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[Deimos56]

So, I have a [relatively] new computer, and have been using it happily for say... about 4 months.

The problem is, it's got a strictly wireless connection as it stands. Which is remarkably unstable when I attempt to use it to play anything like, say, Team Fortress 2, Starcraft... Battlefield 3... anything like that basically.

So what I'm hoping to do is find some means of getting an actual wired (?) connection set up somehow, since I'm reasonably sure it would be more stable.

I've been looking at USB/Ethernet adapters on amazon and such, but I was hoping to get an opinion from someone else before going and buying something. I figured Bay 12 has at least a few people who know their way around this sort of thing, so I'm asking here - Should I go with a USB/Ethernet adapter, if so, would I have to get a specific variety, and if not, what other options are there?

[Stargrasper]

You're trying to tell me that you have a recent computer and it doesn't have an Ethernet port built in?  What kind of a computer is it?

That'd be your standard way of wiring a computer to a network.  I don't remember for sure, but I thought the Windows standard was that a wired connection took precedence over detected wireless connection unless you tell it differently.

I've never used a USB/Ethernet adapter, but I don't think that would be a problem.  Just remember that USB is slower than Ethernet and if you have to go through more than one thing, you go at the speed of the slowest thing in the chain.  According the Wikipedia, the fastest USB gets is ~4000Mbit/sec while the fastest Ethernet gets is ~100Gbit/sec or 100000Mbit/sec.  I have absolutely no idea how much of an effect it will have, especially since I know nothing of your connection itself, but I'm willing to bet you'll notice.

[Deimos56]

All righty, let's try to clarify things.

I'm using an Acer model desktop with a few extra bits (a nice video card and a large hard drive) added to it. For whatever reason, it has a built-in wireless connector (on the back for some weird reason, which may be a factor somehow?), but no ethernet port (wtf ), and it's a recent model to my knowledge. Which I already know is weird, but I didn't actually buy it, a relative did as a gift, so I guess I can't complain...

I'm trying to switch to wired since while the wireless has a good speed, it also drops off every couple minutes or so, without actually disconnecting. So I still hear everyone's comments on it, but can't actually do anything about it. Which makes online gaming a long litany of "stop downloading porn", "omg y u so lag" and "Gtfo the internet"... So that kind of sucks.

I guess I'll see how the USB turns out (It's not terribly expensive, at least, and I can probably find a use for it one way or another.), and if it turns out to suck... ah... I guess I get to try and come up with something else?

[DJ]

They make mobos without Ethernet port? :S

Anyway, I'd go with an Ethernet card if you got any PCI slots to spare.

[Tellemurius]

If hes got a Graphics card then you probably can't use the pci slot, there wouldn't be any room, stick with usb and find whoever sold you this and slap that mofo.

[DJ]

I've got a graphics card in my PCI-X slot and I can use the PCI slot just fine.

[Tellemurius]

what the hell is a pci-x slot?

[DJ]

Messed up my acronyms, sorry 
I meant PCI Express.

[Bauglir]

Yeah, the available slots on the motherboard would determine what he could use. You'll pretty much just have to open it up and see how many slots are built into it. Usually there'll be more than one, though. In my (limited) experience, anyway.

[Deimos56]

All right, I guess I'll have to do that when I get a chance. Thanks, guys...

[The Fool]

Is it possible to remove the attached wireless connector? I'm thinking that maybe it's taking up the slot, and covering it, but that may not be the case.

[Stargrasper]

I hadn't realized Acer was trying to be innovative.  Give us the model of the computer so we can check out the hardware.  We can advise you more specifically that way.

[Tellemurius]

Is it possible to remove the attached wireless connector? I'm thinking that maybe it's taking up the slot, and covering it, but that may not be the case.

no, if i remember correctly they are using mATX boards which can have wireless on the board, just another bad build.

[Deimos56]

I hadn't realized Acer was trying to be innovative.  Give us the model of the computer so we can check out the hardware.  We can advise you more specifically that way.

Aspire M3910 is the model.

And the only part of the wireless... card I assume?... that shows on the exterior of the computer is a small port for the antenna. Which is plugged in. I don't know if that needs to be clarified, but yeah.

Haven't opened the case up too recently, but from what I remember the interior component of the wireless is a relatively small card. At least compared to the rest of the assorted things in there.

[Tellemurius]

hold on, is this occupying one of the expansion slots?