Bigfoot Killer NIC

impar · **PC Gamer** Moderator

Greetings!

"Bigfoot Networks thinks it can change that with the Killer NIC, a network card the company claims reduces lag and improves overall responsiveness in online games. Lag is the scourge of online gaming—a very real impediment to serious players and an almost universal excuse for the poor performance of the rest of us. Surely, the promise of eliminating a problem so widespread would have gamers lined up ready to open their wallets. But the Killer NIC costs around $250, and that's a big ask for a component we've grown accustomed to getting for free.

I've spent the last few weeks exploring the Killer NIC's impact on lag and game responsiveness, and I've come away rather surprised by the results. Are those results, combined with the Killer's other unique capabilities, worth $250? Read on to find out. "
in, http://techreport.com/reviews/2007q3/bigfoot-killer-nic/index.x?pg=1

daglesj · nForced

Bit late isnt it? Wasnt that last years other musnt have item like the PhysX cards?

However, this is about the only review I've seen that supports its claims to any degree. Reckon its a sponsored review by Bigfoot?

I'm amazed they are still in business to be honest.

thegrommit · nForced²

I'm disappointed in TR for letting this review get published. They explicitly talk about interrupt modulation (moderation) being a big deal, but don't specify whether it's disabled on the other cards. Their test environment doesn't appear to be repeatable either (i.e. public servers).

powerarmour · **--[papameister]--** Mod Squad

I reckon a good quality 3Com nic will give it a run for it's money... Wink

Blakhart · nForce Padawan

Not 3com but Intel would.

Seawolf · Ultra nForced

Either way all of the reviews say pretty much the same thing, from what I've seen. It works as advertised, yet doesn't really do enough to be impressive.

Blakhart · nForce Padawan

That's because more than ninety percent of all networking issues are out of end-user control anyway. Their isp is having issues, or their isp's isp is.

Seawolf · Ultra nForced

It has nothing to do with networking issues, though. It's about removing any possibility of bottlenecks on the endusers side. Most NICs cut costs or have to share resources.

I could see getting one if I was heavy into competing online, but as it stands I'm definately not.

daglesj · nForced

As someone said earlier a good Intel enterprise spec NIC would do just fine.

Blakhart · nForce Padawan

Intel gige stuff is eminently adjustable.