Best Gaming ADSL2+ Modem Router

[!TIMMY!]

Ok I have a:

Desktop - gigabit ethernet
Laptop - 54mb Wireless G
GF Laptop - 54mb Wireless G

My current Thompson Speedtouch 585 (latest firmware) keeps dropping the internet on my Be Unlimited 24mb connection when my desktop and one of the laptops are accessing it. This is really annoying when I am trying to play a game and my gf is browsing the web.

So I want to get a new 'gaming' modem router, but I have no idea what's is good. I want:

ADSL2+
Reliable
QoS (for gaming)
Gigabit ethernet (if poss, not essential)

I am willing to spend around £100 as I will use it for the next few years.

Please can you guide me on what I should be looking for and what manufactures are good/bad.

Thanks.

[peterb]

No such thing really as a 'gaming router' - any of the branded routers will do the job. Few had gigabit switches - as the limiting speed factor is the internet connection, not the lan.

Draytek, Netgear, Linksys are all well known makes. From first hand knowledge, Drayteks support QoS and are versatile, but might be out of your price range.

I'm sure others will post their recommendations....

[smargh]

Wifi: Buffalo 54g unit from Ebuyer with DD-WRT firmware (£25 ish).
ADSL: Sky-branded Netgear DG834GT from Ebay with UberGT firmware (£25 ish).
Switch: Either any old gig switch, or any HP Procurve (lifetime warranty).

edit: ah, QoS....... for that, I use a PC with m0n0wall on it - firewalling and traffic shaping. Perhaps the Buffalo+DD-WRT can do the prioritising.

[!TIMMY!]

Thanks for the replies, I have been looking at the Linksys WRT54GL too as I have read you can pop the DD-WRT firmware on it too. Is there any advantage of the Buffalo over the Linksys, they are both similar in price.

[smargh]

Not really. Lots of people like the WRT54G (I have two v2 & v2.2 units), lots of people like the Buffalo.

If I were to use DD-WRT in the future and lacked any old WRT54Gs, I'd just get a Buffalo.

[peterb]

Both much of a muchness. I'd probably go for the Linksys - but not on any justifiable grounds - I expect would have similar performance.

Edit - see Smargh has made a similar post - but he goes for the Buffalo! And there is no reason (that I know of) not to.

If you still can't decide then use a random decision maker - flip a coin. Heads the Buffalo - tails the Linksys.

[!TIMMY!]

I think I might get the Linksys as I was thinking of getting the Linksys AM200 modem with it. I also never knew you could overclock a router lol.

[peterb]

A router is just a dedicated (single function) computer. If you can control the clock speed of the processor - you can overclock it - but I doubt that there would be any advantage in doing it - and could impair performance if it lead to instability and/or overheating.

[TheReaFireblade]

No such thing really as a 'gaming router'...

I know what you're getting at Peter

But Linksys would have us believe otherwise - with their WRT330N Wireless-N Gigabit Gaming Router

[peterb]

Thank you for that link! However...

a bit of hype (IMHO) ! After all - if you aare serious about game playing, would you opt for wireless? (Although I guess those that are serious, but find it impossible to run cable might be tempted - be interesting to see some reviews! (What was that other hyped up device a few months/year ago - a gaming NIC with its own on board processor to improve packet formation? Cost about £150 - and the reviews said that performance was little better then a standard NIC!)

Perhaps "A router oprtimised for game playing" might be a better description!

[!TIMMY!]

I need wireless for the 2 laptops, and I use my desktop for gaming. Was just getting tired of being disconnected all the time when one of the laptops were on.

I decided to go for the Linksys because it was built for open source, and I ordered a linksys modem with it too. Thanks for the help guys.

[aidanjt]

A 'gaming' router is just a plain old router that uses priority queuing and throlling to prioritise traffic to specific UDP ports that most game servers use. The hardware isn't anything special and generic router hardware with a half-decent firmware provides the same benifits.

[smargh]

Which Linksys modem did you get? Unless it has a Broadcom chipset, it'll probably be crap on a Be connection.

The definitive DSL modem for a Be line is the Sky/Netgear DG834GT with the UberGT firmware in bridge mode, which in turn lets your NAT router (WRT54G or equivalent - I use a WRAP 1E with pfSense) do the wireless. Few other DSL modems come close to the reliability of the DG834GT.

[MadduckUK]

What was that other hyped up device a few months/year ago - a gaming NIC with its own on board processor to improve packet formation? Cost about £150 - and the reviews said that performance was little better then a standard NIC!

do you mean..... this?
http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardwa...iller-nic.html

[!TIMMY!]

Which Linksys modem did you get? Unless it has a Broadcom chipset, it'll probably be crap on a Be connection.

The definitive DSL modem for a Be line is the Sky/Netgear DG834GT with the UberGT firmware in bridge mode, which in turn lets your NAT router (WRT54G or equivalent - I use a WRAP 1E with pfSense) do the wireless. Few other DSL modems come close to the reliability of the DG834GT.

Edit: didn't read that properly. I went for the Linksys AM200, just checking now if it is a broadcom chipset.

Edit 2: found out it is a Ti AR7 chipset, but supports Annex M, and works on Be. I don't know how well. God buying a modem and router is so complicated lol.

[aidanjt]

do you mean..... this?
http://forums.hexus.net/hexus-hardwa...iller-nic.html

Oh deary me!