Explain to me, NICs and DMA?

#1 Gambler FEX online

enthusiast

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Posts: 323
Joined: 11-May 00

Posted 27 April 2002 - 08:38 PM

This is my story:
I had a CNet 200Pro 100Mbit PCI NIC in my PC and audio skippet and was all bad, even worse if I enabled network icon in notification area. Then I exchanged the Cnet NIC with an Intel PRO/100 PCI NIC from my brothers computer, and all became well!

However, now my brother have same problems, only a little wors, if he set network speed to 100Mbit (I have 100mbit switch); mouse jerks and music skips. If I set it to 10Mbit, everything is OK.

I hear it was aa DMA issue, but there is no suggestion the Intel NIC uses a DMA in my PC, nor in system information or adaptor properties.

What is up here, do the Intel NIC really use a DMA even if I cant see it or is the cheap CNet nic garbage? What NIC would you recommend?

I'm about to exchange the CNet nic for a SMC nic with realtek chip, is this a good idea?

#2 CyberGenX

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Posted 27 April 2002 - 11:25 PM

I have used SMC and Realteks without problems, never even heard of CNet cards!!!

#3 sapiens74

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Posted 30 April 2002 - 08:18 PM

CNET are pieces of **** IMO. Buy a 3com. Never have problems

#4 pmistry

old hand

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Posted 01 May 2002 - 12:13 AM

NIC's based on or from these manufacturers are good IMO, Belkin [Realtek chipset], Intel, 3Com, Realtek, and Linksys.
I have a D-Link which I don't really like [I don't know why] but seems to work just fine.

Be wary of Cnet, Cicero, and Netgear, man Netgear are problematic.