good, better, best network card?

[Dan]

I'm using a Westell broadband wireless router (model 7500) that Fairpoint gave me to connect to the internet. I'm assuming that I have to use this for their service.
I have two laptops with wireless devices that connect fine and deliver streaming content very smoothly.
My main computer has a Linksys LNE 100TX v.4 fast ethernet adapter.
For some reason the videos from sites like U tube are not smooth, and there seems to be a buffer problem.
Could my network card be the problem, would a wireless device be better?
Or is there a better network card (PCI).....?
or is this a matter of tweaking settings?
any help appreciated...

[rjfvillarosa]

That is only a 10/100 connection card, you would be better off with a gigabit card.
Something like this should do you fine:
TP-LINK TG-3269 PCI Gigabit Network Adapter - Newegg.com

Are the two laptops new?

[Dan]

Originally Posted by rjfvillarosa Are the two laptops new?

thanks for the help....
the laptops are about 5 years old....but they stream just fine.
thanks again

[glc]

A properly working 10/100 card is more than fast enough to stream well, as long as the computer itself is strong enough. I'd make sure you are running the latest version of Flash and the computer is clean.

The fact that you have that old Linksys card in it tells me that the computer is old. All the motherboards I've worked with for almost the last 10 years have onboard Ethernet. What's the specs?

This is one of the best 10/100 PCI cards ever made:

3COM 3C905-TX 10/100 PCI NETWORKING CARD (3C905TX) - 3COM NETWORKING - ZDTronic.com

[Dan]

thanks for the reply glc, good to hear from you...

I've a Tyan Trinity s2095 motherboard
P4 2.4 ghz cpu
2 gig ram
Nvidia Gforce 6200 video
Maxtor hdd (3 drives, 60gb, 120gb, 200gb)
I've a promise card installed to handle the third drive...
Lynksys lne100tx fast ethernet adapter
sound blaster

just realized I still have my 56k usrobotics modem in the box..should I take that out?

but that's about it...no great whistles and bells....
oh, and I'm running xp home....sp3
~Dan

[glc]

The modem shouldn't affect anything.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by glc The modem shouldn't affect anything.

flash is updated, pc clean from spyware, malware, and virus.

anything else I can do with my current hardware?
I have no problem buying a gigabit card...

[glc]

It may be time to start budgeting for a new build. Your 10 year old hardware is approaching the end of the line. I doubt a gigabit card would make a difference unless your current card is shot - even a 10/100 card is a lot faster than your Internet service.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by glc It may be time to start budgeting for a new build. Your 10 year old hardware is approaching the end of the line. I doubt a gigabit card would make a difference unless your current card is shot - even a 10/100 card is a lot faster than your Internet service.

thanks glc,
I'm just a bit confused about "my internet service"....I've broadband now, but maybe you meant something else....
I'll move any further discussion to the hardware forum, but if I decide to rebuild, can I at least use my atx case? or are atx motherboards outdated as well?
I ordered a gigabyte card, we'll see what happens...
thanks again for your help...

[glc]

Your Internet service is a lot slower than 100 megabits per second. My DSL is 3 megabits per second and I doubt your broadband is much faster than that, if it's even that fast.

You can probably reuse your case, but why not keep your system together in one piece for use somewhere else? You may be surprised how cheap we can put a system together as long as you don't need one for high intensity gaming.

[Dan]

thanks again,

Ya, I'll probably always keep this build at least for data storage, actually most programs that I use work just fine. Never had a problem rendering in Autocad or
Photoshop.
But, I'll have to start looking around the hardware forum to collect data on newer components...don't game, so just about anything that's cheap and current technology will do...
I've been here at PCMechanic since '99....I can always count on the support that I need...haven't built anything in probably 10 years...this could prove to be much fun...

[glc]

Start a thread in the BYOPC forum with your budget and needs and we'll throw a list together.

[Dan]

I got my gigabit network adapter today, installed it and wow.
Big difference in streaming video, Utube is great....
Webpages come up faster, even booting to desktop is faster...
guess I'll put off a new build for a bit longer....
(I just love this old box!)
thanks again all for your help...
~Dan