RealTech PCIe 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet card doesn't support any wireless standards. It can only be hard wired to a router, assuming the router has an Ethernet post(s). It doesn't matter what WiFI standards the router supports. Ethernet is still Ethernet.
And the RealTech is actually integrated into the motherboard, so all you can do is turn it off in BIOS setup, but you can't remove it. You could install an add-in PCI-e WiFi Ethernet card should the onboard NIC die...
If you plan to use WiFi with the XPS 8700, that's different. I don't know what standards or bands the existing WiFI card supports in the 8700 so maybe somebody else can answer that. But an 802.11 ac router should be backward compatible with the earlier standards (eg, n) so you shouldn't need to replace the WiFi card unless you can get faster speed using ac.
If you hard wire the 8700 to the router, you're not going to use its own WiFi card so what difference does it make what speeds and bands it supports? Only the other gadgets that aren't hard wired to the router actually matter.
Also, keep in mind your bandwidth is limited by whichever is slower, ISP bandwidth or router bandwidth. Read this.
As for Asus, I don't have experience with that particular model but I bought an Asus dual band N600 RT-N53 just last Fri to set up my very first home WiFi network. It worked great for ~12 hours and then wouldn't connect to my Kindle via WPS the next morning. Kindle could see all my neighbor's WPS signals but showed the Asus as "no signal". Two laptops and a tablet could still connect to the router.
Spent hour on phone with Asus support. They walked me through changing all sorts of things and when done, she told me to click Save. Poof - the router died completely and wouldn't even connect wirelessly to any PC, no less not connecting to the Kindle.
Took it back to store and got identical replacement... 24 hours later, it shut off and wouldn't come back on. So I'm router-less.
Can't say the model you mentioned will be better, but do some homework and read user reviews of that specific model on Amazon etc. If I'd done mine better, I would have seen others complaining about the model I bought. :emotion-10: A certain PC mag named this exact model as their 2014 Editor's Choice but it makes me wonder if they even tested it. Asus did put a pretty sticker on their package touting that recommendation... :emotion-7:
I will be looking at otherbrands this weekend...but that's just my opinion...
ac router is faster than n, would it be quicker using wifi, as opposed to wired. Or is the Realtek 10/100/1000 a speed bump slowing down the process from the router. If so it would be speedier to switch to WIFI, which would need changing the WLAN card..
I understand backward capabilities of ac, byu don't want to purchase unless, I can make all ac capable.
Also good discussion about Asus 87U, has trend micro air protect:
WiFi is not going to be as fast or reliable as hardwired Ethernet. And Ethernet is more secure too.
Unlikely the router is going to be sending Ethernet data to the onboard NIC faster than it can handle, even if both support 1000 Mbps. So I don't see the RealTek as your bottleneck. And if both support 1000 they won't be the bottleneck if your modem and ISP don't support that speed too.
Sure, you can upgrade the internal WiFi card to ac and get an ac router. But in 6 months (or less) they'll probably have some new/faster/better standard and you'll be behind the curve again.
Personally, I think it all comes down to what your mobile devices support. If none of them support ac, you'll only benefit from ac if/when you upgrade those devices.
Assuming I get a working router, I intend to keep my desktop hardwired and just use the WiFi for mobile devices.
If you're happy with comments about the 87U, follow your instincts. Unfortunately, I relied on a magazine review/rating that has no apparent connection to reality - from my hands-on with 2 RT-N53 units...
Great! WIFI isn't any faster than ethernet, using the same router. After checking my ROKU, I now only have one device ac ready, the wife's laptop. So for now I'll stick with n
rdunnill
6 Professor
•
8.8K Posts
0
February 11th, 2015 18:00
I think Gigabit Ethernet refers to a cabled standard. Does your Device Manager list a wireless connection as being available?
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
February 11th, 2015 18:00
I think you're mixing things up...
RealTech PCIe 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet card doesn't support any wireless standards. It can only be hard wired to a router, assuming the router has an Ethernet post(s). It doesn't matter what WiFI standards the router supports. Ethernet is still Ethernet.
And the RealTech is actually integrated into the motherboard, so all you can do is turn it off in BIOS setup, but you can't remove it. You could install an add-in PCI-e WiFi Ethernet card should the onboard NIC die...
If you plan to use WiFi with the XPS 8700, that's different. I don't know what standards or bands the existing WiFI card supports in the 8700 so maybe somebody else can answer that. But an 802.11 ac router should be backward compatible with the earlier standards (eg, n) so you shouldn't need to replace the WiFi card unless you can get faster speed using ac.
If you hard wire the 8700 to the router, you're not going to use its own WiFi card so what difference does it make what speeds and bands it supports? Only the other gadgets that aren't hard wired to the router actually matter.
Also, keep in mind your bandwidth is limited by whichever is slower, ISP bandwidth or router bandwidth. Read this.
As for Asus, I don't have experience with that particular model but I bought an Asus dual band N600 RT-N53 just last Fri to set up my very first home WiFi network. It worked great for ~12 hours and then wouldn't connect to my Kindle via WPS the next morning. Kindle could see all my neighbor's WPS signals but showed the Asus as "no signal". Two laptops and a tablet could still connect to the router.
Spent hour on phone with Asus support. They walked me through changing all sorts of things and when done, she told me to click Save. Poof - the router died completely and wouldn't even connect wirelessly to any PC, no less not connecting to the Kindle.
Took it back to store and got identical replacement... 24 hours later, it shut off and wouldn't come back on. So I'm router-less.
Can't say the model you mentioned will be better, but do some homework and read user reviews of that specific model on Amazon etc. If I'd done mine better, I would have seen others complaining about the model I bought. :emotion-10: A certain PC mag named this exact model as their 2014 Editor's Choice but it makes me wonder if they even tested it. Asus did put a pretty sticker on their package touting that recommendation... :emotion-7:
I will be looking at other brands this weekend...but that's just my opinion...
EDITED
Rico1234
3 Posts
0
February 12th, 2015 06:00
Hi Guys, Thanks for the comments!
What I'm trying to say is regarding ethernet is:
ac router is faster than n, would it be quicker using wifi, as opposed to wired. Or is the Realtek 10/100/1000 a speed bump slowing down the process from the router. If so it would be speedier to switch to WIFI, which would need changing the WLAN card..
I understand backward capabilities of ac, byu don't want to purchase unless, I can make all ac capable.
Also good discussion about Asus 87U, has trend micro air protect:
www.wilderssecurity.com/.../page-9
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
February 12th, 2015 12:00
Well, come on now...you have to get a new laptop that supports ac. Can't let the wife be technologically more advanced! :emotion-4:
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
February 12th, 2015 12:00
WiFi is not going to be as fast or reliable as hardwired Ethernet. And Ethernet is more secure too.
Unlikely the router is going to be sending Ethernet data to the onboard NIC faster than it can handle, even if both support 1000 Mbps. So I don't see the RealTek as your bottleneck. And if both support 1000 they won't be the bottleneck if your modem and ISP don't support that speed too.
Sure, you can upgrade the internal WiFi card to ac and get an ac router. But in 6 months (or less) they'll probably have some new/faster/better standard and you'll be behind the curve again.
Personally, I think it all comes down to what your mobile devices support. If none of them support ac, you'll only benefit from ac if/when you upgrade those devices.
Assuming I get a working router, I intend to keep my desktop hardwired and just use the WiFi for mobile devices.
If you're happy with comments about the 87U, follow your instincts. Unfortunately, I relied on a magazine review/rating that has no apparent connection to reality - from my hands-on with 2 RT-N53 units...
Rico1234
3 Posts
0
February 12th, 2015 12:00
Great! WIFI isn't any faster than ethernet, using the same router. After checking my ROKU, I now only have one device ac ready, the wife's laptop. So for now I'll stick with n
Thanks
Rico