Small Gigabit LAN

[trifler]

I'm looking at switching over to Gigabit Ethernet for LAN gaming parties. The only thing I'm having trouble deciding on is the hub/switch. What are some good ones for 8 or so computers and why does there seem to be such a large price range for them?

 

[jihiggs]

giga bit for 8 computers running a lan game is a waste.

my computer is so fast, it completes an endless loop in less than 4 seconds!

 

[trifler]

Don't even go there. I can do it, it's readily affordable now, and I would recommend that anyone running cable through walls use Category 6 instead of 5e just in case you have a use for Gigabit ethernet some time in the future.

Please just answer the question.

 

[jihiggs]

alright fine, its your money. i would go with a switch. i just cant see a hub being very efficient at 1gbps. brand doesnt matter too much, just make sure its not bobs giga switch or somthing. id say the biggest difference between the highest and lowest price is casing construction, indicator lights, backward compatibility, maybe configuration options. they should all perform at the same level, +-5%

my computer is so fast, it completes an endless loop in less than 4 seconds!

 

[mattg1000]

cat 6 isn't needed for gigabit. you can run gigabit over 5e 350 mhz. I agree with jihiggs, you won't see any improvements over standard 100 mbit when playing a game. you will however, see a major improvement when transfering large files or doing anything locally. but...it might be nice to have when we all get 100 mbit pipes to the internet (heh...)

my suggestion for the gigabit switch is the netgear GS108 because I believe it is the cheapest out there:
http://www.netgear.com/products/prod_details.asp?prodID=152&view=

 

[Cerian]

Hawkings Technologies has an 8 port gigabit switch for supposedly around the $200 range. I'd use Cat5e.
As far as good gaming is concerned.... I'm still using my 16 port hub and it works decent (there a times when I want more but they are few and far between) My next upgrade will probably be gigabit too.

 

[ChromoSDR]

At LAN parties a lot of file transferring goes on as well, so gigabit is not a total waste.

 

[14Dx]

chromo the homo

If its not broken, you're not trying hard enough.