Ethernet and wifi

[chriskp70]

Hi all
Just some questions about this as I don't have the tech knowledge. If I get around 20-30 Mbps internet then

1) is 10/100/1000 Ethernet worth it over 10/100? If I understand correctly the max i would need is 30 (download) + approx 10 upload = 40 mbps? Am I working that out right?

2) I hear that wifi cards have 1x1 (433 Mbps) and 2x2 (867 Mbps). So the 20-30 Mbps connection falls a lot below the 433 Mbps category of 1x1. Is 2x2 going to double the speed? If so, how? My connection will never be above 433 Mbps? I don't think I'm understanding this correctly!

3) if 2x2 does increase speed, is a 1x1 router going to make the 2x2 upgrade of the wifi card pointless?


Thanks in advance

 

[kanewolf]

Are you sharing any data on the LAN? If so then gigabit ethernet is worthwhile. All motherboards are gigabit any more. High end routers are gigabit.
A 1x1 WIFI that has an advertised rate of 433 would have to be 5Ghz 80Mhz bandwidth -- https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005725/network-and-i-o/wireless-networking.html You won't get that on 2.4Ghz (which is more commonly used).
Those are also the link speed. Actual throughput is about 1/2 that since WIFI is not full-duplex. Also EVERY WIFI device has to timeshare the available bandwidth. If you have 4 active WIFI devices they are all having to share bandwidth.

 

[chriskp70]

Thanks for the reply.
So if I have a 1x1 wireless card, will getting a wireless 2x2 card increase the speed? If so, how? Would I need a 2x2 router to do this?
Thanks

 

[kanewolf]

Thanks for the reply.
So if I have a 1x1 wireless card, will getting a wireless 2x2 card increase the speed? If so, how? Would I need a 2x2 router to do this?
Thanks

Most "N" and "AC" routers are at least 2x2. Your internet speed probably won't change significantly. If you are streaming video to the WIFI device it may improve it. I would recommend that your streaming LAN source be a wired connection so you aren't fighting for bandwidth on the two devices.