Wireless Router for a 90 mbps Internet Connection in Apartment

[bkincaid]

I've got a 90 mbps down and 12 mbps up internet connection when wired directly to the modem. I've currently got an old Buffalo WHR G125 wireless router connected to it and it clearly isn't cutting it: speeds slow to 40 down and 11 up when wired to the router and go further down to 8ish down and 4ish up when using wireless in the same room. Going into another room and using wireless is even worse (4 mbps down most days)

I know this router is awful, so I'm looking to upgrade with an appropriate router for my situation. I live in a 2 bedroom apartment so range isn't a huge concern, but the signal will have to pass through interior walls. Seeing as how my unadulterated internet speed isn't blazing and I don't need massive range, I'm not sure I need a top of the line router.

What should I be looking for in a wireless router? Obviously I want a wireless-N router and I want to preserve as much speed as possible. But what I don't know is what speed I should be looking for. Will a 300 mbps router be enough? Do routers generally follow some kind of rule where 300 mbps routers cut speeds by 50%, 900 mbps by only 30%, etc. etc.? Or is it about headspace above the incoming internet connection?

I'm not very versed in wireless networking so I apologize for the odd questions.

 

[RealBeast]

In an apartment complex your real problem is interference from surrounding networks, and it is unlikely that 2.4GHz will be adequate since everyone uses it and there are only three non-overlapping channels (1, 6, and 11).

If you cannot use wired connections, you will probably have to go with 5GHz as it is still less used in congested settings like yours.

I would first download and run the free version of the wireless analyzer inSSIDer from HERE, install and run it on a laptop (best if it supports 2.4 and 5GHz) then look at the networks tab and see what other networks are around you.

Most likely you will want a good concurrent dual band router like an ASUS RT-N56U if your client adapters support 5GHz.

HERE is a good site to see what real world speeds are for any particular router.