Gigabit lan differences

<<Onafets>> · Mar 31, 2012, 06:16 AM

heya,
I'm planning on getting a few gigabit pci cards for a home router build using linux and i had a few questions. a) Is cat 6 worth it over cat5/5e? b) are all gigabit cards built the same? (specifically: http://www.msy.com.au/product.jsp?productId=4194 and http://www.msy.com.au/product.jsp?productId=4238)
thanks
-ona

FordGT90Concept · Mar 31, 2012, 07:23 AM

All network cards aren't built the same (e.g. high end cards of network processors on them that take load off the system to handle the network stack) but those two pretty much are. I've heard of TP-LINK before, not EDIMAX; thereofre, I'd gravitate towards TP-LINK. The only major difference I see between them is the TP-LINK supports a boot ROM chip and EDIMAX does not.

<<Onafets>> · Mar 31, 2012, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FordGT90Concept

All network cards aren't built the same (e.g. high end cards of network processors on them that take load off the system to handle the network stack) but those two pretty much are. I've heard of TP-LINK before, not EDIMAX; thereofre, I'd gravitate towards TP-LINK. The only major difference I see between them is the TP-LINK supports a boot ROM chip and EDIMAX does not.

Would a boot rom chip be of any use to me? and im not worried too much about the power because the box is a dedicated P4 2.8 with 2gb of ram. All its doing is running untangle for 3 machines (maybe 4 later) unless you still believe that will be an issue.

newtekie1 · Mar 31, 2012, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by <<Onafets>>

Is cat 6 worth it over cat5/5e?

Cat6 is not necessary for gigabit, Cat5e will handle gigabit just fine for distances of ~100m(Cat6 doesn't increase this distance any). Do not use regular Cat5, it will not work with gigabit, you must use Cat5e.

FordGT90Concept · Mar 31, 2012, 07:39 AM

CAT6 supports 10/100/1000 up to 100m and 10,000 up to 55m. 10 gigabit is rare though so don't worry too much about it unless you have interferance/crosstalk issues. CAT6 is quite a bit more expensive than CAT5e because the cable has more components (there's a plastic divider running the length of the cable keeping the 4 twisted pairs isolated) and the connectors are more difficult to assemble (instead of being 8 in a row, it's 4 on 4--they often don't like hitting the right hole).

Phusius · Mar 31, 2012, 07:47 AM

I have used Cat6 for years, oddly enough Comcast installed my internet at home with Cat6 which surprised me. I know it doesn't really matter, but eh.

<<Onafets>> · Mar 31, 2012, 08:07 AM

Thanks guys

Im gonna go with 5e and the 5 dollar pci cards

Jetster · Mar 31, 2012, 08:24 AM

This is a great site to look at review.

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/

Frick · Mar 31, 2012, 08:31 AM

if it's a more permanent install i would go with cat6 actually.

FordGT90Concept · Mar 31, 2012, 04:18 PM

Yeah, leaves the door open to 10 gigabit in the future without running new cable (assuming the distances aren't too great).

robal · Mar 31, 2012, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by <<Onafets>>

Is cat 6 worth it over cat5/5e

Yes it is.
Not now, but in future, new ethernet standards will emerge that will not work on 5e, but will on 6.
Your house wiring will be ready.

<<Onafets>> · Mar 31, 2012, 11:14 PM

I suppose future proofing wouldn't be too much of a bad idea, I may as well pickup the cat 6 then. Is there any reduction in latency for cat 6?

FordGT90Concept · Mar 31, 2012, 11:38 PM

No, but might be fewer lost packets.

ChristTheGreat · Apr 1, 2012, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FordGT90Concept

CAT6 supports 10/100/1000 up to 100m and 10,000 up to 55m. 10 gigabit is rare though so don't worry too much about it unless you have interferance/crosstalk issues. CAT6 is quite a bit more expensive than CAT5e because the cable has more components (there's a plastic divider running the length of the cable keeping the 4 twisted pairs isolated) and the connectors are more difficult to assemble (instead of being 8 in a row, it's 4 on 4--they often don't like hitting the right hole).

That is all correct. That plastic in the cable reduces crosstalk. Cat 6 support 10 gigabit and is able to operate at up to 250 MHz.

I would surely go with cat 6. For sure, the price of the cable aren't the same, well from the last time I bought some. All my cables are now Cat 6.

Mussels · Apr 1, 2012, 01:22 AM

just remember that PCI will bottleneck gigabit, you only get 133MB/s shared between all PCI devices, and gigabit theoretically goes to 125MB/s, so you'll be limited.

but yes, limited at even 50MB/s is still better than 100Mb connections 12.5MB/s

Rhyseh · Apr 2, 2012, 07:11 AM

You're not planning on connecting all 3 hosts to the router are you?

If so then it is probably pointless using gigabit NIC's due to the aforemention PCI bittleneck. It is also pointless to have a gigabit NIC if you are only routing your internet connection as it's unlikely an internet connection would fill a fast ethernet interface, let alone gigabit.

My 2c: Purchase a cheap, unmanaged gigabit switch.

Mar 31, 2012, 06:16 AM	#1
<<Onafets>> Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 757 (0.46/day) Thanks: 490 Thanked 77 Times in 73 Posts System Specs	Gigabit lan differences heya, I'm planning on getting a few gigabit pci cards for a home router build using linux and i had a few questions. a) Is cat 6 worth it over cat5/5e? b) are all gigabit cards built the same? (specifically: http://www.msy.com.au/product.jsp?productId=4194 and http://www.msy.com.au/product.jsp?productId=4238) thanks -ona __________________ “As long as you bypass the quantum septicular rings and interconnect the transmission module 3/4 the way down the flux capacitor you'll do just fine.” -Soylent Joe “Don't go all flash. Your website would be a resource hog, slow down people's browsers and kill little baby seals.” -xbonez

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Mar 31, 2012, 07:23 AM	#2
FordGT90Concept "I go fast!1!11!1!" Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: IA, USA Posts: 10,574 (6.29/day) Thanks: 1,752 Thanked 2,596 Times in 1,960 Posts System Specs	All network cards aren't built the same (e.g. high end cards of network processors on them that take load off the system to handle the network stack) but those two pretty much are. I've heard of TP-LINK before, not EDIMAX; thereofre, I'd gravitate towards TP-LINK. The only major difference I see between them is the TP-LINK supports a boot ROM chip and EDIMAX does not. __________________ Golden Rule of Programming: Never assume. try { SteamDownload(); } catch (Steamception ex) { RageQuit(); }

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Mar 31, 2012, 07:39 AM	#5
FordGT90Concept "I go fast!1!11!1!" Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: IA, USA Posts: 10,574 (6.29/day) Thanks: 1,752 Thanked 2,596 Times in 1,960 Posts System Specs	CAT6 supports 10/100/1000 up to 100m and 10,000 up to 55m. 10 gigabit is rare though so don't worry too much about it unless you have interferance/crosstalk issues. CAT6 is quite a bit more expensive than CAT5e because the cable has more components (there's a plastic divider running the length of the cable keeping the 4 twisted pairs isolated) and the connectors are more difficult to assemble (instead of being 8 in a row, it's 4 on 4--they often don't like hitting the right hole). __________________ Golden Rule of Programming: Never assume. try { SteamDownload(); } catch (Steamception ex) { RageQuit(); }

Mar 31, 2012, 07:47 AM	#6
Phusius Banned Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 1,262 (2.98/day) Thanks: 621 Thanked 380 Times in 208 Posts System Specs	I have used Cat6 for years, oddly enough Comcast installed my internet at home with Cat6 which surprised me. I know it doesn't really matter, but eh.

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Mar 31, 2012, 08:07 AM	#7
<<Onafets>> Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 757 (0.46/day) Thanks: 490 Thanked 77 Times in 73 Posts System Specs	Thanks guys Im gonna go with 5e and the 5 dollar pci cards __________________ “As long as you bypass the quantum septicular rings and interconnect the transmission module 3/4 the way down the flux capacitor you'll do just fine.” -Soylent Joe “Don't go all flash. Your website would be a resource hog, slow down people's browsers and kill little baby seals.” -xbonez

Mar 31, 2012, 08:24 AM	#8
Jetster Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,870 (2.35/day) Thanks: 934 Thanked 863 Times in 631 Posts System Specs	This is a great site to look at review. http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/

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Mar 31, 2012, 08:31 AM	#9
Frick Fishfaced Nincompoop Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sweden Posts: 7,882 (2.99/day) Thanks: 1,076 Thanked 1,445 Times in 1,151 Posts System Specs	if it's a more permanent install i would go with cat6 actually. __________________ Typemachine: Acer Aspire One D250 \| Atom N280 1.6 Ghz \| 1GB DDR2 \| 160GB SATA \| 10.1' 1024 x 600 \| Lubuntu 12.10 Oldbox: HP D530 \| Pentium 4 2.8 Ghz \| 1GB DDR \| 40GB \| Windows XP "The 'gentle biker' look is overdone. I'm going for 'psycho hillbilly.' "

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Mar 31, 2012, 04:18 PM	#10
FordGT90Concept "I go fast!1!11!1!" Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: IA, USA Posts: 10,574 (6.29/day) Thanks: 1,752 Thanked 2,596 Times in 1,960 Posts System Specs	Yeah, leaves the door open to 10 gigabit in the future without running new cable (assuming the distances aren't too great). __________________ Golden Rule of Programming: Never assume. try { SteamDownload(); } catch (Steamception ex) { RageQuit(); }

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Mar 31, 2012, 11:14 PM	#12
<<Onafets>> Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 757 (0.46/day) Thanks: 490 Thanked 77 Times in 73 Posts System Specs	I suppose future proofing wouldn't be too much of a bad idea, I may as well pickup the cat 6 then. Is there any reduction in latency for cat 6? __________________ “As long as you bypass the quantum septicular rings and interconnect the transmission module 3/4 the way down the flux capacitor you'll do just fine.” -Soylent Joe “Don't go all flash. Your website would be a resource hog, slow down people's browsers and kill little baby seals.” -xbonez

Mar 31, 2012, 11:38 PM	#13
FordGT90Concept "I go fast!1!11!1!" Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: IA, USA Posts: 10,574 (6.29/day) Thanks: 1,752 Thanked 2,596 Times in 1,960 Posts System Specs	No, but might be fewer lost packets. __________________ Golden Rule of Programming: Never assume. try { SteamDownload(); } catch (Steamception ex) { RageQuit(); }

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Apr 1, 2012, 01:22 AM	#15
Mussels Doctor Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bendigo, Australia (NOT THE USA) Posts: 34,551 (10.97/day) Thanks: 3,699 Thanked 8,689 Times in 6,389 Posts System Specs	just remember that PCI will bottleneck gigabit, you only get 133MB/s shared between all PCI devices, and gigabit theoretically goes to 125MB/s, so you'll be limited. but yes, limited at even 50MB/s is still better than 100Mb connections 12.5MB/s __________________ Edumacational thread about PC Audio My external HDD's.5x samsung 1TB + 2x Seagate 1.5TB = 8 TB external storage 32 Bit OS vs 64 bit OS information How to get hardware accelerated H264 playback (DXVA) Netbook Owners United!

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Apr 2, 2012, 07:11 AM	#16
Rhyseh Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 65 (0.04/day) Thanks: 8 Thanked 17 Times in 13 Posts System Specs	You're not planning on connecting all 3 hosts to the router are you? If so then it is probably pointless using gigabit NIC's due to the aforemention PCI bittleneck. It is also pointless to have a gigabit NIC if you are only routing your internet connection as it's unlikely an internet connection would fill a fast ethernet interface, let alone gigabit. My 2c: Purchase a cheap, unmanaged gigabit switch.

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