JoLo

Dear abc (and all other computer smarties),

I just got a brand new pc for Christmas, and I loves it. BUT it doesn't come with wireless interwebs. I know I need to get an adapter, but I am not sure which would be better, usb or card. And I could look things up but I wanna be lazy. I am not even sure if one is better than the other...I like fast interwebs.

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oneinchwunda

I presume you already have a wireless network set up in your house?

If so, I'd recommend getting something like a USB wireless adapter. Very simple, just plug in to a USB port, install drivers, and connect to your wireless router.

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JoLo

Yup already go the router setup in my house. I didn't know if the usb ones would be any slower/worse than the cards.

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oneinchwunda

I believe that almost any USB adapter will not bottleneck your internet bandwidth. My Netgear adapter doesn't at all and was quite cheap. Just do some research to find a good choice, it won't be hard.

You should look for an adapter with good range, high speed (at least 100Mbps or so I would say), and a USB extension cable is nice, so that you can make sure your adapter is out of the way to receive best signal from you router.

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JoLo

Ah! Thanks!

Question tew

Upgrading my RAM, I have 5gb atm and can expand up to 16gb...what is a good amount to have?

http://www.walmart.com/ip/HP-BT440AA-ABA/15074891 That is my PC if it helps.

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Dante

4GB is pretty much sufficient at the moment, definitely no need for more than 8.

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oneinchwunda

Unless you do 3D CAD work or something, your computer should never need more than 4Gb of RAM. I don't think I have ever personally reached the 4Gb limit in my machine, except when stress testing.

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JoLo

But what if I want to play sims, while dling WoW, while reading online, streaming a show, writing a book and ummmm having all my programs open?

lol So my factory 5gb are good enuf then?

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oneinchwunda

5Gb is plenty.

What I would suggest is, if you're on Windows 7 or Vista, download a gadget on to your desktop which monitors CPU and RAM usage. This will be very informative as to what is doing what, and what, if anything, is causing your computer to slow.

FYI, my favourite one is called "All CPU meter 2.2". Worth taking a look at I think.

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Voodoo

one of my mates has 16gb and 2 SLI'd gtx460's.

@ Jo I had an old netgear USB for a while and it worked fine given the router was about 30 meters on the other side of the house. The only problem was it broke after I knocked it too much. So Wundas suggestion of one with a cord is a good idea.

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abc

1) A USB adapter combined with a USB extender cable (can be bought separately if not included) is better in every relevant way I can think of than a add-in card.

2) WTF is 5 GB. How have they even achieved that number? No need for any more RAM for any non-gaming yet extreme performance usage. I.E. Not you.


As mass produced, cost-led designed and quality compromised pre-builds go, that one looks alright. What do you use your computer for?

P.S. There will be lots of different speed adapters on sale, all waiting to steal the money of ill-advised (by said product's own marketing) consumers. Truth is 'wireless B' or more-catchingly known as '802.11b' is quick enough for most people. It is true that 'N' has a better range than 'G' and 'B' but then 'G' is likely to be fine. I have no idea what the price difference is. The difference in speed only makes a difference when you are transferring files between your home network - which is probably never?

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"I don't like new Linkin Park, I don't like old Linkin Park... I JUST LIKE LINKIN PARK"

COD owner - COD expansion pack owner - COD2 owner - COD2: BRO player - COD3 owner - COD4 owner - COD:WaW owner - COD: MW2 owner - COD: BO owner

This is getting repetitive.

JoLo

Yah, I wasn't gonna build a computer for many reasons (one of which is I am lazy lol). I am using the computer for school mostly, prob some light gaming (Sims and such) and interweb usage. I stream and dl a lot so I like quick internet speeds but my router must be wireless because the only place to set it up was my bedroom (or else I run chords all over my apt).

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abc

streaming from the internet - the speed of the adapter you choose DOESN'T matter (within reason)
streaming in all other ways (e.g. HD video from your PC's hard drive to your 360 so that you can see it on your TV or from a laptop to a home data server) - the speed of the adapter you choose DOES matter.


To cut a long story and lots of decision making short - wireless "G" will probably be absolutely fine, but I suspect wireless "N" stuff is so cheap that you may as well just get it for the fact it's more recent and is supposed to have a better range.

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"I don't like new Linkin Park, I don't like old Linkin Park... I JUST LIKE LINKIN PARK"

COD owner - COD expansion pack owner - COD2 owner - COD2: BRO player - COD3 owner - COD4 owner - COD:WaW owner - COD: MW2 owner - COD: BO owner

This is getting repetitive.

JoLo

Thanks! I am running out to grab one today.

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