[Tfug] 3com NIC

[Mike Morrell]

  It looks like I could get 3c595-TX for $5 cheaper, or even less if I
decide to go used.  I would prefer to stick with the newer 3c905B's but
I do need six or more cards so every dollar counts.  These are just for
home but they would go into my "servers."  I wanted to switch to a more
reliable network card and try to get all my machines to use the same NIC
(currently a mix of realtech, linksys, and dlink).  The realtechs are
cheap but over time they get a little flaky it seems.

Mike

> Harry McGregor wrote:
>> On Fri, 29 Nov 2002, Mike Morrell wrote:
>>
>>>   I was going to upgrade some of my network cards to 3com's
>>> 3C905B-TX but I found some 3C595-TX for a bit cheaper.
>
> How much cheaper?
>
>>> Is there any
>>> reason to choose one over the other?
>
> It depends on your requirements, perhaps. Newer often means better.
>
>> I don't really like either card, though I have used a ton of each. The
>> 3c595 has been out of production for quite a long time, and is a very
>> big PCI card.  The 3c905 has reduced the number of chips on the card,
>> reducing it's power usable, and heat generation.  Depending on what
>> your uses are, my current recommended network card is the
>> cheapy, $5-15 Realtek 8139 based cards.
>>
>> I have seen several cases where SiS, 3Com, and Intel Cards would not
>> connect to a device, and the realtek would (ie Qwests new DSL
>> routers).
>
> Yeah, I've seen 3com NICs fail to properly autonegociate. Just force the
> proper speed parameter and that will usually take care of things. This
> problem happens for me often when the NIC is attached to garbage or odd
> hardware. (Trendnet, etc. found at SWS, E-city or Elliott - think cheap)
>
> Usually you get what you paid for. I got an RTL 8139 for free after
> rebate at Office Max this weekend. This, I'll play around with at home.
>
> What is the purpose for upgrading, Mike? What are you using now? What is
> the application?
>
> John.
>
>>
>> Harry
>>
>>> Mike
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