Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!iuvax!cica!gatech!gitpyr!is813cs
From: is813cs@pyr.gatech.EDU (Cris Simpson)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Smart vs. Dumb Ethernet Cards
Keywords: Does smart on fast => slow?
Message-ID: <8960@pyr.gatech.EDU>
Date: 11 Aug 89 16:53:25 GMT
Reply-To: is813cs@pyr.gatech.edu (Cris Simpson)
Distribution: usa
Organization: VA Rehab R&D | Ga Inst of Technology
Lines: 21


   This may be a religous question and has probably been asked before:

I have heard that "smart" Ethernet cards actually reduce throughput
on fast PCs.  This seems to be because the 80188 on the card working
full time is slower than a 80386/20 or 25 working part time.  Is this
true?   If so, at what processor speed does this make a difference?

In particular, does anyone have experience with the 3com 3c503
(Etherlink II)   vs.  the 3c505 (Elink Plus) ?

Eternal gratitude, etc. , etc.
cris

l
in 
-- 
||   Gee, do you think it'd help if I plugged in both ends of this cable?   ||
Cris Simpson              Computer Engineer               VA Rehab R&D Center
                        GATech      Atlanta,GA
  is813cs@pyr.gatech.edu           ...!{Almost Anywhere}!gatech!gitpyr!is813cs