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Abe_FX35

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Sep 28, 2016
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Hello all,

I have always relied on Toms hardware forums to answer questions i had, but in this case i think i need a little specific information for my situation.
I need some advice and have some questions, some general, some pertaining to my set up. I'm fed up with the ISPs (FIOS stock quantum gateway router) crappy slow router. I'm looking to spend up to $200 on the best router for Blu-ray quality digital media in home network HD streaming (PLEX original media quality streaming).I was going to wait until cybermonday but im kinda forced to go ahead and provide a router now. Some of the following things are what i want and intend on using it for:

Light to moderate gaming, Utorrent,**PLEX Home media server** also possibly some remote PLEX streaming, file transfers,security and privacy, compatible with my VPN (PIA), no lag all around or ones that go to sleep and then start crawling once you need it.

I have FIOS internet, they are coming to upgrade my FIOS box ONT next week to switch it to Ethernet and NOT coaxial, for 150 MB down and 150 MB up connection, so i need to utilize every bit of my connection.

My top requests is good price and performance, however there are some cool looking ones with some nice features so something cool would be nice, but not a must. There are so many, im overwhelmed and im not sure where to narrow my search to. I'm not an advanced network user (i want to learn more soon) so something also user friendly would be a plus. I have never purchased a high performance router before I hope it will make everything run smooth.

Any information or questions are welcome.
Thank you
 
Solution
RealBeast
Really none of the later, more expensive routers with more features surpass the R7000 by more than a small margin, and they cost quite a bit more. A good example is MU-MIMO on the $400ish routers, only problem is that MU-MIMO doesn't work. The companies will eventually get it work (probably on future models) but very few will benefit from it.

If the R7000 doesn't provide the coverage you need, then you really need to add access points at distant locations from the router. None of the other high end AC routers have an advantage in range.

edit: my other choice would be comparable to the R7000 and that would be the ASUS RT-AC68U at about the same price.
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Abe_FX35

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Sep 28, 2016
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Thank you for your reply, so that would be the best one for my needs and price range ? Are there any others recommended, I know there are many versions of the nighthawk series such as nighthawk X4 etc, just trying to get most bang for my buck.
 
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RealBeast

RealBeast

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Sep 13, 2010
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Really none of the later, more expensive routers with more features surpass the R7000 by more than a small margin, and they cost quite a bit more. A good example is MU-MIMO on the $400ish routers, only problem is that MU-MIMO doesn't work. The companies will eventually get it work (probably on future models) but very few will benefit from it.

If the R7000 doesn't provide the coverage you need, then you really need to add access points at distant locations from the router. None of the other high end AC routers have an advantage in range.

edit: my other choice would be comparable to the R7000 and that would be the ASUS RT-AC68U at about the same price.
 
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Abe_FX35

Commendable
Sep 28, 2016
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Wow OK, did not know that. That's exactly the kind of narrow down the options I need. Thank you so much for your reply I think if that is what you great smart people recommend that is the one I will buy. Hope I can find a good dealuck on it :)
 
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RealBeast

RealBeast

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I've installed many of each of those two model, so I'd go with the best deal that I could find.

They are both excellent, the R7000 nosed out the AC68U in benchmarks but they are very very close. Think of it like two excellent SSDs that one just wins by a hair; still both are way better than a HDD.
 
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Abe_FX35

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Sep 28, 2016
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RealBeast

RealBeast

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Abe, glad to help.

HERE is a review that I forgot to show you. Basically, it tests all the new $300 - 500 routers and concludes that you are best off with an AC 1900. And their two top ranked AC1900 routers are of course the R7000 and RT-AC68U. Lots of people waste lots of money for many antennae and get the same wireless as you and I. :)
 
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Abe_FX35

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Sep 28, 2016
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EPIC....I'm confident now in what I need to buy. Once again, you guys rock. Best forum ever
 
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Abe_FX35

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Sep 28, 2016
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im having some trouble finding the exact models and look and style of the recommended routers, there seems to be many versions ? when i google RT-AC68U, amazon has alot of different items fitting that model number. I am going to buy them off Amazon since i have a prime account with them. unless i find it much cheaper else where, so my concern is that do i need a specific make and model or just anything that says RT-AC68U ? same question applies with the nighthawk one.

Thanks
 
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RealBeast

RealBeast

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As long as it is an RT-AC68, they are all the same. There are a number of prefixes, like W because it is white, so the RT-AC68W is a white one. All of the AC68 models are fine, they had some issues with the 66 models, but by 68 they got it right for all of them.
 
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Abe_FX35

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Sep 28, 2016
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Oh okay I see, thanks for clarification. I have decided, and I placed an order for the slightly better nighthawk R7000 :) very excited, plus it looked better too.

Update: i have found numerous deals that may be floating around on slick deals and such that some of the same nighthawk series routers but the newer ones such as X4 and so forth are around the same if not cheaper than the one i just ordered from amazon for $195 w/tax. Is buying a newer version of the Nighthawk series such as the higher and new AC routers for the same price or cheaper, would that be unwise ?
 
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