Intel nic will do all of the network processing on its own, so in theory it should be faster. However with the speeds that computers are at now you may not notice a difference. Furthermore all of the onboard features of the NForce2 seem to be very low CPU usage.

If you cant decide, flip a coin.

JaY_III · 09-30-03, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by {PMS}fishy
If you cant decide, flip a coin.

it almost seems that way.

AS it ALMOST seems that the onbard NIC is a hardware NIC like the Intel...
Either way nVidia did a good job with onboard features

thanks for the thoughts

BGPatterson · 11-19-03, 11:06 PM

I am not an expert on NIC's or networking , however i will agree with what has been said here in this thread in that it is just a matter of preference. Personally, i like PCI nic's better; however some may do OK with the onboard one or a PCI one. I have had no troubles with either version. I use my onboard nic to free up a pci slot, so it actually worked out well for me.

It turns out the nic on my board is an intel one. Is that the same as the pci card version? Or do they act differently? Perhaps i am asking this question wrong. Please correct me if i am wrong.

wired14 · 11-19-03, 11:47 PM

the Intel nic you mentioned was giving me problems. It could not connect no matter what. I finally got a $9.00 Simenes speedstream nic and it works perfect.

09-29-03, 04:52 PM	Thread Starter #1
JaY_III Senior of BX Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Vancouver	What Nic? just got myself a new MB and it has an onboard NIC like all new boards... Anyways, i was wondering what would probly be the better NIC to use. the nForce2 NIC or my Intel Pro 10/100? currently using the onboard, seems ok... but just thought i'd ask
	QUOTE Thanks

09-29-03, 05:01 PM	#2
OSUmaxx Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Oregon	Since the onboard is 10/100 too, I'd just use that and leave an extra PCI slot free. If it ain't broke... __________________ My heatware \| What's that? You're not folding yet? Join us!
	QUOTE Thanks

09-29-03, 06:07 PM	#3
su root Senior Member -- I teach people how to read your email. Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Ontario, Canada	A forums search will bring up my thoughts on the subject (I dont' like onboard NICs). Friend of mine called me over, said his computer wouldn't start up. The previous night there was a huge lightning storm, and his house got hit twice by lightning. Luckily, his computers had all been unpluged. After a bit of troublshooting, it was found that if I removed his NIC, his machine would start right up. He had left his switch plugged in, and his network card plugged into the switch. The other computer in his house was untouched though. A simple swap-out-bad-nic-swap-in-good-nic fixed it. Try doing that with an onboard NIC. (I know you can disable them in BIOS, but his box wouldn't even POST with the card in). After you work at a job replacing broken NICs all day, every day, you learn that PCI NICs are infinitely better than onboard NICs, just for the ability to swap them out when they break. On the other hand, it's up to you, I'm sure lots of people have been successful with onboard NICs (otherwise there wouldn't be a market for them). __________________ "Some people, when confronted with a problem, think 'I know, Ill use regular expressions.' Now they have two problems."
	QUOTE Thanks

09-30-03, 11:15 AM	Thread Starter #4
JaY_III Senior of BX Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Vancouver	generaly speaking i like PCI cards too... but the onboard sound on this board is really good causing me NOT to use my Sound Blaster Live So was wondering what the opinions were on the NIC for this board. It doesnt seem to eat the CPU up.. but as my Intel NIC is all hardware and not software.. guess throwing it in cant hurt (expecially if lightning strikes)
	QUOTE Thanks

09-30-03, 05:19 PM	#5
{PMS}fishy Senior A64 Killer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Boston, MA	I have the same MB and Im using the on board NIC. I also have the Intel Pro 10/100. I really like the Intel, but I can't say that I notice a difference. If you can use the Intel in another computer do that, if not than you can use it in this system. The Intel nic will do all of the network processing on its own, so in theory it should be faster. However with the speeds that computers are at now you may not notice a difference. Furthermore all of the onboard features of the NForce2 seem to be very low CPU usage. If you cant decide, flip a coin. __________________ Pick 2: Speed -- Reliability -- Cost Trouble Shooting 101: 1. RTFM 2. Repeat Step 1 6ghz Club Member. cw823 Fan Club Founding Member, are you?
	QUOTE Thanks

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11-19-03, 11:06 PM	#7
BGPatterson Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Calgary,Alberta	I am not an expert on NIC's or networking , however i will agree with what has been said here in this thread in that it is just a matter of preference. Personally, i like PCI nic's better; however some may do OK with the onboard one or a PCI one. I have had no troubles with either version. I use my onboard nic to free up a pci slot, so it actually worked out well for me. It turns out the nic on my board is an intel one. Is that the same as the pci card version? Or do they act differently? Perhaps i am asking this question wrong. Please correct me if i am wrong.
	QUOTE Thanks

11-19-03, 11:47 PM	#8
wired14 Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Rockville, MD & Athens, Greece	the Intel nic you mentioned was giving me problems. It could not connect no matter what. I finally got a $9.00 Simenes speedstream nic and it works perfect.
	QUOTE Thanks

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