Network card: what it is and how to choose the right one for your PC

What is a network card and what is it for?

A network card, or network adapter (abbreviated as NIC — "Network Interface Card") is a peripheral device designed to create a local computer and wireless Internet network and ensure interaction between their elements. 

A network card performs the following functions:

• transmitting and receiving data;
• creation of data packets;
• tracking incoming and outgoing traffic;
• encrypting and decrypting data (sent and received);
• manage the device remotely.

Network card features

The network card is controlled by a driver installed in the computer's operating system (OS). To avoid problems with Internet access, it is important to install drivers that are compatible with your OS. However, the most modern NIC models come with support for automatic driver installation.

Integrated NICs are now made to a fairly high standard and in most cases they are sufficient for everyday tasks. Each card has a unique MAC address that allows it to be identified among all network cards in the world.

Types of network cards

Depending on their purpose, network cards are divided into wired (Ethernet) and wireless (Wi-Fi): 

• Models for a wired (Ethernet) network. 

They come with input connector slots for Ethernet cables. Wired NICs are available in a variety of speeds, including 10 Gbps, 40 Gbps, 100 Gbps. However, for end users, the most common options today are 100 Mbps and 1 Gbps.

• Models for wireless (Wi-Fi) networks. 

They are inserted into the motherboard but do not use network cables for convenience. Wireless network cards are specially designed for establishing Wi-Fi connections. Ideal if you have difficulty installing a conventional cable.

According to the installation technology, network cards are classified into:

• Internal. 

Already built into the motherboard or mounted in a specially designed slot. 

One of the most common interfaces for connecting network adapters in desktop PCs is PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect). It provides sufficient data transfer speeds for many everyday tasks. 

However, with the advent of newer standards, PCI is losing ground to a faster version called PCI Express (PCIe). It is used by most modern adapters, especially those that support speeds of up to 10 Gbps or more. The availability of different PCIe configurations (x1, x4, x8, x16) allows for flexibility in connecting network cards with different bandwidths. 

• External USB. 

Convenient because you don't need to open the computer case to install them, as they are connected via a USB port or USB Type-C. Indispensable when all slots are occupied or there is no built-in card. They are mainly used for laptops.

External USB network adapter

If you want to buy a quality network adapter, pay attention to the products in the lines of such popular brands as TP-Link, ASUS, Mercusys, Gembird, Netgear, as TP-Link, ASUS, Mercusys, Gembird, Netgear.

How to choose a network card

The best network adapter should provide stable and fast network access. To choose the right NIC for your network, it is important to consider the following factors before purchasing one:

• The type of your device.

While in a desktop PC the NIC is easy to replace, in the case of a laptop it is expensive to repair the internal NIC. Therefore, if you have a laptop, it is better to consider external NICs for purchase. 

• Network type and bandwidth. 

The type of network card you choose depends on the type of network you usually work with (Ethernet or Wi-Fi) and the maximum data transfer rate over it. The adapters on sale have different standards such as 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac and the newest 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), each offering different speeds and ranges.   

• Download speed. 

The cost of purchasing a network card largely depends on this parameter. We advise you to consider network cards with 1Gbps support, because with the development of digital technology, this speed is becoming the new standard for the near future.

• Compatibility with modern standards. 

These include support for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, support for the latest technologies (Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6).

• Interface Configuration.

As we mentioned above, PCle interface NICs are currently being used for the best performance, while PCI cards are slowly becoming a thing of the past. 

• Brands and reviews of their products. 

Give preference to trusted network adapter manufacturers such as ASUS, TP-Link, MikroTik. And before you buy the model that you are interested in, we advise you to read user reviews on it. 

Also, in order to protect the network from unauthorised access, it is advisable to ask whether the NIC supports modern security standards.  

How do I know why my network card is not working?

If you suddenly lose your Internet connection, and your provider assures you that there is no problem on their side, it could be a network card malfunction. If it is not displayed in the “Device Manager” in the menu of the “System section” of the control panel (marked with a red cross), then it is not working. Let us tell you what to do in this case.

First of all, you need to check whether the card is tightly seated in its slot. If there is no problem with the NIC placement, there may be external damage to the contacts inside the slot, or to the connector or the ISP cable itself. In this case, it is worth calling a qualified technician to diagnose and solve the problem.

In the absence of external damage, a possible failure in the settings may occur due to an incorrectly connected network card. For the system to find the device, you need to go to “Device Manager”, then to “Network Adapters” and select “Update Hardware Configuration” from the context menu. 

If the system does not find the network card, you will need to update the drivers. 

If the previous solutions did not help, you need to check the “Connection parameters” in the “Wireless Network Management Centre” and follow the diagnostic instructions to fix the problem. 

If none of the above methods work, you may need to purchase a new device.

Summary

Regardless of the manufacturer, modern models of network adapters are made using the same components, but differ in technology and quality of equipment. Therefore, we recommend that you give preference to products from well-known brands whose reliability is beyond doubt. This will help you to ensure uninterrupted access to your Internet.