Wireless Router Options

I also noticed the first is up to 108Mbps and the second is 54Mbps. Does your average cable internet run over 54Mbps?

Ok first welcome to the world of wireless and second the number printed are not the actual throughput. 108 Mbps and 54 Mbps are usually 40 Mbps and 26 mbps in real life. Most cable doesn't break 10 mbps and even if it does most internet servers only do 1-3 mbps so unless your downloading torrent there is no gain. 108 Mbps is accomplished by using super g atheros chipsets. So you need both an super g atheros router and wireless adapter for it to work. I use the super g stuff with a DI-634M and had good results.

I would suggest
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6833181218
has the same chipset as DI-634M prolly have better range and throughput than your gaming router with an older atheros chipset.

The one advantage the dlink gaming router has is that it has a gigabit switch for faster file transfers with wired connections.

The linksys is a good router too since it can be hacked by installing the DD-WRT alternative firmware giving it the features of a $600 router although it will have lower short range throughput it might win for distance. DD-WRT will also void your warranty. This router is also more expandable since you can buy two and have them use WDS to expand your network.

Now that you are more informed choose your router based on what you want it to do. There is also draft n stuff that has the best throughput but is still really expensive and requires draft n adapter for it to be worth it.

Well basically by definition of a router there is usually no way to get around port forwarding for FPT. A router sets up a NAT and assigns each client an address using dhcp. When a signal is send to your router such as an FTP request it usually has no idea on which computer to send it to unless you set up a port forward.

Ways around this are setting up the computer as a DMZ (basically virtually sets the computer outside of router) or getting a really smart router (although I have yet to see one smart enough). Let me know what you find out. I usually dismiss the software most routers come with as garbage and direct login so maybe that's why I never get extra features.

I generally find the security outweighs the annoyance since port forward only takes a couple seconds and is good unless you update the firmware. I also find it's easier to portforward with a router that make you way through the computers firewall in most cases (which you have to do anyway).

Yeah it's called qos (quality of service) that was one of the first routers with it but now it's nothing new. Most modern routers have it. The main reason for the price is the gigabit switch.