Best router for its price?

Well, my laptop will be here soon and i need a router to connect to my modem to make my internet wireless, as you do

So, i don't have much money but im willing to spend around 20-30 maybe 40 max on a decent router. ( pounds, 20-30 pounds convert to 40-60 dollars )

I won't be downloading to much, i will probably hook it straight upto the modem for downloading massive games but apart from that i'll be online gaming ( World of warcraft, Age of conan, Crysis ) and browsing the web, talking to mates on xfire and stuff.

Problem is, networking isn't my strong point and i know nothing about routers. Nothing.. So if anyone has any ideas on what router to get that would be great.

I'll be ordering from:

www.microdirect.com
or
www.scan.com

Thanks - Take care

 

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/(12045)Linksys-WRT54G-54Mb-Wireless-Router-and-4.aspx

That seems promising, Is that ok? I need one that just plugs straight into my Modem using ethernet cable and then im off. Do i need virgin media to upgrade my internet to wireless?

 

To me the best is Netgear, but I don't think you will find it for that price range, you may get a belkin but they are low quality.

 

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/(7919)Netgear-WGR614-54mb-Wireless-Cable-DSL-Router.aspx

My ISP ( virgin media ) are willing to give me one of these for free. Is it good enough to play all those online games i want to?

 

Yep, is good enough, and free, what else can you ask? Don't forget, your real bottle neck won't be the router, it will be your ISP connection plan.

 

Your saying virgin media is rubbish? i know xD but its been fine for now.
Ok i'll get that one then, thanks monkey ^^

But one more question. I will be only using the router for my new laptop, the desktop will be going like this:

Modem -----Ethernet cable-----> Router -----Ethernet cable-----> desktop

The laptop:

Modem -----Ethernet cable-----> router ----- WIRELESS -----> Laptop

So will my desktop still be using full speed when my laptop isn't using the internet? That way i can still get the most out of my internet on the desktop.

 

They will share the available internet bandwidth. Thats what wirelessman said was the bottleneck.

 

oh, no i ment if the laptop was turned off and not using any internet.

 

That's right, your laptop will use the full bandwidth if it is alone, but if they are both on-line they will share the bandwidth, however internet is very bursty, so it will be very unlikely you will hit web site at the same time than your sister, hence each computer will average the full speed, but when you will be playing games, which is constant demand of the resources.

Also, among the desktop and your laptop you will have ethernet speed, 100Mbps. Don't forget to setup the home network though so you can also share a printer and other devices. And very important, you need to setup WEP/WPA on your WiFi link to prevent intruders/hackers/crackers/monkeys/nizzzy1115 to get into your network.

 

I'll do that But my laptop is actually for my friend.. You see we want to play WoW together so i thought.. hell why not.