** Official ASUS Poll & Discussion - LAN Controllers **

What is your preference regarding motherboard LAN controllers?

  • the choice of vendor for the LAN controller doesn't matter

    Votes: 7 10.3%
  • I use an add-on network card

    Votes: 5 7.4%
  • Marvell

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Intel

    Votes: 54 79.4%
  • Atheros

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Realtek

    Votes: 2 2.9%

  • Total voters
    68

OC_Seer

ASUS Power User Support
Joined
Oct 8, 2009
Messages
106
Hello again, HOCP community!

I have another poll and discussion that I'd like to get your feedback on to help us make some decisions related to motherboard network controllers (NICs). As always, we come to the forums first to try to get the widest reach of customer input and feedback.

I'm sure many of you have noticed that the integration of Intel NICs on our motherboards has become more and more prevalent of late on our motherboards (mainly Intel chipset motherboards) and there are many reasons for this which I will explain in this post. However, the point of this thread is to get your feedback on this and see if this is something that is important enough if your eyes for us to continue doing.

We included Intel Gigabit LAN on many of our Z68 boards, Z77 boards, and on all of our X79 boards. One reason this decision was made is the robustness of the driverset and the various options included in the Intel LAN chipset allowing power users as well as the average user to customize his/her online experience. Some of these options are Advanced Networking Services Teaming, VLANs, fine-grained control of link speed and duplex, Identify Adapter option, different packet options for specifying preferred frame size of certain data transfer scenarios, offloading of certain tasks to the NIC hardware because the NIC hardware can process certain things faster than the OS can and thus free up CPU cycles, etc.

Another reason we often use Intel LAN controllers is because of its higher degree of interoperability and compatibility with different types of software and operating system environments.

The third advantage that the Intel controller offers is its high level of performance. With all of the new software titles and applications coming out everyday that involve sending more and more data over a network, we feel the performance factor advantage to be a very important one to the majority of computer users out there. In our testing, as well as Intel's, we've noticed a higher level of performance with Intel LAN controllers, especially with larger packet sizes.

Of course the reason why we started this thread is to get your feedback on these items and find out whether you're experiencing these same advantages with Intel LAN controllers as well as how much of an impact the choice of NIC vendor makes when you consider purchasing a motherboard. For the poll, the information we would like to get is whether or not the manufacturer's choice of LAN controller makes a difference to you, if more often than not, you purchase an add-on LAN card, or if you do use the on-board LAN and do think the choice of vendor makes a difference, then which vendor you prefer. Along with your selection of LAN controller preference, please also post why you chose what you chose and your experiences good and/or bad regarding LAN controllers.

Thanks again for your valuable feedback which will help us to put out products catered more to your needs and wants.
 
Since I've used Realtek, Marvell, and Intel on-board controllers and only Windows operating systems, I've not been able to discern a difference. They've all done the job just fine for me with zero problems.
 
I specifically look for Intel ethernet now.

I've used pretty much most vendors at one time or another, both integrated and pci. Intel has been the most painless and consistent for me. Networking on my sig rig has been flawless. No major driver issues, no connection problems, no undue latency.

Even that one oddball driver Intel released that misidentified my 82579 as LM instead of V still worked/performed fine otherwise.

Unscientific side by side with a couple of my previous boards (P5N32-E and DP35DP) and my walmart laptop's Broadcom nic, performance goes new Intel = older Intel > Broadcom >>> nForce.
Intel slightly better than Broadcom, but all three trounce the nVidia (never was impressed with any nForce controllers lan/storage/etc, boards OC'ed like magic, but were quirky as hell).
 
I voted for Intel -- most reliable, and you know their chips/drivers go through plenty of QC.
 
It definitely puts a smile on my face when I see intel nic's on boards and it was the one thing that disappointed me when I received mine. I have since added an intel nic and it has been a worthy upgrade. Hoping I wont have to in the future:)
 
Intel for all the reasons you mentioned. Though I still prefer to use an add-on card like the Intel EXPI9301CT. it never hurts to offload the CPU.
 
Intel for all the reasons you mentioned. Though I still prefer to use an add-on card like the Intel EXPI9301CT. it never hurts to offload the CPU.

Are there some extra features the add-on Intel card you mentioned has over an integrated chip like 82579V?
 
No, the 82579 chip has more advanced features than the older 82574 found in the discrete card. If you have a need for new Intel features like MACsec, the on board solution would be better.
 
What about MSI-X support (load balance interrupts on multiple cpu cores)? My 82579V apparently doesn't do that.
 
Yeah, it doesn't say anything about MSI-X support on 82579 in product specifications. Is this reserved for add-on cards only?
 
Yeah, it doesn't say anything about MSI-X support on 82579 in product specifications. Is this reserved for add-on cards only?
I do not know the answer to this and could not find the answer for you.
 
I prefer Intel for onboard controllers for almost everything, including NICS. I do however use a dedicated Intel NIC, but if I had to use an onboard one I would want it to be Intel.
 
Thanks a lot for your feedback guys. The poll and the thread seems to reinforce the thoughts I had regarding people's NIC preference.

Regarding Intel's 82579 chip, it does support MSI-X up to 10 vectors. You can find more information from the following architecture/specs sheet.
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us...controller-software-support.html?wapkw=82579+

Found that pdf myself, so in theory is supports msi-x, but i can't get it to work on my system. Installed latest Intel driver 17.1 still no go.

Note the msi portion of the inf driver, specifically the MessageNumberLimit value = 1

[MSI.reg]
HKR, "Interrupt Management", 0x00000010
HKR, "Interrupt Management\MessageSignaledInterruptProperties", 0x00000010
HKR, "Interrupt Management\MessageSignaledInterruptProperties", MSISupported, 0x00010001, 1
HKR, "Interrupt Management\MessageSignaledInterruptProperties", MessageNumberLimit, 0x00010001, 1

So it appears Intel is restricting the capabilities in the driver.
Also absent are DevicePolicy = 5 (irq to all cpu cores) and TargetSet = 15

I tried messing with the registry to manually enable but after reinitialization (disable/enable) the settings reset to default.

Perhaps someone with Intel 82579 (Asus Pro/Deluxe/WS models) could test if msi-x works correctly.
I'm using Perfmon from Windows7, section Per Processor Network Interface Card Activity, Interrupts/second, select individual cpu cores associated with 82579. Then make some traffic and check to see interrupts are spread.
 
I haven't had much experience with the Atheros Killer NIC's but between Intel and Marvell or Realtek I'd definitely prefer Intel NIC's every time.
 
I have chosen the ROG boards since the Rampage Formula mostly for the features included on these boards.....and one is the Intel branded NIC......I very much appreciate the inclusion.
I have not had any Marvell problems, but it's just another different driver you need to find and load when you buy the board.

Please continue to use Intel.:D
 
Prefer Intel NICs. Least amount of problems with them from my experience.

Realtek Green Ethernet doesn't play nice with some hardware (Wifi bridges) when enabled, slowing speeds down like crazy. Certain Gigabyte X58 boards also had weird issues where the onboard NIC dropped and required a full AC power disconnect before it came back.

Atheros AR8151 on another Gigabyte board I have never negotiates a proper 1 Gig link with the same Wifi bridge. The latest drivers were hard to find (found it through this link actually: http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3517/p/19433908/20040755.aspx) and Gig link works only when I flip to auto then back to 1gbps. A reboot will negotiate down to 10mbps.

Intel NICs are plug and play, no problem. I've only ever once encountered an issue where the 82579LM used on Lenovo M91p's failed to hold a link speed setting. My work place at one point required 100 Mbit full duplex, yet the drivers would only "auto" negotiate regardless of the setting.
We decided to flip all of our switches to "auto" so we wouldn't have to worry about different link speed settings for different locations.

Can't say I've had any problems with Broadcom, though my exposure to their NICs is very limited.
 
Awesome. Thanks for everyone's feedback and input. I'll make sure that we don't have any plans to stop using Intel NICs. :)
 
Intel NICs have always worked best for me as well. However, I have dedicated add-in Intel NICs for all my computers. You can pry them from my cold dead hands.

I have no use for onboard NICs now because they were such a headache in the past that I don't even bother anymore.
 
It is extremely annoying when a motherboard comes with 2 NICs, but from different manufacturers. This totally breaks the ability to team the NICs with the manufacturer's software. Freaking pick 1 manufacturer and stick with it. The #1 reason to have a 2nd NIC is to team it with the first for failover or increased throughput, when you can't team it that makes the 2nd NIC pointless.
 
I'd say all things being equal between 2 boards other than the NIC, I'd buy the board with the intel NIC.

With most upper end boards all being good to fantastic cpu overclockers these days, I've focused on the other aspects to help me decide on a new board, in this case the max V gene. Those were, in order of importance: price, software suite/control software/BIOS, onboard sound quality(usually a wash), NIC choice, then memory overclocking.
 
I'd say all things being equal between 2 boards other than the NIC, I'd buy the board with the intel NIC.

With most upper end boards all being good to fantastic cpu overclockers these days, I've focused on the other aspects to help me decide on a new board, in this case the max V gene. Those were, in order of importance: price, software suite/control software/BIOS, onboard sound quality(usually a wash), NIC choice, then memory overclocking.

I've had ASUS motherboards with both Intel and Realtek PHYs; the issue with the Intel PHY is *peace of mind*. Intel is one of Ethernet's "old men" - in fact, they are the last of the "old men" that is still independent. I can't say that I've had a *bad* experience with Realtek PHYs in the two motherboards I've owned with them (ASUS P5N-M HDMI and P5G41-M LX2/GB); however, a choice for subjective reasons is still a choice - peace of mind still says *Intel* despite the lack of Realtek bad experiences.
 
I love the onboard Intel Gigabit on my P8Z68-V. If it was any other chipset, I'd just install my add-on Pro/1000 CT adapter instead.
 
I have Asus boards here with Intel, Marvell, Realtek and Atheros based NICs and Marvell is without a doubt the performance king based on JPerf benchmarks. However, when it comes to the complete package, utility software, diagnostics etc., Intel is the leader there. An Intel/Marvell duo would be my pick.
 
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