Comments on: BigFoot Killer 2100 Gaming Network Card Review

By: SDT

SDT — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 22:51:50 +0000

I play a lot of COD4 and MW2 and this thing helps significantly in those close calls where you and your opponent shoot at the same time. I am playing better, getting more kills and winning more. For $120, this beats a lot of other things you can get for your rig. Buy it – try it – love it – don’t deny it.

By: Arrakiv

Arrakiv — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 18:20:41 +0000

Hey. I’m the community manager for Bigfoot Networks, the people who designed the card. Just wanted to toss out to the fellow who was curious whether or not pro-gamers use the card: Yep, they do. We actually sponsor several major eSports teams, too, including Fnatic, SK-Gaming, Evil Geniuses, Team-Dignitas, and more.

Also, really cool to see a review go so in-depth. And thanks to all of the commentors for the feedback!

By: Rockstar Lover

Rockstar Lover — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:08:36 +0000

Zardon, if I buy this and it sucks, im hunting you down

By: Fraline

Fraline — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:07:32 +0000

I think ill invest in one of these, my BT broadband is giving me massive issues when I go online. it might not cure it completely but im sure it would help. thanks for the detailed review, most useful.

By: Steven

Steven — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:06:40 +0000

Yeah, its for all intents and purposes a stripped down mini computer on a card, its not just a network card which is often just a little chip to manage throughput. this card is doing so much more, and there is even a software interface and updates available to flash it. I wouldnt recommend you use this outside Windows 7 however, its getting primary focus from bigfoot on Windows 7. not XP.

By: Tommy Fran

Tommy Fran — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:04:50 +0000

The card has a processor onboard (powerpc) with DDR2 memory, its basically not only been designed to optimise packets back and forward but its taking the load from the main CPU in the system. its basically a little computer on a card. While networking seems a rather weird choice to offload to another CPU, it can cause interupts to the main CPU which can even sometimes cause hitching. probably not on a 4.8ghz Core i7 mind you, but those gaming on a lower end CPU would benefit more.

By: dark knight

dark knight — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:03:02 +0000

Personally I found the review rather complex and I didnt understand some parts of it. it seems fast, but how does it actually help my gaming? by just reducing latency via packets? £100 for that?

By: Ray

Ray — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:02:09 +0000

Those complaining about the price need to understand that the software suite development alone is comprehensive and costly to produce. Not sure they could make a lite version, as the new 2100 is basically already a lite version of the older cards made for performance.

By: mick

mick — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:01:23 +0000

Great review, loved the detailed analysis sections. Only problem I have is why is it so expensive?

By: breaker

breaker — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:00:37 +0000

No denying the performance giong on the test results, but the price? Thats way over the odds for what I would pay. they should do a lite version or a cheaper one. I could get a decent CPU for a little more.

By: larry and mo

larry and mo — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:59:36 +0000

I bought one of these last week, its working very well. Helped my COD MW2 online performance.

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:58:37 +0000

It is serious money, but I think its probably worth it if people want the best network connection they can get to the outside world.

By: Daz

Daz — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:58:07 +0000

£100 for a network card? thats more than the Sapphier HD5670 Ultimate Edition you reviewed here a while ago.

It seems very very overpriced.

By: Edmond Wittacker

Edmond Wittacker — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:56:35 +0000

the TCP performance is staggering, that alone is worth the money IMO.

By: Cecil

Cecil — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:55:37 +0000

My brother plays in a clan and he has one of these already. he says it really helps to cut out lag when he games across continents online.

By: Derek Flanks

Derek Flanks — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:54:51 +0000

It is expensive, however the processor on the card is actually quite costly to produce, even though its not a high powered main CPU by todays standards. Its a reasonably priced product and the software aspect alone makes it worth it.

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:54:04 +0000

I had the K1, and I thought it was good, but it got damaged when I moved house a year ago. I shall order one of these myself as I like a good gaming network card, my onboard broadcom sucks.

By: Jeo

Jeo — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:53:21 +0000

Very compelling results. I think I will take a risk and order one online now. I have some issues with WOW lately and I think this would help, going on the test results.

By: Trev Mang

Trev Mang — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:52:36 +0000

ive read mixed reports on these products, but the testing has never really been detailed in any way.

Rather inspired to do the variety of testing you did, in the context of a local network and with online tools available. It certainly seems to cut the mustard with your test results.

By: Dilbert

Dilbert — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:51:23 +0000

Well I wasn’t expecting something this positive. surprised me, in a nice way.

I would like to try one out before forking out the money as I do play online often and can suffer from ping issues.

By: Gareth Cringle

Gareth Cringle — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:35:56 +0000

I doubt pro gamers use these, they normally game locally in events when the local networks are well optimised.

Maybe im wrong. Not sure im sold on this still. the lags are better no doubt about it, but I wonder how it translates to a majority of games online.

By: Francois LeBon

Francois LeBon — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:35:04 +0000

Far too much to spend on a network card. well for me anyway, I play the odd title online but I never really notice much lag. the CPU use drop is interesting, that might help some people who are struggling to maintain performance on their system?

I wonder if professional gaming clans use these? advantage maybe?

By: AMD4EVER

AMD4EVER — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:33:55 +0000

I have the older card, the K1 and it works very well, I always notice when I use ordinary cards as when im gaming online in BC2 I get lags. I never get lags with a bigfoot. very good product, but yeah a bit costly, I think if they could drop the price by 30% they would sell a lot more.

By: Tri Color

Tri Color — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:33:00 +0000

Havent had time this morning to read it in depth, but I read the conclusion and will read the rest later. 8.5/10 for a £100 network card? it better be a good product!

By: Stefan

Stefan — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:32:13 +0000

Very very expensive for what you get, but in reality if you spend all your spare time gaming then I would say this is a good buy as Zardon says. for the rest of us? Not so sure. well balanced review, I like the conclusion

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:30:44 +0000

Very entertaining read, even though networking tends to bore me to sleep. Not sure id pay £100 for a card like this as I dont game online much, but I would think that people who play a lot of FPS titles online and need maximum response time would love one.

By: Flo

Flo — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:28:41 +0000

I gotta hand it to zardon, these articles are always so good to read. even technical stuff can be understood. Great stuff.

By: Tech Head

Tech Head — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:27:32 +0000

I can only assume that the relatively high asking price puts most people off, because it all makes such sense that these DO work. even the earlier versions did work. network activity can not only put a high load on a CPU, but the cards are just generalised when it comes to component configuration. These cards really do offer a much more focused platform for gamers.

By: Harry

Harry — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:24:36 +0000

Very good reading this morning, thanks Z. Interesting to see the latency improvements in such a technical way. Most articles just show subjective testing and I always feel the companies are paying the reviewers to write it. This all makes sense. PowerPC processor on a network card? thats impressive!

By: Death Dealer

Death Dealer — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 09:21:04 +0000

There have been some really educational articles on kitguru this year already, but I agree this one really opened my eyes to another area I had no idea existed.