Where do I even start with a router upgrade?

[JT!]

My ISPs speed is started to encroach on my networks 100mbit bottle neck. I've already replaced my switch from a 100mbit one to a gigabit one. The only weak link in the chain right now is my router (WGR614v10).

This router cost me $7 used and I've had it for freaking years and has given me no issues what so ever. It's been great.

Makes me want to try and stick to Netgear, however my usual purchasing method of going onto newegg, selecting all the criteria I need, sorting by best rated, and choosing the first on the list that suits my budget, and then finding that used on ebay didn't really work for me this time around so I'm looking for advice.

Wireless networking speeds is a non issue for me as my important stuff is wired, just looking for a gigabit router with at least 4 ports, something well rated that isn't going to give me hassle.

Suggestions anyone?

How about the Netgear WNR3500L?

Thanks!

 

[don256us]

I tend to go with the cheapest unit with all of the bells and whistles. With that in mind, I spent $200 for this one. https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320174

My coworkers (I work IT) go with the mind set of the cheapest with minimum specs like TP-Link. This would be the best example of that. https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704234

I don't have any brand loalty but I do not care for the Belkin brand as they tend to over-simplify the interface and I just don't like them. I look at Linksys with some suspicion since Belkin bought them but I had Linksys brand in my own house for a long time.

 

[Tech Tweaker]

I like my Netgear R6400 AC1750 pretty well, personally.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122786

 

[Jeff G]

I have a TRENDnet TEW‑691GR and a Linksys WRT1900AC.
For wired connection, both are awesome.
For wireless, the TRENDnet doesn't support AC and the range of the Linksys gives me roughly an extra 50' outside of my house (which is nice since the TRENDnet didn't reach my detached garage).
The Linksys also supports OpenWRT, which to me is a must.
I haven't had a single issue with either, and the TRENDnet is a very cheap option if you just want wired Gigabit ports. The Linksys is a lot pricier, but you get some nice options with that price.

 

[Sentential]

I would highly suggest looking here first:
https://www.smallnetbuilder.com/

I personally have a soft-spot for Ubiquiti given they are essentially commercial grade routers. Definitely NOT for the faint of heart but are far better built than most off the shelf garbage you'll find in department stores. I personally am using an airport extreme because A) I'm lazy and B) I don't like taking my work home with me, plus the apple store w/t applecare helps

 

[don256us]

I would highly suggest looking here first:
https://www.smallnetbuilder.com/

I personally have a soft-spot for Ubiquiti given they are essentially commercial grade routers. Definitely NOT for the faint of heart but are far better built than most off the shelf garbage you'll find in department stores. I personally am using an airport extreme because A) I'm lazy and B) I don't like taking my work home with me, plus the apple store w/t applecare helps

The "Thanks" is for the awesome link not that crap about Apple junk.

 

[Sentential]

The "Thanks" is for the awesome link not that crap about Apple junk.

Lol I understand! I needed something decent that I knew had enough heatsinks not to flake out and took the easy path; I'll probably replace mine with an Aironet or a Unifi router here pretty soon.

 

[don256us]

Lol I understand! I needed something decent that I knew had enough heatsinks not to flake out and took the easy path; I'll probably replace mine with an Aironet or a Unifi router here pretty soon.

I'm just bustin' your chops. No harm intended. I really do appreciate that link. I've never heard of that site before.

 

[Suppressor1137]

I have been looking into the "Overpowered C2D, 2gigs of ddr2 ram self built with multiple network cards based on your needs*4-8ports* a Wifi card with two 2.4 ghz antenna(If you want Wi-fi), a built in fileserver, running a linux based router os, with a custom firewall to protect your data."

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/01/numbers-dont-lie-its-time-to-build-your-own-router/

You can literally adjust the price of the router based on any hardware you already have laying around collecting dust, save for the network cards and wifi card, make it passively cooled for minimal noise, etc etc.

I like building pc's, and this gives me an excuse to build one

The c2d is probably significantly more powerful than any of the routers being sold, with access to a significant pool of ram for various multi-tasking purposes. You can have a VPN and High end firewall installed on your "router" and protect all of your pcs you attach to it.

Best of all, You can make the design in any case you want that can fit what you need. I'm looking to "Mostly" passively cool it with a giant heatsink: https://www.quietpc.com/nof-icepipe

You may be better off to get a cpu that has an IGP though, a c2d doesn't. Removes need to have a temp card to set everything up.

And run the quietest, high cfm fan to add some airflow to the case: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4M53SN5835 - Maybe not this fan, you want a non sleeve fan for something that will be ON 24/7

 

[Sentential]

I'm just bustin' your chops. No harm intended. I really do appreciate that link. I've never heard of that site before.

Of course I gotcha man! That site has been a lifesaver for me as I neither have the time or the patience to test network equipment like that (and not get paid for it at least)

I have been looking into the "Overpowered C2D, 2gigs of ddr2 ram self built with multiple network cards based on your needs*4-8ports* a Wifi card with two 2.4 ghz antenna(If you want Wi-fi), a built in fileserver, running a linux based router os, with a custom firewall to protect your data."

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/01/numbers-dont-lie-its-time-to-build-your-own-router/

You can literally adjust the price of the router based on any hardware you already have laying around collecting dust, save for the network cards and wifi card, make it passively cooled for minimal noise, etc etc.

I like building pc's, and this gives me an excuse to build one

The c2d is probably significantly more powerful than any of the routers being sold, with access to a significant pool of ram for various multi-tasking purposes. You can have a VPN and High end firewall installed on your "router" and protect all of your pcs you attach to it.

Best of all, You can make the design in any case you want that can fit what you need. I'm looking to "Mostly" passively cool it with a giant heatsink: https://www.quietpc.com/nof-icepipe

You may be better off to get a cpu that has an IGP though, a c2d doesn't. Removes need to have a temp card to set everything up.

And run the quietest, high cfm fan to add some airflow to the case: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4M53SN5835 - Maybe not this fan, you want a non sleeve fan for something that will be ON 24/7

To be fair the "top tier" routers linked from the website above use current generation Snapdragons which would be on par or better than a C2D suprisingly. Most are on pair with Haswell i5s as proven by the Ipad Pro

 

[Suppressor1137]

To be fair the "top tier" routers linked from the website above use current generation Snapdragons which would be on par or better than a C2D suprisingly. Most are on pair with Haswell i5s as proven by the Ipad Pro

Yeah, But the "Homebrew" router has several other advantages, one being not limited by your choices for hardware. Those were the specs of the old system I have in my basement collecting dust that i was considering reviving, at the cost of the network cards and power bill.

C2D isn't ideal by any means, But it is superior to low/midrange and throws punches with top teir consumer routers now. In my eyes, Rather than dump $350 on a top teir router today, and have to replace it once it goes bad; dump that into building your upgradable router, giving you significant control, vastly improved internet packet handling, and powerful virus protection tools for all of your pc's and devices attached to this machine. And if there should be a point in time where 10 gigabit internet is the norm, you only have to get a new set of network cards to support it.

If I were to build one with new parts, I'd probably opt for a micro atx board with a low power ryzen chip or intel equiv, with 8 gigs of ram(speed unessential, so whatever is cheapest), a 3tb HDD for file storage(eventual SSD replacement), a ultra-high efficiency 430-500 watt PSU(less if I can find one with at least a gold rating), and 2-3 network cards. total price would be around $350-400 if I had nothing laying around. Biggest advantage is the lack of a need for a GPU, as we would be opting to use IGP.

In fact...I'm going to piece together a would be Router X in pcpartpicker. I'll get back to this once the list is put together.

Update: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/s4zvYr - $526.09

Bit pricey in comparison to the top teir consumer routers, but room to add a wireless card if needed. This is probably overkill for a router, but considering it is ALSO a fileserver, Network Firewall, and various other neat features imo it is worth it.

You can slash the price further by opting for an older generation cpu/mobo/ram(Or even further if they are just sitting there in your basement/shed/old pc relic room, as all you would need to get is the network cards), but I chose this setup in favor of the m.2 slots and extra features like usb 3.1 type a/c ports*for modern thumb drive transfers.

And I just want to put this out there. I really like that case...