New to home networking and I have some questions

[Rezag1000]

I am building a new home and I have ordered a home network to be installed, now I have a few questions.

 

1. Will the ICS (Internet connection sharing) host computer experience a performance hit either in just computer performance, or internet connection wise?

 

2. I have two choices for cables : Cat5E and Cat6. I know Cat6 is slightly faster, but is it worth the extra cost (About $5 per connection and I have 6 connections).

 

thanks!!

[Guest Kronos]

1. Will the ICS (Internet connection sharing) host computer experience a performance hit either in just computer performance, or internet connection wise?

 

For a home setup? You will moste likely see a little performance hit. Don't expect have this machine your gaming system and the ICS at the same time.

 

2. I have two choices for cables : Cat5E and Cat6. I know Cat6 is slightly faster, but is it worth the extra cost (About $5 per connection and I have 6 connections).

 

I personally think 5E is plenty, 6 is not worth the extra $5 a connection.

 

Opinions will vary

[Rezag1000]

ouch, my computer was the only one with two ethernet ports so it seems like it is the only option for a ICS host.

 

damn, WTH am I gonna do now........

[Guest Kronos]

Do like most people do. Purchase a router and have all the PCs connect to the cable modem through the router. You shouldn't need a computer to be a gateway to the internet.

 

Wall ---- Router ---- All the PCs. It is that easy

[Rezag1000]

but the PCs aren't near each other, they are in seperate rooms

 

would this work cable modem > router > plug router into wall

 

would that connect all the PCs to the internet?

[txmale36]

if you have a wireless router yeah. then need wireless access points for the other computers in the other rooms.ive seen access points as small as a flash drive.

[Skip04]

Works if your router isn't wireless too, as long as the walls are wired. Since its a new house you can have every room in it wired pretty easily if you want to.

[Rezag1000]

not a wireless router, but are you sure it can work?

[txmale36]

if your going wired and the walls are not already wired for a computer then you have to get all that cat5 cable. im not sure on this but isent distance a factor when using wired cat5 cable? i dont know how big your house/apartment is. i have a small room and used a wired router. but my modem/computer/router were not more then 3 feet from each other.

[wdb1966]

Cat6 if its being installed in a wall...don't want to need to upgrade in a year or two and be stuck with older spec cable if you want to run a faster network speed...get the best right now.

 

I also agree with the router, you can get an inexpensive router with wireless connectivity and just disable the wireless access point until its needed.

 

Personally, I plan to use my router with integrated 4-port switch, then add a Gigabit switch to run my machines on, using the router to connect the Gigabit switch, WAN, and any other slower peripherals (wireless access point, multifunction printer, etc)...right now I have two 5-port 10/100 switches and my Brother MFC-5440CN plugged into the router.

 

Once I move to all Gigabit connections, I'm going to use my file server to store all our media files, even do direct DV capture from my rig over the network to the server...now thats fast!

[wdb1966]

BTW...Cat5e and Cat6 have about the same 90 meter length limit, but with top quality cable it can be stretched a bit.

[Skip04]

Yes, positive it will work as it's how I'm set up right now. I have 1 rig downstairs where my modem and router are, and 2 upstairs hardwired through the walls.

not a wireless router, but are you sure it can work?