Advantage? PCI Ethernet card vs Onboard Ethernet

[VirusType2]

Is there an advantage to using a PCI Ethernet adapter over the on board Ethernet adapter?

Wondering if it would lower CPU usage. I have one laying around. Was wondering if I should install it and disable the onboard feature.

I searched google, but didn't get an answer.

 

[Barney Fife]

It depends on the type of on-board Ethernet adapter MB has.

 

[VirusType2]

It depends on the type of on-board Ethernet adapter MB has.

So in some cases yes you think? If I save 5% CPU power than I'd be worth it to me to install my PCI card.



Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC

is that at all helpful?

It's on board my motherboard

It's not listed in taskman as a process, so there is no way for me to tell how much cpu power it consumes under use.

 

[Asus]

It would be a pretty slight difference. If it's hardware based and doesn't throw instructions to the CPU then it would be a little better.

Even the expensive ($200?) Killer NIC doesn't improve that much over good onboard NICs. Except playing WOW for some reason.

 

[giant384]

you wont really notice a difference at all. NICs dont use that much cpu imo.

 

[Ridge]

My onboard ethernet would crap out every 24 hours or so...ditched it and bought a Network Everywhere PCI card for like $18 and now all is well!