Curse

Buce · Apr 07, 2007, 03:08 AM // 03:08

Has anyone using this Killer Network Interface card in Guildwars? Is it actually can improve the FPS and ping as advertised? Any info would be appreciated.

Dex · Apr 07, 2007, 10:36 AM // 10:36

Seeing as how most network interface hardware is at least 10/100 Mbit (many newer motherboards) and some of the fastest internet connections don't max out 10 Mbit right now I seriously doubt it makes a difference. However, if it has a processor on it it might have a slight advantage over some integrated software solutions. Very slight. Beyond that, your ISP and your router are doing most of the work as far as prioritizing packets, shaping traffic, etc. I really don't think a fancy, overpriced "gaming" NIC is going to have very much of an effect.

calderstrake · Apr 07, 2007, 10:52 AM // 10:52

Dex, from your reply I can tell that you haven't even looked at the Killer NIC.

The April 2007 issue of PC Gamer reviewed it and listed a noticeable reduction in ping and increase in FPS for WoW (38MS/25FPS), but GW was not one of the tested titles. I imagine that depending on your ISP, it could give you similar results.

If you ask me, $200+ for a NIC is too much to pay for those small results.

Dex · Apr 07, 2007, 10:55 AM // 10:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by calderstrake

Dex, from your reply I can tell that you haven't even looked at the Killer NIC.

The April 2007 issue of PC Gamer reviewed it and listed a noticeable reduction in ping and increase in FPS for WoW (38MS/25FPS), but GW was not one of the tested titles. I imagine that depending on your ISP, it could give you similar results.

If you ask me, $200+ for a NIC is too much to pay for those small results.

No, you're correct that I've not researched the product. Does PC Gamer give an explanation as to why it improved the ping? From where I'm standing it doesn't make sense, but I could certainly be missing something. I'll go do some reading and come back before I shoot my mouth off any further...

EDIT:
Ah, ok. It's as I suspected: it's handling network functionality with an onboard processor (runs Linux internally...is there anything we can't make you do, Linux? Y'all be crazy.) Anyway, it's driver is even bypassing some of the Windows networking functionality. The result is that it's removing all of the inherent delays caused by your CPU handling these things in software (specialized hardware is fast, generalized hardware is cheap), and taking a little bit of load off your CPU as well. The results are better than I would have suspected, but still not worth the price tag IMHO. It seems to me that upgrading to a fast dual-core CPU might have roughly the same effect for people that are actually having problems with lag that's actually within their system or network. Anyway, I agree. I think there are better ways to spend $200.

Being a long-time PC fanatic I find things like this a bit amusing. Back in the day, most hardware (like modems, sound cards, network cards, etc.) had dedicated processors. It's only been in the past 8-10 years that we've seen the "software device" trend start to take hold...beginning with softmodems (I think...someone correct me if I'm wrong). It's funny that in my 23 years of computing I've seen hardware design trends come full-circle several times already.

Blackhearted · Apr 07, 2007, 11:06 AM // 11:06

Tbh i don't believe a network card can do much, if anything for ping. Fps, maybe, but pings... no. Pings to servers are much more dependant on a few other things: your ISP and connection type, the servers location, and your ISP's routing to that server. Those 3 things affect your ping far more than some "highend" network card ever could.