Linksys WRT32X router is "exclusively built for gamers"

[HEXUS]

Firm worked with Rivet Networks, incorporates the Killer Prioritization Engine (KPE).

Read more.

[peterb]

Hmm another "gaming machine" 'ker-ching' £££

So

the Linksys WRT32X isn't just "some 'gamer-bait' visual accents coupled with some smart marketing". It's exclusive built-in Killer Prioritization Engine (KPE) and other design optimisations are "built to deliver the best online gaming experience".

Well Im afaraid to my cynical mind thats exactly what it is - a bit of marketing flummery with another Three Letter Algorithm (TLA) thrown in for good measure.

I like the idea of a minimal kernel, but latency is a function of the internet, and while fast and optimal code in the router might reduce latency in that device, once a packet has left the router, it has no more control over the latency over the connection to the destination server than I have over the earth's rotational speed.

But I'm not the the target market as it is

built exclusively for gamers

but I'm sure there will be some who will part with their cash, but for $300 (probably around £300 when it hits the UK) I can think of other routers I'd rather spend my money on - but then, I'm not a gamer!

However, I'm always willing to be proved wrong so I look forward to a comprehensive HEXUS review!

[rabidmunkee]

exclusively for gamers, ok, is it me or does all that wifi jiggery pokery kick it right out the 'gamer' ball park, wired all the way for me.

[philehidiot]

Peterb - exactly my thoughts. The majority of latency is not in your own network (assuming you bought half decent hardware and it is functioning normally), it's at the mercy of the internet. I'm sure spending the money allocated for this on a decent ISP will work better for most people. There is latency associated with wifi but you can't speed that up very easily, only ensure that you use MIMO, etc for the most robust connection possible in your environment. Or a wire.

As you say, a kernel built from the ground up for minimal latency is good, but then to put a flashy interface on top of that surely is using resources, etc that needn't be used? Stupid "edgy" interfaces take up R&D time better spent elsewhere. Ensure the interface is intuitive and works properly and sod the fancy graphics. Gamers will love a black and white, mostly text display as it'll make them feel like a hacker and l33t.

Any proper hardcore gamer will just use a bloody wire if it matters that much.

[Bagpuss]

Marketing BS designed to pull in the gullible 18-25yr olds with their first credit cards.

[Iota]

This was announced back in CES, and was due to be released in Spring. They've taken so long to get it to market that I went with a completely different router with fairly decent QoS (works well enough for me).

All things considered I was no longer prepared to wait, I'm glad I didn't, September 2017 isn't "Spring".

[bitbucket]

*HOW* MUCH? Good grief. Buy an enterprise-grade Ubiquiti router for half the money. They're superb, I promise.

[cheesemp]

Meh - load of marketing BS. I bet any gamer wouldn't notice a difference with my £40 router vs this. I suspect if using wires you'd not notice more than 1ms readable difference on ping either. Real lesson here is use wires and if going to the extreme live near London (or wherever your game servers are) and pay for a decent ISP if ping matter so much to you...

"A non-technical gamer and his money are easily separated" - cheesemp

[Corky34]

I'm going to buck the trend and say the 'Killer Prioritization Engine' has its uses, I'm guessing most people don't have exclusive use of their connection and probably get ignored if they tell everyone to stop using the internet for a few hours, although for £300 you'd probably be better off getting a dedicated line.

[Lepnik]

You looks fantastic, my precious.

[Tabbykatze]

You can pay £250 for an Intel J1900 board with 4xIntel NICs, a 60GB Kingston mini-PCIe SSD and a 4GB RAM stick then stick Sophos UTM or Sophos XG on it for free. Enterprise grade UTM Firewall and you can shape everything you want yourself. These systems are for people who have money and are lazy. Frankly these "gaming" NICs and "gaming" routers are a whole load of marketing tosh. As soon as your packets leave the WAN side of your router you have no control over how the ISP are going to shape your connection. The only thing this thing is good for is stopping other members of the household rinsing the connection with a download while you're gaming. But what happens if there are multiple gamers in the home, who gets priority?

[shaithis]

I'm going to buck the trend and say the 'Killer Prioritization Engine' has its uses, I'm guessing most people don't have exclusive use of their connection and probably get ignored if they tell everyone to stop using the internet for a few hours, although for £300 you'd probably be better off getting a dedicated line.

We have had QoS for years, call my cynical but I bet KPE is a re-skined QoS...

[EvilCycle]

I love how you can slap "gaming" on anything computer related and jack the price up these days.

Now where is my gaming RGB toilet so I can play and poop at the same time?

[FromUSA]

I will wait for CNET to review it. Dong Ngo will give us the real low down on it

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Everything is built for gamerz nowadays,even HEDT CPUs from AMD and Intel(apparently).

Sadly I don't have l33t elite gamerz skills so will need to suffice with a bog standard router and a long ethernet cable.

[nobodyspecial]

Start making them with more ports and I'll be more interested. Why are we still stuck with 4 hard lines (wan doesn't count here)? It's almost impossible to find a 5-8 port model of a high end ac router for consumers.