Tom's Hardware > Forum > General Networking > WAN/LAN > PCI Gigabit Ethernet NIC for Windows Server 2003
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I am building a backup server for my home LAN. I am using an old Dell PC that I loaded up with SATA drives and a copy of Windows Server 2003. The existing NIC isn't Gigabit, so I want to add a new card.

The issue is that I don't have PCI Express on the motherboard. I only have PCI. I bought the Netgear GA311 card yesterday because I read that you can use a Realtek driver to run it on Windows Server 2003. I got the card to work but it won't connect at Gigabit speeds, nor do Jumbo frames work. Its useless.

Does anyone know of a Gigabit Ethernet card that supports Windows Server 2003, and is also PCI (not PCIe)?

Thanks!

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What are you connecting the server to? Gigabit switch, gigabit router? If the other end is not gigabit capable you won't get gigabit speeds no matter what you do.

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Reply to sturm

Yes, this is a 5-port gigabit switch I am connecting to. One server, and one desktop are already connecting ok and getting a full gigabit connection.

I am told that because the NIC is PCI (versus PCIe), it won't be fast enough to connect at gigabit.

So that raises the question, why would Netgear market a PCI NIC as Gigabit, if in fact it will never reach gigabit speeds due to the PCI interface??

------------------------------ **MY Development WORKSTATION**

Intel Core 2 Quad | Q6600 G0 @ 3.20Ghz | 400x8 1600FSB | Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R Mobo | 8GB GSkill DDR2 1066 | Gigabyte EVGA GTX 260 Core 216 | Freezer 7 Pro CPU Cooler | Antec TruePower Trio 650w PSU | Antec P180 Case | 25
Reply to djminus1

PCI can run gigabit just fine. Try using the XP drivers for that card.

Reply to lotussama
Tom's Hardware > Forum > General Networking > WAN/LAN > PCI Gigabit Ethernet NIC for Windows Server 2003
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