Some of these adapters are designed to give you more bandwidth, while others turn your computer into a hub or switch. When dealing with multiport adapters, keep in mind that your PC's bus will only support a finite amount of data. Executive Summary Fast Ethernet is the right choice for high-speed desktop connectivity. Its price and performance are unbeatable. PCI is the only way to go for Fast Ethernet connectivity.
Many vendors offer solutions that work on multiple platforms.
These vendors often have higher-priced NICs due to higher development costs. Most client NICs will deliver near-wirespeed performance, although CPU utilizations will be all over the board. Server NICs need to optimize both for performance and CPU utilization, so additional processing power and RAM are necessary. Fast Ethernet infrastructure prices will continue to plummet, and soon it will be practical to bring Fast Ethernet to every workstation. Getting a head start with your new PCs today will ensure that you are prepared to migrate when the time is right.