Author: Richard Harris
Editor: Howard Ha
Publish Date: Friday, July 7th, 2000
Originally Published on Neoseeker (http://www.neoseeker.com)
Article Link: http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Roundups/NIC_card/
Copyright Neo Era Media, Inc. - please do not redistribute or use for commercial purposes.
Networking is an essential part of any business or SOHO. And there is a broad range of hardware to choose from when designing or supporting a network. But with all the high tech networking equipment available, one thing is sometimes overlooked. The NIC, or network interface card plays an essential role in computer networking. A NIC allows a PC to have a dedicated connection to the LAN (Local Area Network) to transmit data back and forth to and from a server or other workstations.
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| 8 NIC Cards to choose from |
When you are looking towards replacing, upgrading, or building a LAN – the NIC should be one of the first things you consider during implementation and planning. There are certain things you will want to pay special attention to when purchasing a NIC: the Bus-mastering drivers it uses, OS compatibility issues, easy-installation, and the price factor. Price plays a big role, especially in larger, enterprise level rollouts (where a few dollars difference can mean a large total sum).
We’ve collected 8 NICs from 6 major companies and compared them head to head. I will explain a little about each card – both benefits and features, then you will see test results from a multiple file transfer test using two different machine configurations. At the end of all the NIC card descriptions and test results –I’ll go over all the comparative scores, so we can see how they each compared in performance and value to one another, and perhaps which card might work better for your networking solution.
Test Configurations
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| Another view of the 8 NICs |
DFI Motherboard with an Intel PIII 533 128 Megs SDRAM 8.5 Gig Seagate Hard drive 16 Meg Matrox AGP video 3Com 3C905TX NIC Windows 98SE
Machine 2
Abit motherboard with an AMD Athlon 600 128 Megs SDRAM 20 GIG Maxtor Diamond Max Hard drive 8 Meg i740 video card Windows NT 4.0 Varying NIC configuration
For testing I used a Windows 98 computer (machine 1) running a standard 3COM 3C905TX 10/100 NIC, and transferred a folder (peer to peer with a CAT 5 crossover cable) of 300MEG containing multiple directories and file structures to another computer (machine 2) running Windows NT 4.0 sp6a with network monitor and performance monitor to capture all network frames during a timed file transfer. All cards in the test were running in full-duplex mode at 100 Mbit/s.
On with the NICs!
Asante FriendlyNET 595 Adapter
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| The Asante FriendlyNET 595 |
This NIC is plug and play compatible, and has Auto-negotiation from 10 Mbit/s to 100 Mbit/s, works in half or full duplex mode, and also includes 32 bit PCI drivers, plus supports Linux, Windows 9X, NT, and 2000.
Looking somewhat tiny, this little NIC came shipped to me in an OEM-type plastic flip open case containing the NIC, one driver floppy, and a fold out features /driver support sheet.
The NIC itself has a RJ 45 female connection and 2 different link lights to show how fast your LAN connection is. (10Mbit or 100 Mbit) and if your card is transmitting or receiving packets.
Installing the NIC was very simple. The only floppy disk included contains a driver for each of the operating systems listed above. The included manual isn’t much of anything, except a small one-fold paper going over the features of the NIC. This documentation definitely wouldn’t be much help if you had any installation issues. In this case the card installed flawlessly, so you wouldn’t need much more than the included written materials.
Using a SIS chipset, the Asante NIC doesn’t have Boot-ROM support (for diskless workstations) nor does it provide WOL (Wake on LAN) –which is the ability of the NIC to send a small signal to the system board telling a suspended or power management PC to “wake up” and come online. Neither of these are widely used features, but if you do plan on using the NIC in a diskless workstation or want the convenience of remotely turning on a computer, then you may want to look into a different NIC solution.
Here are the performance scores for the Asante FriendlyNET 595 Adapter, using driver version 1.11
Time to transfer files: 3:06
Network utilization: 18%
Frames /sec: 4100-9247
Frames dropped:0
CPU utilization: 73%
CNET Pro200
CNet Technologies was founded in 1987 and provides all kinds of hardware networking solutions. Included in this roundup are two of their newest NICs, the Pro200 and Pro 200WL. Both cards have much the same to offer, except the Pro200WL supports WOL technology.
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| The CNET Pro200 |
This card uses a Davicom chipset and boasts being able to handle speeds from 10 Mbit/s all the way up to 200 Mbit/s while in full duplex mode. Even though the IEEE specs say CAT 5 cable can’t handle speeds above 100 Mbit/s right now –and I can’t theoretically bench at that speed, it’s definitely worth mentioning, because at speeds that high, things like LAN video, and other multimedia apps become reality.
There is no WOL support with the Pro200, but that can actually make this card more appealing to someone who doesn’t want to pay for features they don’t plan on using. Included with the Pro200 NIC are 3.5” drivers disk and a rather small manual. The NIC has two connectivity lights on the rear, one for Link status, and the other for NIC activity status.
I installed the card perfectly in my Windows NT machine, and after a quick reboot the card was ready for connectivity. There was no additional software included to use with the Pro200.
Here are the performance stats using the latest driver (Ver 1.41B)
Time to transfer files: 3:00
Network utilization: 15%
Frames /sec: 4307-8979
Frames dropped:0
CPU utilization: 71%
CNET Pro200WL
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| The CNET Pro200WL |
The Pro200WL also supports all the same OS’s as its little brother (Pro200) and nothing (including its appearance) is really different except the WOL support.
Installation of this card was just as simple as it was with the Pro200. CNET did send me a CD with a new utility that only works with the Pro200WL. The Faster Ethernet adapter diagnostics enables the user to see how the adapter is configured, and also allows you to change your connection speed from auto-sense to a forced 10 or 100 Mbit/s. In addition, you can test the NIC status and LINK status. It was a decent utility, and it was nice to see someone thought to include something other than a drivers disk and a manual.
Scores for the Pro200WL using driver release 1.41
Time to transfer files: 2:59
Network utilization: 14%
Frames /sec: 4960-10671
Frames dropped:0
CPU utilization: 74%
I didn’t find any real performance difference between the Pro200 and the Pro 200 WL. As mentioned above, if WOL and Boot-ROM support is what you are looking for, than the Pro200WL is your answer between the two cards from CNET, but if you don’t need those features and want to save a few dollars –then the Pro200 is more of a wise choice.
Linksys NC100v2.0
Linksys currently offers the NC100 and the LNE 100TX NICs. These cards are much like the CNet cards, with one card offering basic features with a smaller price tag, and the other offering more advanced features with a slightly larger price tag.
Starting with the NC 100
This is the more basic of the two cards. Here’s what is included –
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| The Linksys NC 100 |
I found the installation of the NC 100 card to be very simple. Linksys does include a small utility on the drivers disk called NCDIAG, which only runs in a DOS screen and allows you to test the cards configuration, bandwidth, loop back, or register. It also allows you to view the MAC address of the card (which WINIPCFG also does in Windows) and it’s nice to have this utility included from the manufacture in case you encounter problems that require the extra diagnostic tools it provides.
Most people will like the manual and easy setup guides -Linksys really went to some effort to make sure you feel comfortable installing and configuring their cards by including an easy to read and understand setup and install guide.
As already stated, the card is fully supported in all flavors of Windows, including Windows 3.1, 9x, NT, and 2000. But something worth mentioning here –is a read me file on the driver floppy stating “technical support is only provided for Windows 95, 98, 2000* and Windows NT 4.0. Instructions for any other operating systems may be found on this diskette using the Readme.exe program. Setup and troubleshooting is the sole responsibility of the user.”
At least that leaves the door open for people who DO want to use this card in a different OS, such as Linux.
Here are the scores for the NC 100 NIC using the latest driver version 2.2
Time to transfer files: 2:50
Network utilization: 18%
Frames /sec: 4413-11163
Frames dropped:0
CPU utilization: 75%
Linksys LNE100 TX
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| The Linksys LNE100 TX |
As with the NC100, the LNE 100 TX card also gives you a very comprehensive manual, and some quick start guides for easy installation. They also include a cable for connecting the LAN card to your system board for WOL support, and 2 drivers disks on floppy.
The LNE 100TX has a couple of additional LED indicators that the NC100 does not. In addition to the Link and Activity LEDs, there are also 100Mbit connection, and full duplex mode lights. The way I see it is: the more diagnostic lights the merrier!
Installation of this NIC was painless and simple. The LNE 100 TX card includes the same DIAG utility that came with the NC100.
There are some differences worth noting between the NC 100 and the LNE 100TX. First and most obvious are the WOL and Boot-Rom support, which are valuable features, for those who know they will make use of them. The extra lights included on the back of the card shouldn’t be overlooked either… with my experience –any extra diagnostic tools can come in handy when you are trying to gather link and troubleshooting information on the card.
Here are the performance scores for the LNE 100 TX using driver release as of 8/99
Time to transfer files: 2:48
Network utilization: 18%
Frames /sec: 4621-12383
Frames dropped:0
CPU utilization: 72%
I didn’t see a real performance increase here over the NC100, and again the only true benefit you will gain is the WOL and Boot-ROM support.
Dlink DFE-530TX
Dlink has always stood tall in the networking arena. They have a broad range of products available to suit your networking needs. They sent us the DFE-530 TX NIC to include in our shootout, and it looks to prove the same quality we are used to seeing from Dlink.
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| The Dlink DFE-530TX |
The Dlink NIC is somewhat bigger in size than the other NICS mentioned thus far, but installation is much the same as with the other cards. Its larger size should not affect your decision when comparing between the cards, as it should fit in any motherboard.
I thought it a little odd that the 530 TX supported Boot-ROM installation, but didn’t support WOL, because generally these two features come together. Since the two features are actually independent of one another though, the missing WOL support won’t hinder the use of the Boot-ROM.
Dlink included an impressive 4 lights on the back of the NIC. They are Power/Transmit, Link/Receive, Collision, and 10 or 100 Mbit LAN connection. These all come in handy when you are trying to gather information about a certain card or segment of your network, but they also likely boosted up the cost of the card.
Here are the performance scores for the Dlink DFE 530-TX using driver release 6/15/99
Time to transfer files: 2:54
Network utilization: 15%
Frames /sec: 3814-8695
Frames dropped:0
CPU utilization: 75%
Netgear FA 310TX Fast Ethernet
Anyone who has ever worked on or around networks has probably heard the name Netgear mentioned at one time or another. They have been providing all types of networking solutions for years, and had always stood for great performance at a small price. For the roundup, Netgear provided their FA 310TX Fast Ethernet card.
Here’s what’s included with the 310TX package-
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| The Netgear FA 310TX Fast Ethernet |
Installing the FA 310 TX card is –you guessed it, simple and quick and Netgear doesn’t include any additional software or utilities with this NIC. This card, like the D-link, is just a shade bigger than the other PCI cards in the shootout, but this won’t be a problem, since the other cards were actually “under-sized” when compared to other expansion boards.
The 310TX features a comprehensive set of five at a glance LEDs on the rear of the card. They are Link status, full/half duplex, 10 or 100 Mbit connection, traffic activity, and collision. That’s a wide array of lights to look at, and as always will help you determine your network status without the aid of additional software. The addition of the extra diag lights might have made the card a little costly though.
Since this particular NIC doesn’t support WOL or Boot-ROM , I thought the average price of $27 was a bit high, but the Netgear card carries a lifetime warranty, and a good support.
Here are the performance scores for the Netgear FA 310TX using driver version 4.02
Time to transfer files: 2:53
Network utilization: 16%
Frames /sec: 43134-6823
Frames dropped:0
CPU utilization: 74%
Adaptec ANA 62011TX
Adaptec has long been in the running for all kinds of hardware solutions. While best known for their SCSI controller cards, they also produce low to high-end NIC cards. The ANA 62011TX is a higher-end NIC, designed to run in fast network segments when bandwidth is of the utmost concern. There are several things that set this NIC apart from the crowd, so let’s run over the features.
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| The Adaptec ANA 62011TX |
O.k., so why is this card so different? First of all, it is huge! Not huge by old standards, but huge by the ever so shrinking size of today’s expansion cards, and the largest in the roundup. This is due mainly due to the extra 32-bit connection at the end of the regular PCI connection. When connected to a motherboard supporting it, this 32-bit connector allows the NIC to perform 64 bit transfers to the CPU. If the system board isn’t equipped with a 64 bit expansion off the PCI bus, the card defaults to standard 32 bit transfers like the other 32bit PCI cards in the roundup.
There is also no WOL or Boot-ROM support included on this NIC –but since this card is more focused on data speeds, these features are minor when considering buying a card of this nature.
Installation of the Adaptec card was fairly simple. Even though I didn’t use the extra 32 bit connector, the card slipped right into my Abit motherboard and allowed for plenty of room, and you won’t have to worry too much about the card hanging over the PCI slot, because it only hangs over by a few inches, and most motherboards can handle that. After installing the driver in my Windows NT machine, I decided to see what the Dura-LAN software actually did. My findings? -Absolutely nothing for the NIC when installed as a single NIC. However, the software would have much use when used in a system with more than one NIC, because it can then perform port aggregation and port fail over. These features basically allow a certain amount of network fault tolerance and bandwidth increases, but again they are only useable when there is more than one NIC installed, so I didn’t find them very functional in my test machine. Coming in at a $99 price tag, this is the highest priced NIC in the bunch, but Adaptec backs it up with a lifetime warranty and the card is obviously targeted at a much higher technology different market.
So with all this under the hood how did it perform? Splendidly.
Performance marks for the Adaptec ANA 62011TX with driver rev.4.2
Time to transfer files: 2:50
Network utilization: 17%
Frames /sec: 4149-17573
Frames dropped:0
CPU utilization: 67%
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| Percentage of CPU utilized in transfer & Time of transfer bar graphs - click to enlarge |
Overall scores reviewed
Starting from the top, the Adaptec card showed it’s 64-bit ready chipset strength here by only using 67% of the CPU when doing the 300MB folder transfers. This, paired with the high transfer speeds makes for a very efficient, high performance card. Coming in just a little over 70% is the CNet PRO200. This card showed average scores in the time slots, but it did seem to keep the CPU workload at more of a minimum. The next score is rather interesting as well, the FriendlyNET PCI 595 was the lowest scoring card in timed transfers, but managed to keep the CPU at 73%, making this a fairly efficient card as well. The CNET Pro200WL, and Netgear FA310TX managed to take 74% of the CPU power during their tests, but looking back to the time scores, the CPU utilization for these two card were fairly consistent with the data scores. Coming in at an average of 75% CPU utilization is the D-link FDE-530TX card and the Linksys NC100. The D-link card score here was consistent with the time score, in being it was eating an average amount of CPU cycles to provide it’s data throughput, but the Linksys NC100 defiantly ate up more CPU cycles to achieve it’s higher scores in the data throughput arena.
So the clear performance winner here would be the Adaptec card, showing that it’s fast data throughput won’t impact the CPU with a high load, and with the capability of having a 64 bit connection, I’m sure scores would have even been better.
Between both of the scores for time, and CPU utilization, there really wasn’t much of a variance. Although the FriendlyNET card didn’t transfer files quit as fast, it did show it was slightly more efficient when doing its file transfers. And even though the Linksys card gave us the fastest data transfer –it fell slightly behind in CPU utilization when compared to other NICS. Since the scores were SO close between all the NICs, we need to look into other performance criteria to determine which card can be called an overall winner, right? Well I wish we could –but the other performance scores for frames dropped, network utilization, and frames/sec didn’t vary enough to differentiate each card from the other. But if one was to say –who was the fastest, then obviously we would have to say the Linksys LNE 100TX. But if you wanted to know which card was more efficient, we would have to say the Adaptec ANA-62011TX. And if you were to look at which card provided the best performance to CPU usage ratio, without costing a lot, it would be the Cnet PRO200.
Recommendations
So which NIC is best for you? That’s a hard recommendation to make, again –because you can’t use the scores alone to determine that. If your implementation were going to be in the home or small office, then I would have to say pick a NIC that provides the fastest throughput with lowest CPU usage, and that doesn’t carry other features like WOL or Boot-ROM support –because they won’t be needed. Price is a big factor here too, because all you are worried about here is connecting your computers together for an occasional file transfer, or maybe an Internet connection share –and there were 5 networking cards in this roundup that fall into that category. Starting with the best performer (but not ranked based on performance), they were the Linksys LNE 100TX ($20), Linksys NC 100 ($18), the CNET Pro200WL, ($19) CNET Pro200, ($17) and the Asante FriendlyNET PCI 595 ($20). All these cards had good performance scores and are cheap –some even provide the higher end WOL and Boot-ROM support just in case you ever needed it! Of the bunch, the Linksys LNE100TX stands out for performance and pricing, and so does the CNetPRO200, which mixes a nice combination of value and on-par performance with its low CPU usage. The Linksys NC100 manages to bring in top performance at the lowest price in the roundup, but also with the highest CPU usage.
Then there are two other cards –the Netgear FA310TX and the Dlink DFE-530TX that offered nice performance scores, but really didn’t offer too much else in the way other benefits that would constitute spending the extra money to buy one when compared to the cheaper alternatives. You’ll notice that both these two cards have the more extensive diagnostic LEDs though, and if that is of value to you, it may override cost and performance considerations [ In our own office, we’ve found that often enough, connection and link activity are sufficient for most troubleshooting sessions – Editor ].
Then Lastly –there was the high-end “server oriented” Adaptec ANA 62011TX card. Obviously this NIC is for the server end market, or a higher paced arena then the SOHO. Even though this NIC impressed us with it’s high data throughput and low CPU utilization scores, the $79 price tag is just too much to consider for the home or small office.
Remember the NIC can make or break a network. So do your homework, and try to plan exactly what kind of LAN you want to build –then decide on a NIC or NICs to use. Planning, good hardware choices, and smart thinking all help to build a strong and manageable network
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