The Right Network Cards for You
Cable or Wi-Fi
For starters, the first important decision you should make is if you need a network card to connect via Wi-Fi or through an Ethernet cable. In both cases, you will be able to use them both to connect to a local network and to connect to the Internet.
In general, for a home user, the wireless option is usually the best. However, for certain applications, such as playing video games, connection through an Ethernet cable is more advisable. Since it is more stable, faster and more secure, it is also true that having the cable-free desktop has its advantages and it is not always possible to establish the cable connection.
Speed
This is one of the most important purchase criteria that you have to consider. After all, one of the main advantages of having a network card is to enjoy a faster connection speed. In the case of Ethernet cable connections, it is increasingly common to find cards that support one gigabit per second of the transfer.
Reach and connection bands
In the case of Wi-Fi connections, it is essential that you take into account the range of the router signal and the maximum distance at which you are going to locate the equipment. Based on this, make sure you choose a network card that offers enough scope to meet your needs.
Similarly, you should know in which band or bands it operates. Networks that work in the 2.4 GHz band offer greater range but instead support fewer channels and the signal quality is worse. 5 GHz networks, meanwhile, have a lower range, but the signal quality is better and supports up to 25 non-overlapping channels. In addition, they offer higher maximum speed.
Number of ports
The number of ports and the type that they are is a fundamental aspect to consider Ethernet network cards. The vast majority use an RJ-45 port, although in some specific cases you may need another type of connection. As for the number, the most common is that they have only one, but you can also find cards with two or more.
Compatibility
Before buying an internal network card, you need to make sure that it is compatible with the board on which you are going to install it. Check if it connects to a PCI or PCI Express slot. Also, make sure you have some free, it will not be that they are all in use and you cannot connect the card.
However, it must not only be compatible with your computer hardware, but it must also be compatible with the software and more specifically with the operating system.
In this regard, you should check that the drivers or drivers of the card are compatible with both the operating system you have installed and the version you use. Especially, in the case of Windows 10.