Originally Posted By: AandPDan
Hemi,
There is no DSL service that even comes close to the download speeds that you have now. Most max out at about 12mbps and many are far slower 1.5-3mbps.
ADSL2+ is capable of 24Mbit and offered by most US ISP's. VDSL2 is capable of far greater speeds (I have a VDSL2 link @ 58/58 symmetrical at one site) but of course it is distance dependant, which is the biggest problem with the service and remote customers will never benefit from the speeds possible in the newer technology unless there is an updated remote installed closer to their residence.
Originally Posted By: AandPDan
A 10/100 network card is MORE than adequate for those download speeds.
While it is a 10/100 card, ethernet does not run at 100% speed. It will max out around 70-80% - hence the 70 mbps you are seeing now.
With quality NIC's and switches, you can come pretty close. I've pulled >12MB/sec sustained with old 3COM 905C's for example and Cisco switch gear (2960's).
But I agree, the ceiling offered by the NVidia chipset NIC is MORE than adequate for any service she is going to see.
Originally Posted By: AandPDan
Does the switch/router that you are using to test the connection now have gigabit (1000mbps) ports? Not all do. If you have it connected via a 100mbps port that will cap your download as well.
He said he was getting 180-200Mbit with his rig, so it would have to be gigabit.
Originally Posted By: AandPDan
Assuming she remains on DSL then the only time a gigabit ethernet card would help is if she was transferring files over her LOCAL network to another device and all the router/switch ports were also gigabit.
Correct.