Network cards.. Onboard vs PCI?

[imported_Somnus]

Which is better to use:

1. Onboard ethernet (Some realtek device)

2. SMC 1244TX V2 PCI card?

Why would one be better thant the other, or is there really no difference?

 

[JackMDS]

Realtek is the most common Chipset on Entry Level to Mid Level NICs.

I would not be surprise that the 1244TX V2 PCI card is Realtek too,

For common use there is no real difference.

:sun:

 

[Steve]

If you have a lot of PCI devices, you might find an advantage in onboard LAN (provided that it's chipset-integrated) to give you some PCI headroom.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: sm8000
If you have a lot of PCI devices, you might find an advantage in onboard LAN (provided that it's chipset-integrated) to give you some PCI headroom.

aye. Having that bandwidth off of the PCI bus comes inhandy if you have a harddrive subsystem that can handle gibabit speeds.

 

[howdyduty]

You would think someone would have tested this. An article or test results would be interesting. I would think that the onboard might use the PCI bus also though. If it does not, onbaord sound and lan could be preferred. Nice topic.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: howdyduty
You would think someone would have tested this. An article or test results would be interesting. I would think that the onboard might use the PCI bus also though. If it does not, onbaord sound and lan could be preferred. Nice topic.

onboard means you are stuck with that technology. Most all-in-one boards integrate many functions such as sound and video, and sacrifice PCI slots for it.

Onboard CAN use the PCI bus. It is totally dependant on the implementation

 

[n0cmonkey]

I'm using the onboard NIC on my newest machine. It even happens to be the chipset that I hate the most. But for what I'm doing with it, realtek is enough. Plus, I'm REALLY short on PCI slots.

 

[nageov3t]

I used both.

onboard nic to connect my computer to the internet, and a dual-nic PCI card to connect directly to my roommates computer and my "media center" shuttle box.

 

[JackMDS]

This is absolutely so, and that is why some of my computers are using the Onboard NIC and some have additional PCI NIC.

I do not think that this type of question (relating to the Original Question at the top) has to do with Technology. It is more of a Psychological Sate inflicted upon us from the Computer Enthusiastic Historical Start of OverClocking and Video frame pushing.

If I was Mr. Somnus I would start using the Onboard NIC and be happy, but he is probably concern that he is going to miss something if he is not using PCI NIC.

Well Network is different than the OverClocking business, if the Network works correctly you do not miss any thing. A more expensive sophisticated PCI Card is Not better in a sense that a Video card is better (I.e. Makes you a better Killer in war games) , it better in a sense that it can do things that the Onboard NIC can not do. However if you do not need these functions (usually they are related to a much larger Cooperate Networks), you are not going to benefit from adding a simple PCI card.

P.S. Look at the picture of the SMC Card. The symbol on the Chipset is the Realtek Logo.

Link to: SMC 1244TX.

:sun: