Testing & Results

Testing Methodology

To test the ASUS EA-N66 Ethernet Adapter we are using the Passmark Performance v7.0 Advanced Network Test. This test measures throughput between two clients (network adapters) connected to a router. In order for this test to work one PC must be set up as 'Client' and the other must be set up as the 'Server', each test is run five times with the highest and lowest result omitted and the remaining three results are averaged to give a final result.

At Benchmark Reviews we like to be comprehensive so you will find results here for the EA-N66 Ethernet Adapter connected in many different scenarios where the throughput can be measured. You can learn about good business ethernet connection adapters online and see which connection works best for you since we could not test them all. Scenarios include: WLAN to LAN; EA-N66 via Gigabit LAN port, WLAN to LAN using an ASUS USB-N53 wireless USB adapter (Wireless N 300Mb/s) and finally, WLAN to LAN using an ASUS USB-N53 wireless USB adapter with ASUS EA-N66 Ethernet adapter in wireless repeater mode. To eliminate any variables Test System 1 was always set to 'Server' and results were monitored and recorded on the 'Client' systems. The ASUS EA-N66 Ethernet adapter results will comprise of tests conducted downstairs and upstairs in a 3 bedroom semi detached house.

Test System 1

• Motherboard: ASUS P8Z68-V Pro
• Router: ASUS RT-N66U Dark Knight
• Network: Intel 82579 Gigabit LAN
• System Memory: 8GB Corsair LP CL9 1600MHz
• Processor: Core i7 2600K @ 4.2GHz
• Disk Drive 1: OCZ Vertex 2 60GB
• Disk Drive 2: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB
• Enclosure: Lancool PC-K63
• PSU: Corsair HX750W 750 watt Modular
• Monitor: HKC 22" Widescreen (1920x1080)
• Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (SP1)

Test System 2

• Model: Acer Aspire T180-R97Z
• Network 1: Marvel Yukon 88E8056 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet controller
• Network 2: ASUS EA-N66 3-in-1 Ethernet Adapter via Gigabit LAN port
• Network 3: ASUS USB-N53 N300 USB Network Adapter
• System Memory: 1GB DDR2
• Processor: AMD Semperon 3500+
• Disk Drive: 500GB Seagate Barracuda 7200 SATA
• Operating System: Windows 7 SP1 (x86)

Results

For comparison I have included results obtained while testing at very close range.

There is no doubt about it, the ASUS EA-N66 3-in-1 Ethernet Adapter is superior, but only really shines in the UDP tests. Since the EA-N66 is aimed at the home entertainment / gaming / enthusiast market this is exactly where we want to see it shine. The following excerpt should explain why; "UDP (User Datagram Protocol)... Common network applications that use UDP include: the Domain Name System (DNS), streaming media applications such as IPTV, Voice over IP (VoIP), Trivial File Transfer Protocol (TFTP), IP tunneling protocols and many online games" Source: Wikipedia.org. The slower rate of TCP will affect the Repeater and AP modes of the EA-N66 though.

Above we have the three scenarios described in the testing methodology. In its default configuration as an Ethernet adapter the EA-N66 literally smashes wireless barriers, even at long range. During the tests the EA-N66 peaked at 401Mb/s UDP downstairs and 280Mb/s UDP upstairs. Home internet connections are gradually getting faster (depending where you live), and those of you that pay a lot of money for a high speed connection will want networking hardware that is going to adequately service your needs.

With the EA-N66 Ethernet Adapter set to repeater mode the USB-N53 Wireless N300 adapter's scores were slightly lower as I had predicted. This is because the data has to hop from adapter to repeater to router which increases latency. The other problem (if you can call it a problem) is that the range of the RT-N66 Router was already powerful enough without needing a repeater, this mode would possibly be best paired with a router that doesn't have that sort of range and power.

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