CPU usage for on-board Network ??

[Cain]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.tyan (More info?)

I run a very heavily used Game server.

I am wondering, which uses more CPU, the on-board network adapter (I have a
Tyan s2882) or using a PCI Server network card ??

In the past I felt that the plugin card offered better performance than the
NIC built into the MB, but I am not as certain these days.

Many thanks for any/all replies,

-- Cain

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.tyan (More info?)

CAIN <dontbugmecain57@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I am wondering, which uses more CPU, the on-board network adapter (I have a
> Tyan s2882) or using a PCI Server network card ??

The s2882 uses either Intel 82551 controllers at 100MBit or a Broadcom
BCM5704 for GBit. Both are decent controllers and should perform very
well without too much cpu hogging. I guess your problem may be more
related to too many simultaneous connections, NICs don't help much with
this, this depends on the systems RAM and CPU (and of couse OS). A good
NIC can only help with TCP checksum offloading and interrupt mitigation,
but will not take the load off the CPU if additional computing needs to
be done.

> In the past I felt that the plugin card offered better performance than the
> NIC built into the MB, but I am not as certain these days.

Basically, these are controllers that are used on external PCI NICs as
well, at least the i8255x controller is available in a vast majority of
pcb boards with PCI connectors. It's more a question of personal flavour
whether to get an Intel GBit server adapter, with these NICs the benefit
would be very small if not zero.

HTH Daniel

--
Power Company having EMP problems with their reactor