The cost of upgrading a network to gigabit ethernet speeds used to make sense only for big companies for which network time is money. But prices for gigabit equipment have plummeted, and several vendors now offer desktops and notebooks with gigabit network cards as standard components.
Theoretically, gigabit ethernet can transfer data at 1000 megabits per second, 10 times faster than typical networks running at 100 mbps. Products that use it are backward-compatible with 100-mbps networks (albeit at 100-mbps transfer speeds) and use existing CAT5 cables. But to reap the full power of gigabit ethernet, you’ll need to upgrade your switches, hubs, and routers.
A surprisingly large number of new desktop and notebook computers have gigabit ethernet integrated into their motherboards: IBM Think-Centre business desktops (M and S series), IBM ThinkPad notebooks (R, T, and X series), Dell OptiPlex business desktops (several models), Dell Latitude notebooks (some units), and Dell Dimension XPS gamer PC5. HP’s Compaq D330 and D530 systems; ABS’s X5 and Awesome 5100, 5300, and 5500; and all Apple Macintosh machines (except the IMac) offer gigabit ethernet cards as standard equipment.
For office users who can take advantage of the extra bandwidth, the price is coming down. `A year ago (gigabit ethernet] cost on client level was four (times that of] 100 megabits,” says Howard Locker, chief architect for desktop and mobile development in IBM’s Personal Computing Division. Today, he says, that cost is down to two times the price you’d pay for a 100-mbps network.
For the average home user, few applications take advantage of high-speed network gear. “There’s not yet a pressing need for that extra bandwidth,” says Dell company representative Lionel Menchaca. Dell doesn’t yet offer it as standard equipment on its consumer desktops, he says. However you can upgrade the network adapter on some Dell systems for about $40. If your system doesn’t include a gigabit adapter, you can get one for about $50.
At Falcon Northwest, customers are asking for the technology in hopes of future-proofing their networks, according to company representative Bradd Berdelman. He states that gigabit ethernet comes standard on all of the company’s PC5 because they use Intel’s 875 chip set, which supports gigabit ethernet. (Intel’s 865 chip set also supports it.)