USB vs. NIC 1

[GUJUm0deL]

I have WindowsXP professional and I also have a cable modem connection that uses a USB connection but I get the feeling the connection is slooooooooooooooo

http://wwwwww...

I did a speed check from

http://www.dslreports.com

and the speed varies but stays in the same range (anywhere from 1976 kbps to 2012 kbps for download), now that might sound impressive, but its not...i'm not getting that kinda speed...
I think the problem might be that I use a USB connection instead of a NIC card...what is the main difference between using a USB and a NIC card??
I called the cable company and they tell me that the USB is faster then a NIC card, but I doubt that...
Is a USB connection faster/better then a NIC?? I have not failed; I have merely found 100,000 different ways of not succeding...

 

[michigan]

Hi GUJ...

NIC are usually 10/100 (which is like 10 Megabytes per second - as default they usually connect at this speed from PC to CableModem)

USB - the new version (2.0) is very fast - like 400Megabytes per second) - older USB (1.1) was pretty slow - don't remember actual speed.

In general - NICs tend to be quicker only for the simple fact that they only have one job: transfer packets. However, USB devices can range from printers, copiers, PDAs, etc.... so basically the internal system overhead is greater. It needs to be ready/able to accept multiple types of data. Others will disagree with this point, however I've found this true in many situations in my experiences.

You may want to check your internal (WinXP) bandwidth restrictions. Well, they don't call it restriction. . . they call it "reserve." Either way, it can slow you down. Please only try the following if your comfortable changing default settings with your PC. If your a NooB, I would hate to have you try something you couldn't change later:

Go to your Start Button and click " run ".
Type in " gpedit.msc " and press " enter ".
Expand " Computer Configuration ".
Expand " Administrative Templates ".
Expand " Network ".
Double-click the " Limit Reservable Bandwidth " key and check the " Enabled " item on the " Settings " tab.
Change the " Bandwidth Limit % from Twenty (20) to Zero (0).
Apply and exit

** Also, in addition to your testing, you may want to try

http://www.bandwidthplace.com

- they seem to be reliable in the speed/test results.

Good Luck ~

 

[GUJUm0deL]

michigan, Hi. How do I check what kind of USB I have, weather its 1.1 or 2??
I did do the gpedit.msc tweak, and its set to 0...
As for the site, I will check it when I get home (i'm at work now)...
Thanks... I have not failed; I have merely found 100,000 different ways of not succeding...

 

[cdogg]

First of all, transfer rates are not rated in Megabytes per second. They're Megabits per second. Because there are 8 bits in a byte, a 10Mbps connection is actually able to transfer 1.25 MB per second when at its peak.

USB 1.1 is limited to 12Mbps, or a maximum of 1.5 MB per second. However, this is still faster than 10mbps NIC card. It's true that NIC cards can also come with 10/100 speeds, but most dsl/cable companies will only send you a 10Mbps NIC anyway (I know because I've had both DSL and Cable).

Your internet connection over cable modem is limited in its download speed. It will never exceed 3Mbps which is only 1/4 of the bandwidth of your USB connection. This is why they offer both USB and NIC configurations. The only real advantage of a NIC is the ability to network the pc through a router or hub, offering additional protection and easy LAN setup. Pretty soon however, there will be USB routers and there are already USB hubs.


GUJUm0deL,
You'll want to check the specs on your motherboard to see if it supports USB 2.0. 2.0 is natively supported in XP with service pack 1. Just remember that for your internet connection, the extra bandwidth is not needed!! ~cdogg

"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
- A. Einstein

 

[wolluf]

Michigan,

You've got your bits and bytes mixed up. NIC are 10 or 100 megabits per second max throughput. USB 2 is supposed to be c. 480 megabits per second (generally at least 8 bits in a byte - can be more if 'check' bits included).

GUJUm0deL

Usb 1.1 runs at c. 11 megabits per second - which is way faster than most internet connections. Are figures you quoted for your internet connection - because they're incredibly high if true - have you got bits and bytes mixed up too?

What I'm saying is usb 1.1, 2 or NIC should all handle current internet connections.

 

[michigan]

cdogg - wolluf -
I forget I'm amoungst other geeks some times.

Yes, yes, I mixed up the bytes/bits - but in the grand scheme of life, it really boils down to one question:

Do I have enough money in my pocket (right now) for a number 3 combo at Burger King? -- just kidding.

I'm sorry if I was misleading. Sometimes you have to watch those kinda close. If it states Mb - they are talking Megabits (hence the small "b&quot however, MB is MegaBytes (usually used when speaking of RAM).

GUJ... when you want to check your PC for the version, right click My Computer >> Manage >> Device Manager - near the bottom, you should see Universal Serial Bus controllers. Expand it. Then you may/may not see something like USB 2.0 Root Hub, or USB 2.0 Enhanced Controller. As cdogg suggested, you will want to double check your mother board specs. If 2.0 is not supported, your running at 1.1 (which in theory) would still be able to handle your internet speed/connection with no problem.

Good Luck - and again, sorry if I was misleading.

 

[bobbymelvin]

Hey Michigan,
I tried the steps you provided and the run command said the name was incorrect. I am interested in changing the bandwidth if you think it might improve my satellite USB connection.

 

[bobbymelvin]

I tried the gpedit.msc and got a file not found error. Did you miss-type it or is it for an O/S other than XP home? How does the reserve on the USB effect my performance?

 

[cybersaur]

honestly the USB and NIC connections are both more than adequate for a DSL / Cable connection as far as speed goes. NICs are better for networking PCs for obvious reasons.
try turning the cable modem off for several minutes.
your problems may stem from a problem with your browser. see if pages load faster with an alternative browser (i.e.

http://www.mozilla.org).

i suspect your problem is software based and not hardware.
my DSL speed drops considerably after running P2P software for a few days. i have to power my router and DSL modem down and restart my computers to get the speed back to what it should be.

Trent
Network Admin