best networking pci adapter???

[BOOKERREESE]

now who makes the best net pci adapter outside of 3com, is it netgear, D-link, Compaq, or Linksys. i am going to use it with a DSL connection.

 

[HypNoTic]

for a simple DSL connection, any cheap Linksys NIC would do the job. Would really dont need more...

If you want to run a server or a mission critical wks, you better look for a Intel Pro or Server. They do IPsec in hardware, have better management tools, more advanced options, and the server flavor is even able to do 3DES encryption in hardware Also, Compaq buy their network card from Intel and 3Com...

 

[cchan]

Check out this article at Tom's Hardware. It basically says that for the home user it doens't really matter, but if you have cash to burn or you want a perfect environment for a corporate IT dept., then use 3Com's 3c905c-tx or if you really have too much money the 3cr990-tx-97. That this info with a grain of salt as they only compared 3 cards from 3com, 1 card from Intel and 1 from SMC.

 

[JackMDS]

From a point of view of Internet sharing, the NIC adapter is irrelevant.

Any 10Base NIC will do (let alone a 100Base).

From a network point of view, it depends what the Network needs to do.

If you read the content of the link provided by the post above me, you will see that in most cases the $10 SMC NIC does as well as the $50 3com. ($40 difference is $5 short of cost of a Router on a good sale).

You can also enjoy the content of this link:

Network Card Roundup - Which is the Best PCI Network Card?