The Computer Upgrader - Check Networking

Check networking

Unless you plan to use your computer strictly as a station for games and word processing, you will want to have some connection to other computers and the internet. While most computers today come with networking of some kind built in, some older ones may not, or may not have the kind of networking that you want.

If you plan to use the internet through a dial-up connection, you will need a modem. If you are using broadband internet, such as a cable modem or DSL, you will need to have an ethernet card. Both of which are cheap, and easily available from any store that sells computer parts. Often, in fact, Internet Service Providers will provide or even install the needed card for you.

Basically, as long as your computer has a modem and/or ethernet card, you should have no problems in this area. And if it doesn't, they're cheap to buy, and easy to install.

DSL: Digital Subscriber Line - a high speed connection to the internet usually provided by your local phone company - more

What kind of internet solution you wish to go with will depend heavily on many outside factors, such as pricing and availability of various internet providers in your area. However, if you spend an hour or two or more online in the average day, play any multiplayer games, or use the internet to download video files or product demos, you should probably invest in some sort of broadband solution, such as a cable modem or DSL.

If you are online for more than four hours a week you will see a big increase in productivity from a high speed connection.

For modem and networking card installation see the upgrade page.

To upgrade your networking capability, simply purchase the correct expansion card and install it as outlined in the expansion card section of this page. Basically, you should ask your internet service provider what kind of card you will need to use their service, and whether they will provide the card for you. The various types of cards are:

Modems. These connect to a phone line, often have a passthrough for a phone, and are generally rated in speed. At this point in time, you should not buy a slower modem than a 56k, and if you have a slower modem, think seriously about upgrading.
Ethernet cards. Theses network interface cards use special cable, the standard for which is Category Five Fast Ethernet cable, available at pretty much any computer store, Wal-Mart, etc. This allows the much faster transmission that is the hallmark of cable modems and DSLs.
Wireless ethernet. The 802.11b standard is becoming more widely accepted, allowing networking in the home between multiple computers without any cables or hubs. Also, several colleges and businesses are integrating wireless networking into their networks, allowing laptop users access to internet anywhere on the premises.

In addition to networking cards, you may also want to purchase a hub, switch, or router, to allow you to network more than one computer at your house. A router enables you to connect more than one computer to your internet connection by correctly routing data in and out of your network as well as between the computers on your network. A hub is a simpler device that connects computers into a network but does not provide any facility for connecting your network to the outside world.

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