[pmg4lktan]

Hi there guys ...

i have a QuickSilver G4 and an Athlon XP PC ...

now ... i need to set up a gigabit ethernet network between both machines ...

i never build a cross-over and cross-platform network before and i need some guide here ...

i want to get a gigabit ethernet card for my PC to benefit from the QuickSilver's built-in gigabit ethernet ...

anyone have suggestion on which brand and model to get? i need a cheap and efficient solution ... how much will the price differs between 100 Base-T and Gigabit ethernet card?

by the way ... i also need some guide on setting up then after i get the card ...

Thanks in advance!


Best regards from,
pmg4lktan

[Camelot]

To all intents and purposes, there's no difference between networking Macs and PCs using Gig-E vs. 100Base-T.

Presumably you're not planning on getting a gigabit switch, just using a cat-5 cable between the two. The Mac's NIC will auto-sense the need for cross-over, so you can just use your normal cat-5 cables.

As for NICs, I've always been a fan of Asante. Good quality, good performance and good Mac support. What more could you want?

Check http://www.asante.com/products/adapters/index.html for a list of NICs.

Their GigaNIX 1032TPC is a good 32-bit NIC that costs little more than many 10/100 NICs. For best performance, though, check out their GigaNIX 1000TPC, a 64-bit NIC if you have a spare 64-bit PCI slot (and the extra $$s) available.

[pmg4lktan]

Originally posted by Camelot:
To all intents and purposes, there's no difference between networking Macs and PCs using Gig-E vs. 100Base-T.

may i not what do you mean by this phrase? do you mean i shouldn't get gigabit?

... also posted by Camelot:
Presumably you're not planning on getting a gigabit switch, just using a cat-5 cable between the two. The Mac's NIC will auto-sense the need for cross-over, so you can just use your normal cat-5 cables.

yep ... i'm doing a cross-over ... but wouldn't cat 6 fully utilise the gigabit speed? how's the rpice difference between cat 5 and cat 6 then?

... also posted by Camelot:
As for NICs, I've always been a fan of Asante. Good quality, good performance and good Mac support. What more could you want?

Check http://www.asante.com/products/adapters/index.html for a list of NICs.

Their GigaNIX 1032TPC is a good 32-bit NIC that costs little more than many 10/100 NICs. For best performance, though, check out their GigaNIX 1000TPC, a 64-bit NIC if you have a spare 64-bit PCI slot (and the extra $$s) available.

i don't have a 64-bit PCI ... i think i'll get the 32-bit since it only cost US$ 49 ... the 64-bit cost double ...

by the way ... how about 3Com? local friends told me that gigabit NIC is rare over Malaysia ... but my dad won't let me do a net purchase ... so do i have any other option then looking around for it?

Thanks in advance!


Best regards from,
pmg4lktan

[ghporter]

You need to realize that your connection between the two computers will only go as fast as the SLOWEST network card, and that the data path for either of those cards will also be a factor. In other words, a gigabit ethernet card with a 64-bit data path will process twice as much data as a 32-bit card, and pass twice as much data through the connection. You should also understand that when Camelot said he didn't think you were buying a switch, he infered this from your statement that you just wanted to connect the two computers. While a switch is a Good Thing, it is not necessary when connecting only two computers (especially when at least one will auto-detect whether the cable is straight through or cross over). Save the money you'd spend on a switch until you need to connect more than two computers...