2 network ports on 780i mobo?

[legionrecce]

Hi guys,

I just built watercooled computer based on a XFX 780i motherboard. It has 2 network ports on it. One if for tmy broadband connection. My question is can I use the second port to connect my other computer for a home network or do I have do buy a switch?

I tried setting it up with my windows XP but obviously doesn't work. Then what the point in having a second network port?

Thanks for your help!

 

[sturm]

A home router/switch combo would be the easiest way to setup a network.
For normal home networs its not needed. Now if you used the computer as a server running a firewall, dhcp server, dns server, and maybe even a domain server you could use the second port to connect the rest of the network. All internet traffic would then have to pass through the server to get to the net.

Hooking up both ports to a home router will not increase your internet speed at all.

 

[legionrecce]

Thanks Sturm for your help!