How to choose a PCI LAN and modem?

[CAN-build]

Hi everyone, I'm researching building my first sys. and need a LAN and or modem(undecided on what I'll hook up to net with), What should I choose? I see so much difference in prices!

Thanks

[Cricket]

Hi CAN-build,

For a good PCI modem, get the US Robotics 2976 or 2977. These are true hardware controlled modems (not "winmodems") and work well.

For good NIC's, almost any name brand one will work fine. 3Com, INTEL, D-Link, LINKSYS and SMC all work pretty much the same. I would avoid NetGear NIC's.

:) Cricket

[CAN-build]

Thanks Cricket, one more question, whne looking at sites selling modems I see listings indicating 56K modem for such price and then 56K software for such price do I have to buy both? Why are they listed like this?

[Cricket]

Hi CAN-build,

56K software? What's that? Can you provide a link to a page that shows this?

You should only need a good 56K PCI modem.

:) Cricket

[CAN-build]

Here's a link, look under internal PCI modems

http://www.canadacomputers.com/modems.html

[Cricket]

Hi CAN-build,

Okay, I see now...what they're referring to is a "winmodem".

There are two kinds of PCI modems...hardware controlled modems (these do everything on the card itself) and "winmodems" (these use system resources and a device driver in order to function)...glc, reboot or SARGE can explain this better than I can.

What you want to get is a hardware controlled modem like the US Robotics 2976 or 2977. Or an external serial modem like the US Robotics 5686.

That website isn't very clear on what they're selling.

:) Cricket

[CAN-build]

Thanks for clearing that up.

As for the site I know they don't explain things that well, BUT they have the best prices I can find in Canada and was planning on buying from them. Maybe this isn't such a good idea??

[Cricket]

Hi CAN-build,

Maybe you could e-mail them to get specifics like the model numbers of those modems.

:) Cricket

[CAN-build]

Thanks, I just emailed them to inform me what shipping will cost (avg. for what I'd be buying) and their proceedure to purchase through their website.

[glc]

USR 56K V.90 w/ Voice OEM
$75
USR 56K V.90 OEM
$65

Either one of these will be fine, I'm betting that they are the 2976 and 2977.

The "software" modems are Winmodems and should be avoided.