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    what is gained?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by rbig, Feb 28, 2007.

  1. rbig

    rbig Notebook Enthusiast

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    I notice my laptop pc Ethernet card is a 16 bit one. I've seen 32 bit Ethernet pc cards. Being an old Micron Trek 2, is my laptop restriced to 16 bit Ethernet pc cards?

    If my laptop gives me a choice, what would I gain by going to a 32 bit Ethernet pc card?
     
    rbig, Feb 28, 2007
    #1
  2. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    Basically, bandwidth, and possibly operating system support. You won't get a GigE ethernet speed on a 16bit bus. Other than that? Nothing meaningful. You probably won't gain much by swapping out the Ethernet card, though, and I really doubt that it's even possible. If your machine still has a 16bit anything in it, you may as well get a new machine, rather than worrying about piecemeal stuff like that.
     
    Pitabred, Feb 28, 2007
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  3. Mystic Image

    Mystic Image Notebook Consultant

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    Interestingly enough, if you're using a 16-bit pcmcia ethernet card, you may not even be able to reach 100Mbit Ethernet speeds, never mind GigE. That said, with such an old laptop, you're really not gaining much. Go for it if it's free - it will reduce CPU usage a bit and increase maximum bandwidth, but chances are even the hard drive in that machine won't be able to keep up with 100Mbit Ethernet.
     
    Mystic Image, Feb 28, 2007
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  4. Lil Mayz

    Lil Mayz Notebook Deity

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    My advice is there is no point in upgrading. Even 32 bit Ethernet PC cards are very slow compared to todays 100Mbit and Gigabit Ethernet.

    If its using PCMCIA, you'd probably be able to slot a 32bit card in easily enough.
     
    Lil Mayz, Feb 28, 2007
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