hi I think my motherboard has built in ethernet (does this mean it can do LAN stuff without a card or does it need one to be able to transmit data). My mobo site is here I have tried connecting to our netgear router but it just says that a network cable is unplugged. Im very confused and dont really undeerstand all this firewall, IP and stuff and dont know why they make it so difficult! Thanks for anyones help
Ethernet, NIC, LAN card...many different names for the same thing, but yeah, you've got the necessary equipment to do so. With your router, here's a few things to check: 1.)Verify that the connection on both ends (router and PC) are connected. If a cable is plugged in, the indicator lights will turn on. 2.)Make sure, if you've plugged the cable into one of the LAN RJ-45 jacks (the ethernet jack; phone lines are RJ-11), particularly if there's a port designated for WAN or to connect broadband (cable or DSL) modems to. 3.)Failing the above, try another ethernet cable. As far as the percieved difficulty, don't expect to know everything to start with. Much like you didn't know how to read and write out of the womb, you're not going to instantly know everything. That doesn't mean it's intended to be difficult, it's just there's some things to learn. Believe it or not, there was a time when I was a n00b.
Sorry im a bit slow, Im trying to have wireless conection and ive installed the drivers and stuff (do i need the netgear software) does my mobo actually transmit the data or do i need a card/USB device for that Thanks
You have a PCI network card built onto your motherboard; it's a real NIC, just happens to be built in. Ethernet uses two pairs out of the eight; one pair to transmit, one to recieve. That device will allow you to communicate with other ethernet devices.
so I can use it wirelessly without adding anything to it? Because if i can, then why wont it work Do i even need a network cable? Thanks
hmm! Ethernet is not a Wireless Connection Ethernet uses cables but Wireless Dont... Both have different type of Cards... Gist of the Story: You need to buy a wireless Network Card to make your computer working wirelessly...
Hardwired networks, the type of which your network card uses, are faster and more reliable than wireless networks. They're also more secure and easier to setup. The only real downside is that there is a wire involved. If you wanted to connect two computers directly to eachother, you could simply use a "crossover" Cat5 cable. If two computers are connected directly with no switch between, they require a crossover cable. If you are going to connect more than two computers, you should purchase a switch. The switch will act as a central point to your network, physically connecting all machines. You don't need to use crossover cables for a switch, they utilize regular patch cables (Cat5). If you want to go wireless, you will need a wireless device which will provide the connection between the machines, and additionally each machine will need a wireless network adapter in order to function wirelessly.
yes you need an ethernet cable to connect your PC to your router. you will need a CAT 5 cable(as AT said) not a regular extension phone cable, here a photo showing the difference: . Hope that helps.
Thanks Everyone Now I need to buy a card. does it matter what type i chose or will anything work Thanks everyone for your helpful replies
Question? Why do you need to buy a card since you have one, oops according to the specs of your board you have two, that might be the reason its always saying that a network cable is unplugged. Try plugging it on the other port.
No, that motherboard does not have a wireless network adapter. It has a wired controller on board, but if you want wireless, you'll need to purchase a wireless network adapter. Almost all motherboards out there have a wired network adapter onboard, but very few (mostly Asus Deluxe Wi-Fi ones) have wireless adapters. The Netgear wireless adapters that I've seen used seem to work fine. Any of their PCI (as opposed to a PC Card--which is for laptops) cards should work.
well any WiFi adapter will do, but i prefer sing Netgear. What's the brand of your router if you dont mind?
Yeah it might be a good idea to get a wireless adapter the same brand as your router -- it might work a bit better. But that's probably one of the last things u should consider when making a choice. It shouldn't be a big deal. But I'm not sure.