Network cards????????????

[RoundEye]

OK, from what I've read 3com is the best one.
Anybody have any other favorites?
I planning on setting up a Windows2000 server with a P3-800Mhz micro. I want to know what flavor 3comm card to use.
The works with processor (http://buydirect.3com.com/iom_dcms/b2c/catalog/detail.html?SKU=3CR990-TX-97)
Chocolate with management (http://buydirect.3com.com/iom_dcms/b2c/catalog/detail.html?SKU=3C905C-TX-M)
OR
Plain old vanilla (http://buydirect.3com.com/iom_dcms/b2c/catalog/detail.html?SKU=3C905B-TX-NM)
I'm using Linksys now in all my comps and I want a good card in my server.


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[Hardfloor]

I use the Intel EtherExpress Pro/100+. Gives you lots of settings to tinker with and seems pretty fast. Heck of alot faster than the Linksys or 3com I have in my other two machines. Yea, 3 nics, 3 different brands. The only problem I had was when I first installed it, it wouldn't get recognized in the first pci slot, so I mashed it into the next slot and was good from then on.

[crazyman]

hey hardfloor,have you ever really noticed a measurable difference in nic cards ? all the 10/100 cards I have ever used seem to perform the same.I don't know if a nic card difference could be noticed on a small home network.If I am wrong let me know why.

[Hardfloor]

Not much. What does make a difference is of course the power of the machine itself. I do know that the 10/100 usb nics are pitiful for the most part. A nightmare to use if you have two nics in one machine and one of your nics is usb. I really don't do speed tests simply because 5 seconds or 5.5 seconds to transfer a file makes no difference to me. I am sure on a large network you would see a difference. Probably why I have so many different nics and they pretty much do the job. They were just what I had laying around. the only reason I mentioned the Intel nic is for those who like to tinker, you can. Although the 3com has some adjustments to fool around with. The Linksys has none. I really don't know what or if any of the adjustments make a big deal on a small network, I usually default them anyways for the most part. Although I do see a difference in the bandwidth to cpu usage adjustment on the Intel card.

[This message has been edited by Hardfloor (edited 10-04-2000).]