Is gigabit worth it?

[lasergecko]

Anyone done any testing with gigabit NICs and switches? Do you get a performance increase that is noticable?

If so, how much?

 

[Boscoh]

This question depends entirely on what you use your network for.

There is no "yes" or "no" answer that covers every situation.

 

[lasergecko]

Well if you move lots of data around between machines.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

Unless you have a server O/S on the writing end, you'll see very little throughput advantage to gigabit. Writing to W2K on a AMD 2400+ machine, I get about 20% more throughput than using 100mbit adapters. OTOH, writing to the same machine booted with Server 2003, I get about 2.5 times the writing speed of 100mbit adapters.

 

[cmetz]

I wouldn't go out of the way to replace a working 10/100 network, but if you're buying new NICs or switches, unless you are very cost sensitive, buy gig. You know you're going to end up there, and the delta-cost isn't all that much anymore, plus the gigabit stuff (NICs esp. but switches too) tend to be a bit higher-performance and higher-quality.

 

[AFB]

For new, yes. For high use networks , yes. For the average person, no.

 

[amdskip]

My school has upgraded with new fiber and gig to the labs on campus for ghosting purposes. They move tons of data ghosting the machines and it has cut the ghosting time down but I can't remember by how much off the top of my head.