Gaming router for 4-6 pc lan?

booey1

booey1

booey1

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Hey

I'm hoping to be setting up a home lan with 4 PCs in the same room (3 of these are pretty old), maybe linking to 2+ laptops to play some old school games with friends (C&C, RA, TA, AoE, SC, CS, Q3, NWN, etc).

Is there a limit to the number of connections I can have to a router?

What would be a good (max £70) router to get that will run this without problems while allowing internet for 1 extra PC at the same time?

Should I look for anything special or will most routers be able to handle this?


Thanks.
 
Sounds like you're after a switch. Any cheap 10/100 will do for gaming, but if you plan to do a lot of file sharing between the PC's get a gigabit one. Plug all the PC's into the switch and also cable your existing router into the switch to provide internet and wireless access to your LAN (presuming the laptops are wireless).
 
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Duke said:
As above, just get a switch.
Click to expand...

Can I link a switch to a router so the computers can use the internet?

What's the difference between a router and a switch? I don't know anyone who has a switch.

What would be a good switch to buy?

Thanks
 
Actually nearly everyone has a switch, technically it is the switch element which you see as 4 ports on the back of a router.

A router is to join two networks together, the ISPs network and your home network. A switch is what you would use as the building blocks of your internal network.

If you connect you switch to you router and all your computers to the switch they will all have net access.

Personally I like the netgear prosafe range.
 
booey1 said:
Can I link a switch to a router so the computers can use the internet?

What's the difference between a router and a switch? I don't know anyone who has a switch.

What would be a good switch to buy?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Yep you keep the router (as this connects you to the Internet) but connect one of the ports on the router to a port on the switch, and then all the other computers connect to the switch on the other free ports. Anything connected will use have access to the Internet as if they are connected directly into the router.

If you are just gaming then any 10/100mbit switch will do. If you want something longer term or are transferring large files then a gigabit (1000mbit) switch would be an option, like the HP Procurve 1400-8G which is an 8 port. Most modern computers will have gigabit network adapters built in, which will operate at either the 100 or 1000 speed. If someone has only 100 then thats the max they can get unless they replace the adapter.
 
booey1 said:
Okay so if I was looking at a switch for 4 PCs like:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-163-NG&groupid=46&catid=1626&subcat=

Then I need to connect 2 laptops wirelessly, so I could use:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-081-BE

Can I connect those to give good internet access for all computers and ethernet and wireless network gaming?
Click to expand...

That top switch is fine, see my reply above re: 100mbit or 1000mbit.

That router is 'ok' and will give you wireless access and can use one of the wired ports for attaching the switch. Personally I would avoid Belkin as they are cheap and unless they have changed in the last year or two, were not overly reliable.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-165-NG&groupid=46&catid=1595&subcat=

Netgear cost a little more but are often a better bet.
 
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