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Synthetic testing is a great way to measure cold hard facts, but its important we translate this into a real world environment so we can see any possible benefits from switching to a Killer 2100 Network card.
First we created a 2.7 GB folder of various files. Jpegs, database files and system files. Then we copied it across from machine to machine with a combination of the Intel and Killer 2100 Network cards in both machines.
Onboard to onboard gives us a solid reference figure of around 25 seconds. When we change one over to a single Killer Nic we can shave 0.8 seconds off the time, and finally with two Killer Nic′s sending and receiving we reduce the time to just over 23 seconds.
Testing online gaming is a very difficult thing – we have already shown that with Resident Evil and online activity that the situation is improved dramatically.
We fired up Call Of Duty, Bad Company 2 and several Valve games and fragged away for a few hours. We noticed that once we got used to the Killer 2100 we never noticed lags or stuttering, but when we switched back to the onboard solution that sometimes we would get drop out which was noticeable. This is obviously dependent on the server we connect to, but with the Killer 2100 it seemed to deal with worse conditions much better. It is something you adapt to, and you never know what you are missing, but with both NIC’s connected to our gigabit switch, we would play for 30 minutes, drop out, switch over and try with the other. It really started to become noticeable, especially when I monitored CPU usage, even on such high powered machines.
CPU performance would drop by up to 5% when using the Killer 2100. The gains with a lesser processor would be more noticeable.
Thats a pretty good product, especially if you need a new gfx and your onboard lan is crap (like mine). I have a HD5770 already and I like it, I only game at weekends and ive found its fine, even with the newer engines on my tv.
Nice product, I like the cooler design, its rather funky looking. HD5770 is a good card, slightly overshadowed by the 460, although with the recent price drops to under 100 quid, its one of the finest value products on the market.
How would I get this into the UK: wouldnt customs be costly?
Finally a good review of this. no one else reviewed it ! Dont know how you guys do it being a Uk site, but kudos!
I want a replacement for my 5450 and I need a good lan card, been waiting for this for ages. just ordered it of newegg as it was 15 bucks less than Dells page which I had my eye on for a month.
thanks!
Yeah I saw Dell are selling this for $205 in the states. 15 bucks less on newegg, which is great.
Didnt powercolor do something similar? im sure its available in UK ?
HD5770 was a great board, its a bit long in the tooth now, although after seeing this one, I can see visiontek are offering something a little different, which is very cool. Like it.
They need to offer the Killer nic on something like a 6950 or 6870,.
I bought one of these for WOW and its transformed my clan games. love it.
Any ideas if they plan to bring this out in any other of their range? I like the idea, but the 5770 wont do what I need.
Great idea, id love to try the Killer NIC myself, but id be downgrading my card. and I dont fancy another slot gone for the dedicated card.
6970 and 6950 please chaps 🙂 Wonder why sapphier or XFX dont do it.
hello kitguru,
question, when if your GTX560 review going to come up? Also could you compare it to the EvGA FTW 460 or OC a GTX460 to those levels.