[lug] cheap network cards/quality

[D. Stimits]

bof wrote:
> D. Stimits wrote:
> 
>> I'm looking for *cheap* 10 MB/sec (RJ45 connector) PCI nics (full 
>> duplex capable), that are reliable. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Although it's not exactly what you were asking, I've had good luck with 
> Netgear FA 310 series and Linksys LNE100TX cards, which are 10/100. In 
> Compusa, they run about 20 - 25 dollars. You'll be hard pressed to find 
> something cheaper than that. The LNE100TX is very much a standard card 
> and works under every version of Linux I've tried, as well as FreeBSD.
> 
> BOF
> 

I'm writing these down, I will probably go look in the stores in person 
tomorrow. Unfortunately, the web sites for the stores tend to be a bit 
skimpy on information. One thing I like about the Circuit City site is 
that it mentions o/s requirements, and shows linux on most of them as 
compatible (though a footnote mentions there is no official support).

An interesting side-effect of my search, I notice a card mentioning 
needing a PCI slot "version 2.1" or newer. Can anyone think of a way to 
find the PCI bus revision number? One machine that this would go in is 
an old P166, from the days when the MMX option was "advanced" and new 
(though this isn't really all that old, I think in computer years 
converted to human years that is something like a century :)

Also, does anyone have any particular models/brands within the 
inexpensive 10/100 NIC category that should be avoided? I recall some 
people mention problems with some of them during BLUG meetings, though 
at the time I didn't think I'd be shopping for NIC's.

Also, there was a mention of stranded versus solid core cable, and the 
problem with mixing connectors. Assuming the proper connector is used, 
is there a techical advantage to either solid core or stranded (all 
would be RJ45)?

D. Stimits, stimits AT idcomm.com