techPowerUp! Forums

Go Back   techPowerUp! Forums > www.techpowerup.com > Reviews

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old May 23, 2007, 09:12 AM   #1
Frederik S
Staff
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Søllerød, Denmark
Posts: 900 (0.40/day)
Thanks: 40
Thanked 210 Times in 157 Posts
Send a message via MSN to Frederik S

System Specs

Bigfoot Networks KillerNIC M1

To read this review go to: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/B.../KillerNIC_M1/

Last edited by W1zzard; Jun 18, 2007 at 06:04 AM.
Frederik S is online now  
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 18, 2007, 08:41 AM   #2
Bret
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 48 (0.03/day)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts

System Specs

Why did u measure FPS?

And ur ping is 5ms?? My ping never gets below 250ms in any game.. maybe u dont need that thing.
Bret is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 18, 2007, 09:06 AM   #3
Wile E
Power User
 
Wile E's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Western PA (Pittsburgh suburbs)
Posts: 17,966 (8.71/day)
Thanks: 436
Thanked 3,760 Times in 3,085 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Wile E Send a message via Yahoo to Wile E

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bret View Post
Why did u measure FPS?
Mostly because Killer targets this towards gamers. They claim better fps and ping in their advertising.
__________________

Visit Ashentech
“What the hell did you expect? Leave Vista under the pillow and the OS fairy would make it Win7?” -El Fiendo
“And Bring Mailman back god damnit, he is the Eric Cartman of TPU” -MRCL
Wile E is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 18, 2007, 09:22 AM   #4
xvi
500 Posts
 
xvi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Washington, US
Posts: 663 (0.33/day)
Thanks: 169
Thanked 101 Times in 50 Posts
Send a message via AIM to xvi Send a message via Yahoo to xvi

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bret View Post
Why did u measure FPS?

And ur ping is 5ms?? My ping never gets below 250ms in any game.. maybe u dont need that thing.
As it said in the review, the KillerNIC does all the work for the network instead of the CPU. This frees up CPU usage so that it can be used for the game and not for the network. That extra CPU means he can get more FPS. As for the 5ms ping, he's playing on a local network.

Although the idea of having a "slave Linux computer" do my PC's bidding sounds amazing, I don't think I can justify the price. Then again, there are people out there who will buy Quad-Core Xeons and Quad-SLI 8800 Ultras as soon as they hit the market just so they can play FEAR and HL2 200 FPS higher than their refresh rate.

I've seen the KillerNICs out for a while, but it's interesting to see some benchmarks popping up. I wonder why they opted for a mini-Linux brew and not just some super-dedicated hardware. It seems like that'd be cheaper and more efficient.
__________________

(So much for folding on my Radeon 4000-series cards. Goodbye, folding badge.)
Any computer, no matter how old, can serve a meaningful purpose.
Behind every closet door is a dusty computer waiting to be reborn.
xvi is offline  
Crunching for Team TPU Folding for Team TPU
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 18, 2007, 10:03 AM   #5
DanTheBanjoman
Señor Moderator
 
DanTheBanjoman's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Utrecht, Utrecht, The kingdom of the Netherlands
Posts: 8,376 (2.86/day)
Thanks: 38
Thanked 1,399 Times in 1,039 Posts
Send a message via ICQ to DanTheBanjoman Send a message via MSN to DanTheBanjoman

System Specs

I wonder if the difference is noticeable on dual core systems as well. With another core that can handle the networking the Killer NIC could just be an expensive alternative to dual core.
DanTheBanjoman is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 18, 2007, 10:13 AM   #6
xvi
500 Posts
 
xvi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Washington, US
Posts: 663 (0.33/day)
Thanks: 169
Thanked 101 Times in 50 Posts
Send a message via AIM to xvi Send a message via Yahoo to xvi

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by DanTheBanjoman View Post
I wonder if the difference is noticeable on dual core systems as well. With another core that can handle the networking the Killer NIC could just be an expensive alternative to dual core.
Good point. I'd imagine that most games take advantage of Dual-Core machines now-a-days, don't they? I know Valve was looking in to it quite extensively.
__________________

(So much for folding on my Radeon 4000-series cards. Goodbye, folding badge.)
Any computer, no matter how old, can serve a meaningful purpose.
Behind every closet door is a dusty computer waiting to be reborn.
xvi is offline  
Crunching for Team TPU Folding for Team TPU
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 18, 2007, 10:32 AM   #7
Frederik S
Staff
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Søllerød, Denmark
Posts: 900 (0.40/day)
Thanks: 40
Thanked 210 Times in 157 Posts
Send a message via MSN to Frederik S

System Specs

Well if you take a look at the other reviews of the KillerNIC on the web there are tests done on dual and quad core systems. With some remarkable results.
Frederik S is online now  
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 18, 2007, 11:59 AM   #8
EastCoasthandle
Eligible for custom title
 
EastCoasthandle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,244 (2.41/day)
Thanks: 382
Thanked 1,524 Times in 865 Posts

System Specs

I read that this card creates a handicap if web browsing. Did you notice any slow ups when web browsing?
EastCoasthandle is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 18, 2007, 12:04 PM   #9
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
 
newtekie1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 16,184 (6.81/day)
Thanks: 698
Thanked 4,289 Times in 3,154 Posts

System Specs

There is no way this card is worth the price, it is just a high priced packet scheduler. Any good $15 PCI NIC will give roughly the same results by taking a small load off the CPU. Either way, the difference isn't noticeable, or at least not worth $220.
__________________

Rig1: System Specs.
Rig2: Celeron E3200@4.0GHz / eVGA 780i A1 / 8GB G.Skill DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 / GT240 / Samsung DVD-Burner / 500GB Seagate 7200.10 + 2x1.5TB Seagate LP in RAID0
Rig3: Athlon X2 4200+ / M4A79 Deluxe / 4GB G.Skill Pi DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 / GT430 / Sony DVD-Burner / 500GB WD
Rig4: Phenom II x6 1605T @ 3.6GHz / Asus M5A99X Evo / 8GB PNY DDR3-1600 9-9-9 / GTX470 & GTX465 / Samsung DVD-Burner / 1.5TB Seagate
newtekie1 is offline  
Crunching for Team TPU
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 18, 2007, 12:05 PM   #10
Frederik S
Staff
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Søllerød, Denmark
Posts: 900 (0.40/day)
Thanks: 40
Thanked 210 Times in 157 Posts
Send a message via MSN to Frederik S

System Specs

I couldn't feel a difference. I have SpeedFox for Firefox installed and all of the page load times with and with out where aboue the same. So there might be small difference, but it ain't something you can "feel" while browsing.
Frederik S is online now  
Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Frederik S For This Useful Post:
Old Jun 18, 2007, 12:10 PM   #11
EastCoasthandle
Eligible for custom title
 
EastCoasthandle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,244 (2.41/day)
Thanks: 382
Thanked 1,524 Times in 865 Posts

System Specs

Great thanks for the info. I also read that this network card works best for a mid-low ranger computer.
EastCoasthandle is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 18, 2007, 12:32 PM   #12
xvi
500 Posts
 
xvi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Washington, US
Posts: 663 (0.33/day)
Thanks: 169
Thanked 101 Times in 50 Posts
Send a message via AIM to xvi Send a message via Yahoo to xvi

System Specs

The more the CPU bottlenecks the computer, the better performance you're going to see. That's at least what I assume. That's probably why the maximum frame rate didn't change. The CPU was no longer the bottleneck for that specific scene, but the GPU (or maybe VSync) was. If the CPU can keep up with the GPU and deal with the network at the same time with cycles to spare, offloading to extra hardware is only going to give you even more (useless) spare cycles.
__________________

(So much for folding on my Radeon 4000-series cards. Goodbye, folding badge.)
Any computer, no matter how old, can serve a meaningful purpose.
Behind every closet door is a dusty computer waiting to be reborn.
xvi is offline  
Crunching for Team TPU Folding for Team TPU
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 18, 2007, 01:18 PM   #13
WarEagleAU
Bird of Prey
 
WarEagleAU's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Gurley, AL
Posts: 9,948 (4.63/day)
Thanks: 3,511
Thanked 554 Times in 518 Posts
Send a message via AIM to WarEagleAU Send a message via Yahoo to WarEagleAU

System Specs

It does help, but the negligible difference doesnt justify the $250.00 price tag. Of course, I know a few who have it just so they can frag some asses in CSS and other games ::Shrug:
__________________
=-TheEagle-=



Heatware: WarEagleAU 9-0 and growing.
“You crazy? Surfing any website without an antivirus is like freaking with a dirty woman without protection” -OzzmanFloyd120
- Edited for content and clarity
WarEagleAU is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 18, 2007, 01:34 PM   #14
xvi
500 Posts
 
xvi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Washington, US
Posts: 663 (0.33/day)
Thanks: 169
Thanked 101 Times in 50 Posts
Send a message via AIM to xvi Send a message via Yahoo to xvi

System Specs

Yeah.. That's pretty much it. It's a network card for people who absolutely require the best (and can afford it).

Unless you want it for the heatsync. I heard it lights up. How hard is it to make your own heatsync?
__________________

(So much for folding on my Radeon 4000-series cards. Goodbye, folding badge.)
Any computer, no matter how old, can serve a meaningful purpose.
Behind every closet door is a dusty computer waiting to be reborn.
xvi is offline  
Crunching for Team TPU Folding for Team TPU
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 18, 2007, 01:43 PM   #15
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
 
newtekie1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Indiana
Posts: 16,184 (6.81/day)
Thanks: 698
Thanked 4,289 Times in 3,154 Posts

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoasthandle View Post
Great thanks for the info. I also read that this network card works best for a mid-low ranger computer.
But if you have a mid-low range computer, why not spend the $220+ on something more useful, like a better processor?
__________________

Rig1: System Specs.
Rig2: Celeron E3200@4.0GHz / eVGA 780i A1 / 8GB G.Skill DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 / GT240 / Samsung DVD-Burner / 500GB Seagate 7200.10 + 2x1.5TB Seagate LP in RAID0
Rig3: Athlon X2 4200+ / M4A79 Deluxe / 4GB G.Skill Pi DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 / GT430 / Sony DVD-Burner / 500GB WD
Rig4: Phenom II x6 1605T @ 3.6GHz / Asus M5A99X Evo / 8GB PNY DDR3-1600 9-9-9 / GTX470 & GTX465 / Samsung DVD-Burner / 1.5TB Seagate
newtekie1 is offline  
Crunching for Team TPU
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 18, 2007, 01:48 PM   #16
DanTheBanjoman
Señor Moderator
 
DanTheBanjoman's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Utrecht, Utrecht, The kingdom of the Netherlands
Posts: 8,376 (2.86/day)
Thanks: 38
Thanked 1,399 Times in 1,039 Posts
Send a message via ICQ to DanTheBanjoman Send a message via MSN to DanTheBanjoman

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by xvi View Post
Yeah.. That's pretty much it. It's a network card for people who absolutely require the best (and can afford it).

Unless you want it for the heatsync. I heard it lights up. How hard is it to make your own heatsync?
Actually I do see a market for it amongst modders. It's a complete system basically, with an USB disk you could do some fun stuff with it.
DanTheBanjoman is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 18, 2007, 02:18 PM   #17
W1zzard
Administrator
 
W1zzard's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Posts: 12,286 (4.19/day)
Thanks: 155
Thanked 8,147 Times in 2,503 Posts
Send a message via ICQ to W1zzard Send a message via AIM to W1zzard Send a message via MSN to W1zzard

System Specs

but there are cheaper and smaller ways to get a tiny linux system

btw dan, what happened to those thin clients you wanted to send me ?
W1zzard is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 18, 2007, 04:18 PM   #18
POGE
1000 Posts
 
POGE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: In banjo's Goats.
Posts: 1,387 (0.58/day)
Thanks: 3
Thanked 34 Times in 22 Posts
Send a message via ICQ to POGE Send a message via AIM to POGE Send a message via MSN to POGE Send a message via Yahoo to POGE

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by newtekie1 View Post
There is no way this card is worth the price, it is just a high priced packet scheduler. Any good $15 PCI NIC will give roughly the same results by taking a small load off the CPU. Either way, the difference isn't noticeable, or at least not worth $220.
+1. Maximum PC's review said the same thing and gave it a very bad rating.
__________________
pogeybait
POGE is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 18, 2007, 08:25 PM   #19
JacKz5o
200 Posts
 
JacKz5o's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 456 (0.23/day)
Thanks: 49
Thanked 100 Times in 38 Posts
Send a message via AIM to JacKz5o

System Specs

Nice but umm..



The lowest ping you can have in CS:S is 5... try playing and testing the Killer NIC over internet gameplay instead of LAN.
JacKz5o is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 19, 2007, 01:06 AM   #20
Polaris573
Senior Moderator
 
Polaris573's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Little Rock, USA
Posts: 3,285 (1.24/day)
Thanks: 68
Thanked 764 Times in 450 Posts
Send a message via MSN to Polaris573

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by W1zzard View Post
but there are cheaper and smaller ways to get a tiny linux system

btw dan, what happened to those thin clients you wanted to send me ?
The hospital I work for is selling about 100 thin clients, might be hard to get them to Germany though.
__________________

Lector benevole, legum servi sumus ut liberi esse possimus. Accipere quam facere praestat injuriam

Fold for Techpowerup!
Polaris573 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 19, 2007, 01:12 AM   #21
[I.R.A]_FBi
Eligible for custom title
 
[I.R.A]_FBi's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: c:\programs\kitteh.exe
Posts: 6,153 (3.36/day)
Thanks: 724
Thanked 556 Times in 461 Posts

System Specs

waste of teh monay
[I.R.A]_FBi is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 19, 2007, 01:29 AM   #22
Dippyskoodlez
3500 Posts
 
Dippyskoodlez's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 4,256 (1.69/day)
Thanks: 14
Thanked 224 Times in 183 Posts
Send a message via AIM to Dippyskoodlez

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by newtekie1 View Post
There is no way this card is worth the price, it is just a high priced packet scheduler. Any good $15 PCI NIC will give roughly the same results by taking a small load off the CPU. Either way, the difference isn't noticeable, or at least not worth $220.
I too would like to see a comparison of a REAL NIC instead of an onboard one.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Bret View Post
Why did u measure FPS?

And ur ping is 5ms?? My ping never gets below 250ms in any game.. maybe u dont need that thing.
Did you even read the article and understand what it does?
__________________

11" Macbook Air: 1.4ghz C2D, 2GB DDR3, Geforce 320m, 128Gb SSD
15" Clevo P150HM: 2.2ghz i7, 16gb DDR3, 120gb Intel SSD, 750gb WD, Radeon 6990
Dippyskoodlez is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 19, 2007, 08:45 AM   #23
Frederik S
Staff
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Søllerød, Denmark
Posts: 900 (0.40/day)
Thanks: 40
Thanked 210 Times in 157 Posts
Send a message via MSN to Frederik S

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by JacKz5o View Post
Nice but umm..



The lowest ping you can have in CS:S is 5... try playing and testing the Killer NIC over internet gameplay instead of LAN.
That's over the internet! I played on a Danish FFA server. I have 100Mbit/s internet connection.
Frederik S is online now  
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 19, 2007, 09:59 AM   #24
DanTheBanjoman
Señor Moderator
 
DanTheBanjoman's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Utrecht, Utrecht, The kingdom of the Netherlands
Posts: 8,376 (2.86/day)
Thanks: 38
Thanked 1,399 Times in 1,039 Posts
Send a message via ICQ to DanTheBanjoman Send a message via MSN to DanTheBanjoman

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by W1zzard View Post
but there are cheaper and smaller ways to get a tiny linux system

btw dan, what happened to those thin clients you wanted to send me ?
Made a tower of them in my room, I can make a picture of the tower if you want.
I got 9 now, 1 seems defective so far. I'll test them quickly this week and ship you 2-3 this weekend. Whenever I'm near a postal office while it's open. Talk to me on MSN later about it.
DanTheBanjoman is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old Jun 19, 2007, 04:28 PM   #25
JacKz5o
200 Posts
 
JacKz5o's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 456 (0.23/day)
Thanks: 49
Thanked 100 Times in 38 Posts
Send a message via AIM to JacKz5o

System Specs

Quote:
Originally Posted by Frederik S View Post
That's over the internet! I played on a Danish FFA server. I have 100Mbit/s internet connection.
Wow lol.

Well like I said, CS:S never goes under 5 so you should have tried playing on a server further away.

Still a great review though.
JacKz5o is offline  
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 10:39 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.6
Copyright ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
no new posts