Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings

Today's networks are faster than ever, dramatically expanding our connectivity potential. To improve your speed for sure, you need to be sure that your hardware and software meet the new standards.

Gigabit Ethernet meets the new standard for wired networking technology. Much faster than its predecessor, FastEthernet, it is needed to fully realize the high speeds promised by the provider. This article explains how to make sure your hardware and software is Gigabit Ethernet compliant.

Steps

1. 1 Decide if you need to improve your network.
   • If you and your family members regularly upload large files, stream media on the Internet, or perform other tasks that heavily load your network, for example, a file-hosted server, or play online games, you would gladly invest in improving to Gigabit Ethernet.
   • Medium and large enterprises require many users to be connected over the network and at the same time be able to increase their productivity.
   • Individuals who use the Internet alone for non-resource-intensive networking tasks like email, instant messaging, or web surfing may not see the benefit of improving network access to Gigabit Ethernet.
2. 2 Inspect the network ports on your devices.
   • If you've bought your computer, game console, or other networked device in the past two to three years, it may already have network ports ready for Gigabit Ethernet.
   • On Windows: Click on the start menu, click on the search bar (or click 'Run ...' according to your Windows version), enter ncpa.cpl and press enter. Right-click on the icon of your network adapter, then left-click on 'Properties'. In the dialog box that opens, click the 'Configure ...' button. In the new dialog box, find the item corresponding to the 'connection type' or 'Speed' and select it. If you see 1.0 Gbps, Full Duplex, or something similar in the drop-down menu, your computer is ready for a Gigabit Ethernet connection. If not, then you may need to upgrade your hardware as described in step 6 below.
   • On Ubuntu 12.04: Right-click on the network icon on the top panel of the desktop, and then left-click on 'Connection Information'. In the dialog box that appears, look at the 'Speed' value. A value of 1000 Mbps indicates the system is ready for the Gigabit Ethernet standard.
   • For other devices, check the manual and specifications of the device. Look for the keywords 'gigabit' or '1000 Mbps' in the characteristics of the network adapter.
3. 3 Don't forget about network printers.
   • If you use a network printer a lot, you might decide to test it for Gigabit Ethernet readiness as well. Check the instructions as in the step above.
4. 4 Check your cables.
   • Look at the braid on your network cables and note the type of cable printed on it. If they are labeled 'Cat5e' then you are ready. If not, you can buy new cables, which are usually inexpensive.
   • In most cases, Cat6 cables do not offer significant performance improvements over Cat5e cables. However, if you want to improve your network in the future, you can use Cat6 cables.
5. 5 Check your router / switch.
   • Even if all parts of your network are upgraded to the Gigabit Ethernet standard, and the router and switch are still FastEthernet, they will become a bottleneck for your network.
   • For home use, many people already use a combination of a router and a switch in a single device. The home gigabit router / switch is the same.
6. 6 * For home use, many people already use a combination of a router and a switch in a single device. The home gigabit router / switch is the same.
   • Step 2 describes how to test your network equipment for Gigabit Ethernet compatibility. If you have determined that there is no compatibility, then you have several options.
   • An economical option would be to buy a gigabit PCI network card. This card is installed in the back of your computer along with the rest of your hardware. The disadvantages of this configuration will be speeds that are below optimal, and you will always need to remember which of the ports is connected to the gigabit network card, and which to the old FastEthernet. Accidentally plugging a Cat5e cable into the FastEthernet port will not provide any performance gain.
   • A slightly more expensive but more effective solution may be to replace your computer's motherboard. Make sure your motherboard is equipped with a built-in gigabit adapter. For maximum speed, buy a 64-bit motherboard with the confidence that your processor is compatible, or you can buy one. Most major computer stores will help you select the right product and install it for you to ensure the hardware is compatible.
7. 7 Update your devices' software to the latest.
   • Now that you've improved your hardware, or even if you didn't need to improve, it's time to make sure that all of your software and drivers are up to date. This is for maximum speed, performance and reliability. The updates included in the Windows Service Pack may not be sufficient. Visit the websites of your device manufacturers and download the latest updates directly from sources.
8. 8 Improve your media storage and RAM.
   • Ideally, files can be moved as quickly as media, meaning the hard drive they are stored on.
   • Make sure your hard drive (s) is at 7200 RPM and consider RAID 1 for faster access.
   • An alternative solution would be to use a solid state drive. It is more expensive than a regular hard drive, but it can read and write almost instantly, eliminating the speed bottleneck of conventional hard drives.
   • Increasing the amount of RAM in your system will also increase overall performance. 8GB is a good minimum, but you probably won't see a significant improvement after 12GB of RAM unless you are using a lot of resource-intensive tasks like 3D rendering or simulation programs.
9. 9 Review your contract with the provider.
   • If you frequently download large files, stream high-quality videos, or otherwise load the Internet in some way, you can easily use up your download limit, which will lead to higher fees.
   • Check the current download limit with your ISP and increase it if necessary. Choose the highest limit you can purchase.
   • If you cannot switch to a new tariff plan and are left with the problem of possible exceeding the monthly limit, make sure that you can monitor your Internet usage. Most providers allow you to log into an account on their website and monitor your activity, and possibly change your existing plan.
10. 10 Take a speed test.
    • After you have finished upgrading to the Gigabit Ethernet standard, visit a website such as http://www.speedtest.net to check your current network speed. If you are still not satisfied with your network speed, you can go back and revisit some of the steps in this article.
11. 11 Enjoy your new high-speed Gigabit Ethernet network!

Tips

• Gigabit Ethernet speeds are only achievable with a wired network. If you are using wireless internet, most of these instructions will not apply.
• If the computer, game system, or other device on your network does not comply with the Gigabit Ethernet standard, then your network speed will only be affected when using that particular device. You only need to upgrade the devices that you need to accelerate.
• If you are replacing your router / switch, consider saving your network settings to save time.

Warnings

• Do not try to install the internal parts of your computer unless you know what you are doing. These parts are fragile and easily broken. There is also a risk that some parts will not match others. Always call a professional if you're not sure.