Network card speed

[markgodley]

Hey,

I'm thinking of getting 50meg virgin media (currently on 20meg) but not sure if my network cards will actually be able to handle 50meg speeds.

I have 3 computers in my house:
• 5 year old dual 1ghz G4 PowerMac
• 3 year old 1.5ghz powerbook g4 laptop
• 2 year old 1.7ghz powerbook g4 laptop

Anyone know how to find out what speeds the network cards support?

Thanks
Mark

 

[gr8tfly]

They're all 10/100/1000BASE-T.

I'm assuming your PM G4 is the Quicksilver 2002, but there's a dual 1GHz Mirrored Drive Doors model too. It doesn't matter, for you purposes, though, since they both support the same ethernet speeds.

You can look up the specs at Apple (http://support.apple.com/specs/) or with the free app MacTracker.

50Mb/sec ummmm (insert Homer Simpson donut drool sound fx here)...
*sigh* only 3Mb here

 

[markgodley]

They're all 10/100/1000BASE-T.

I'm assuming your PM G4 is the Quicksilver 2002, but there's a dual 1GHz Mirrored Drive Doors model too. It doesn't matter, for you purposes, though, since they both support the same ethernet speeds.

You can look up the specs at Apple (http://support.apple.com/specs/) or with the free app MacTracker.

50Mb/sec ummmm (insert Homer Simpson donut drool sound fx here)...
*sigh* only 3Mb here

Its not the quicksilver one its the one before, the one with the dual mirror doors. So this one will be able to handle the 50meg speeds?

Also what about the wireless cards in the 2 laptops will these be able to handle the 50meg?

I should also point out the modem and router i get with it is a N router.

 

[gr8tfly]

Its not the quicksilver one its the one before, the one with the dual mirror doors. So this one will be able to handle the 50meg speeds?

Also what about the wireless cards in the 2 laptops will these be able to handle the 50meg?

They can all handle 50Mb/s (10/100/1000BASE-T).

Anything built at or after the first Titanium (400/500MHz) handles 10/100BASE-T at a minimum and all after the PB G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) (550/667MHz) handles all three.

The Mirrored Doors model came after the QuickSilver, but according to the specs I find it's also 10/100/1000BASE-T.

If you're going wireless, you'll need "n" cards for all the machines. Any "n" mode should handle the 50Mb/s ok, but of course, it'll saturate with more than one machine using it. That's the norm with most shared internet connections anyway. If you're going to be doing much file sharing, you can probably get better results by using the 5GHz mode (that would lock out b/g modes though). Even though "g" can "do" 54Mb/s, I've never seen near that.

Looks like you're covered anyway you go, though. Have fun!

 

[markgodley]

They can all handle 50Mb/s (10/100/1000BASE-T).

Anything built at or after the first Titanium (400/500MHz) handles 10/100BASE-T at a minimum and all after the PB G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) (550/667MHz) handles all three.

The Mirrored Doors model came after the QuickSilver, but according to the specs I find it's also 10/100/1000BASE-T.

Ok thanks!

Just to confirm the airport cards in the laptops support N routers at 50meg?

 

[robbieduncan]

Ok thanks!

Just to confirm the airport cards in the laptops support N routers at 50meg?

Neither laptop will have a n card: they will have 802.11g cards. These will not transfer 50meg/sec: these have a theoretical max of 54 Mbit/s, but in reality will see nearer 20Mbit/s.

 

[gr8tfly]

Ok thanks!

Just to confirm the airport cards in the laptops support N routers at 50meg?

See my previous [editied] post for info on that.

 

[markgodley]

thanks guys

 

[bartzilla]

Neither laptop will have a n card: they will have 802.11g cards. These will not transfer 50meg/sec: these have a theoretical max of 54 Mbit/s, but in reality will see nearer 20Mbit/s.

but then so will virgin media's connection, if you believe half the moaning about it in the virgin media support NGs... so its all good.