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Anonymous   12-09-2001 at 08:51:48 PM

Me and some friends want to connect our computers(3) together, for gameing. Is there a way to do this cheaply, without buying any more hardware, except cables?

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Arrow   12-10-2001 at 04:59:27 AM
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Actually, a reliable and economical way would be an RJ45 network. Network cards can be picked up very cheaply, at less than $10 a piece.

Rob
Please visit <b><A HREF="http://www.ncix.com/canada/index.cfm?affiliateid=319048" target="_new">http://www.ncix.com/canada/index.cfm?affiliateid=319048</A></b>

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Anonymous   12-10-2001 at 07:28:33 PM
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Would that be just a case of installing the network cards then connecting them togather? Would you have to set up some sort of server using windows?
craig.a.davison@ntlworld.com

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FatBurger   12-10-2001 at 09:36:36 PM
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You'd need either 3 cards per computer (spiderweb network, I think it's called), or a hub/switch. The first would be much harder to set up, and probably not any cheaper.
The easiest solution would be to buy a router. Those are between $80-150 for one with a built-in 4-5 port switch.

<font color=orange>Quarter</font color=orange> <font color=blue>Pounder</font color=blue> <font color=orange>Inside</font color=orange>

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JCLW   12-12-2001 at 06:24:49 AM
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Whoa!

He definitely doesn't need a router!

A switch maybe... If he's moving lots of files around.

Otherwise a hub will do just fine.

Other options to look into are USB networking, IR networking, and FireWire networking.

I'd suggest three PCI 10/100 cards, and a 5 port 10/100 hub.

If you go ahead with the PCI cards and hub I'll tell you how to set them up. It'll take 2 mins + 1 reboot per computer. Any version of windows (3.11/95/95B/98/98SE/ME/NT3/NT4/2000/XP) will work.

- JW

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Arrow   12-12-2001 at 06:39:32 AM
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The best way for you to go would be to get a network card for each computer, then buy a cheap hub to put them together. There will be a cable running from each computer to the hub, and voila, there's your network.

Rob
Please visit <b><A HREF="http://www.ncix.com/canada/index.cfm?affiliateid=319048" target="_new">http://www.ncix.com/canada/index.cfm?affiliateid=319048</A></b>

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FatBurger   12-12-2001 at 06:39:20 PM
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The only reason I mentioned a router is he seemed nervous setting up a computer to serve. That would take care of all the DHCP for him.

<font color=orange>Quarter</font color=orange> <font color=blue>Pounder</font color=blue> <font color=orange>Inside</font color=orange>

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JCLW   12-12-2001 at 06:43:30 PM
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All he would have to do is set up an IP address (192.168.0.xxx) and subnet mask (255.255.255.0) on each computer.

But yes, a router would eliminate the need for that, and he could use it for high speed internet later on.

- JW

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