Gigabit router for cable?

danswan · 4 Dec 2006 at 18:26

Hi all

I am adding a couple of PCs to my network so I'm thinking of getting one of these and plugging it into the uplink port on my Linksys cable router. Got me thinking though - all my PCs now have gigabit capability, the only component that hasn't is my old router.

Is there a cable router that also has gigabit capability anywhere? Don't need wireless.

Cheers

Dist · 5 Dec 2006 at 00:36

well if youre connecting a gigabit switch to your router, then why do you need your router to have a gigabit connection? its not like your internet connection is at gigabit speeds (its not is it?).

that aside, nearly all home routers only up to 100mbs, so using a 100mbs router and attaching a gigabit switch onto it and using that to connect the pcs instead of the router port is the only way yourll get gigabit speeds without spending a LOT of money on a gigabit router.

NathP · 5 Dec 2006 at 00:41

Your better off buying a normal gbit switch then plugging your old router and PC's into that

danswan · 5 Dec 2006 at 13:15

So there isn't an affordable gigabit router? Problem I have is the router is upstairs where my cable connection comes in, and is connected to 2 PCs upstairs. I have a 35m cable running downstairs to 1 more PC. I was going to use this long cable to connect to the new gigabit switch downstairs and give me 3 more ports so I could connect up 2 more PCs there.

I'm guessing gigabit routers (I mean gigabit LAN capability not WAN) are not yet affordable. In this case, I guess I would be better just getting 2 gigabit switches, and having one upstairs?

All I want is to be able to move large files between PCs as quickly as possible, i.e moving video files down to my media centre

Beansprout · 5 Dec 2006 at 13:18

Home routers are really a router with a 4 port switch in, so what you want is a gigabit switch (or two) to which you'll connect the PCs, and then to connect these switches to the switch ports on your router - it doesn't matter how you connect to the router from the switches, and you certainly don't need a gigabit router (which is a different beast entirely)

danswan · 5 Dec 2006 at 14:58

Thought I might have got it wrong, sorry. So I will definitely need 2 gigabit switches, thats cool.

On a related note, is gigabit in fact 10 times faster than 100Mbit? Obviously the quoted speed is, but in reality can I expect to transfer a file 10 times faster?

Thanks for your help!

Dist · 5 Dec 2006 at 15:41

depends on your hdd. i have a bit of a old hdd and when i transfer 3 files that are around 400mb my connection doesnt even go up to 100mbs, although each time a file finishes the total speed increases.

so basicaly, when i transfer 1 file at a time, im reaching my limit of 100mbs (i have gigabit network but the other pc on the network only has a 100mb network card), but when transfering multiple files im not even reaching 100mbs.

with a newer hdd i guess itll be less of a problem, especialy with raided drives. but i still think there will be problems where itll be the hdd slowing file transfer down, not the network.

mosfet · 5 Dec 2006 at 16:38

You won't need to two gigabit switches.

Simply get a gigabit switch, uplink it to a spare port on the router and connect your PCs it.

The only traffic flowing between the gigabit switch and router will be to/from the internet, and this won't be greater than 100mbps for a few years

danswan · 5 Dec 2006 at 20:15

Well yes but as I say, my BB comes in upstairs, and I already have a 35m cable linking upstairs to down. So to easily do it I would put one switch upstairs linked to my router to feed 2 PCs and a printer, and one downstairs for 3 PCs. I appreciate technically I could do it with one, but I'd need a lot more cabling that way.

Unless I'm missing something? :confused: