Gigabit network adapter card?

I have a 6 year old HP computer running Windows XP. The NIC died and I want to replace it. The original network controller is built into the motherboard, but I have some open expansion slots, so I was going to buy a PCI network card. I see some of the cards are listed as Gigabit cards.

I will be using this computer so I can watch Netflix in my bedroom. Should I get a Gigabit card, or is that for gamers or something?

Guy

 

Do you have a media server on your network?

While you can certainly put a gigabit card in I'd way the cost of a standard 100mb card versus the gigabit card first.

Your internet connection, whether DSL, Cable, Satellite, or FIOS is no where near as fast as a 100 mb card so that will be the bottleneck. In addition, a 6 year old computer, probably, you didn't give specifics, probably won't be able to keep up with the card at full speed. Your drives are probably slow, processor slow, and so on.

It really is a judgement call. I'd probably just spend a few extra bucks on a name brand 10/100 card than a generic gigabit.

 

i have FIOS
20/5
and with my gigabit built in NIC, i really do not tax it
Netflix stream in 480
so no hi def yet ( 720 or 1080 )
so gigabit NIC is way ahead of the curve
and a good 10/100 is realativelty inexpensive now a days

 

Thanks to both replies. No media server on my PC.

I'll go with a brand name. At Newegg.com, I saw a D-Link for $10 and a Linksys for $18.