Asus Reveals Eight Ethernet Port RT-AC88U Gaming Router At ROG Unleashed
During Asus' ROG Unleashed event in San Francisco, the company revealed several product additions to its ROG (Republic of Gamers) line of gaming products. At the event, Asus made a point to show that aside from gaming notebooks and desktops, motherboards, graphics cards and more, other types of computer hardware may appeal to gaming enthusiasts. The company's ROG line extends to headsets, keyboards and mice, and now it reaches out even further with the addition of the RT-AC88U gaming router.
The Asus ROG RT-AC88U adopts the aggressive theme and colors sported by fellow ROG products. The RT-AC88U is capable of maximum speeds of 2.1 Gbps on 5 GHz band and 1 Gbps on 2.4 GHz, which Asus claimed should be more than enough for data-heavy gaming sessions. The RT-AC88U router also includes a free subscription to WTFast Gamer Private Network, a VPN (virtual private network) service that routes gaming traffic to WTFast's servers. This, along with the RT-AC88U's gigabit speeds, should provide a smooth, hiccup-free gaming experience.
If wired connections are required, Asus did go the extra mile by including eight gigabit Ethernet ports, which should be adequate for a gaming house or for LAN parties. Additionally, the RT-AC88U includes a USB 3.0 port that users can employ and add network attached storage (NAS) through the router. Also included is a USB 2.0 port, which Asus suggested could be used for, aside from printing or more network attached storage, an additional 3G/4G/LTE network adapter for network redundancy. Asus also included its proprietary AiProtection feature, an antivirus, anti-malware service that makes the RT-AC88U the first line of defense from malicious attacks on your network and computers.
Asus has yet to provide prices for the new RT-AC88U, but the company did announce that the router will be shipping later this quarter.
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There are more than just computers being hooked up in homes, think of all the wired and wireless devices you currently have. You could have consoles (XB360/XB1, PS3/4, Wii/WiiU), gaming laptops, phones, streaming boxes (Nvidia Shield, Netflix), PC's, Tablets all online pretty much at once with this router and not experience issues (not enough info here to be sure about that) like more traditional routers. It's not just computers anymore, everything is being connected to the internet, even your fridge can be connected. I can see a use for this for me personally as I don't like using my PC's and laptops wireless (if I can avoid it with laptops) just more secure when doing banking/online purchases (if you are proactive with your security). Roku (Netflix box) seems to stream better with a wired connection than wireless in apartment complexes where there are a lot of wireless routers. But at the end of the day it all comes down to the individual to decide if they ultimately need this router, or just want it cause it's from ASUS.
Exactly!
Is the actual router functionality any better?
Putting more LAN ports on the basic router is no big deal. If it adds more than $20, no thanks.
Of course more LAN ports are needed. In my house, we have multiple switches to distribute the signal to where it goes.
Those gigabit switches are cheap.
If this the only benefit of this super zoomie router is 4 more LAN ports...whoopiede do. Easily done with a $20 switch.
Now...if this router brings other benefits to the table...great.
But 4 more LAN ports is nothing special or expensive.
Anyhow, I know of NO 10/100/1000 x4 or 5 switches I'd buy close to $20. If that quality is fine for you great but... The cheapest one I see that I would consider on Amazon right now is mid 30's.
Regardless, this router does more then just that, it's 2.4G and 5G speeds (according to this) are twice what I can get on my AC68U. Plus what else it may do (or not). Still, I don't see anything on the price yet so. Regardless, this would peak my attention if I was looking just for a new unit today. Too bad I JUST got the AC68U.. Ohh well.
http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-SG1005D-1000Mbps-Gigabit-Capacity/dp/B000N99BBC
I'm not begrudging whatever this router does. If it does other router stuff better than other devices...great. But proclaiming "8 ports!" is not a selling point for me.
(yeah, that quote button thing is messed up. We've been discussing that for quite a while)
I have 5 computers and a Rasperry Pi all within a reachable distance from where I sit on my main rig.
I am sure long term it is cheaper to buy your own, but cable companies already give AC routers.
2 seconds later: OMG, 8 Ethernet ports on a consumer router?! I might be interested!
Seriously though, with consumer 10Gb/s Ethernet still nowhere to be seen (or 2.5, or 4, or 8Gb/s), I would love to pick up a router like this! 2 ports to my desktop, and 2 to my home server in Ether channel and it would make my world a much better place! Throw in another single gigabit line to the server for the 'peasants' in the home who just stream content from it, a wired wifi repeater for upstairs, a wired connection for my wife's PC, and move my printer from the wifi to a wired connection and I would already be out of ports! But still a lot better than the 4 ports I have today! Seriously interested, though I am sure the price will be out of reach at launch.