Difference between routers?

[Langdon]

So I'm thinking about getting a router so I don't have to use wifi with my desktop, but there are so many options.

I'm not an expert on routers so bare with me here.

What's the difference between a $40 modem like this http://ncix.com/products/?sku=69660&vpn=RT-N12%2FB1&manufacture=ASUS&promoid=1213

 

and a $110 router like this http://ncix.com/products/?sku=73612&vpn=EA4500-CA&manufacture=Others&promoid=1213

 

I'd like to spend the least amount of money as possible but I don't want to sacrifice quality and such. 

Any router recommendations? Thanks :)

[rufee]

More power, more software features, more reliable.

Also less chance for it to break after some time.

EA4500 is a great choice, id personally give it that 110$ because its worth it.

[LAwLz]

The difference between those two you linked would be:
 
Wireless speed:
Linksys - 450Mbps + 450Mbps (450 on each band)
Asus - 300Mbps
Comment: Higher speed is obviously better. The Linksys has 450Mbps + 450Mbps because it can have two wireless networks up (one 2.4GHz, and one 5GHz) and both can transmit at 450MBps.
 
Frequency bands:
Linksys - 2.4GHz and 5GHz
Asus - 2.4GHz only
Comment: The Linksys has simultaneous dual band, which means it can send and receive on both the 2GHz band, and the 5GHz band at the same time. 2.4GHz is better for range and 5GHz is better if you got lots of other wireless devices such as neighbors close to you, microwaves, wireless phones, baby monitors etc. Having both gives you a lot more flexibility.
 
Antennas:
Linksys - 3x3
Asus - 2x2
Comment: More antennas = more reliable wireless connection.
 
Ethernet ports:
Linksys - 4 Gigabit ports
Asus - 4 Fast Ethernet ports (100Mbps)
Comment: 100MBps translates to 12.5MB/s. This means that if you want to transfer a file, while you are on wired, from one computer to some other, you will get about 10MB/s of speed (including overhead). On gigabit Ethernet, you will probably be bottlenecked by your hard drive, which in some situations can reach 100MB/s (probably more but there are some overheads when transferring files). That is a 1,000% increase in speed, 10 times as much.
 
Features:
Linksys - Has USB ports and you can for example plug in an external hard drive and share it so that everyone on the network can access it (turning it into a NAS). Can also act as a printer server (plug in your printer to the USB port and everyone on the network can print). Probably has a lot more than I haven't touched on (like torrent client and such)
Asus - The antennas are detachable so you could change them for some better ones.
Comment: In summary, the Linksys one can probably do a lot more. You might not have any use for them now, but you might in the future, and more features is always better, right? The Linksys router will probably be more reliable and higher quality in general.
 
Of course, these things depend on which routers you compare. Comparing routers is a bit like comparing different laptops. Both hardware and software can (and probably does) vary between them, and sometimes lower priced routers can be better at certain things than even higher priced routers are.
 
If you want a good router, then you want something which has gigabit ports, as well as decent dual band, those are minimum requires if you ask me. Personally I am using an Asus RT-N56U and I can highly recommend it. The wireless speeds are "only" 300Mbps + 300Mbps, instead of 450Mbps + 450Mbps on the Linksys you linked, but it is a bit cheaper, has an extra USB port and the rest is fairly similar to the Linksys. The Linksys you linked in your first post is a great choice as well.

[Langdon]

The difference between those two you linked would be:

 

Wireless speed:

Linksys - 450Mbps + 450Mbps (450 on each band)

Asus - 300Mbps

Comment: Higher speed is obviously better. The Linksys has 450Mbps + 450Mbps because it can have two wireless networks up (one 2.4GHz, and one 5GHz) and both can transmit at 450MBps.

 

Frequency bands:

Linksys - 2.4GHz and 5GHz

Asus - 2.4GHz only

Comment: The Linksys has simultaneous dual band, which means it can send and receive on both the 2GHz band, and the 5GHz band at the same time. 2.4GHz is better for range and 5GHz is better if you got lots of other wireless devices such as neighbors close to you, microwaves, wireless phones, baby monitors etc. Having both gives you a lot more flexibility.

 

Antennas:

Linksys - 3x3

Asus - 2x2

Comment: More antennas = more reliable wireless connection.

 

Ethernet ports:

Linksys - 4 Gigabit ports

Asus - 4 Fast Ethernet ports (100Mbps)

Comment: 100MBps translates to 12.5MB/s. This means that if you want to transfer a file, while you are on wired, from one computer to some other, you will get about 10MB/s of speed (including overhead). On gigabit Ethernet, you will probably be bottlenecked by your hard drive, which in some situations can reach 100MB/s (probably more but there are some overheads when transferring files). That is a 1,000% increase in speed, 10 times as much.

 

Features:

Linksys - Has USB ports and you can for example plug in an external hard drive and share it so that everyone on the network can access it (turning it into a NAS). Can also act as a printer server (plug in your printer to the USB port and everyone on the network can print). Probably has a lot more than I haven't touched on (like torrent client and such)

Asus - The antennas are detachable so you could change them for some better ones.

Comment: In summary, the Linksys one can probably do a lot more. You might not have any use for them now, but you might in the future, and more features is always better, right? The Linksys router will probably be more reliable and higher quality in general.

 

Of course, these things depend on which routers you compare. Comparing routers is a bit like comparing different laptops. Both hardware and software can (and probably does) vary between them, and sometimes lower priced routers can be better at certain things than even higher priced routers are.

 

If you want a good router, then you want something which has gigabit ports, as well as decent dual band, those are minimum requires if you ask me. Personally I am using an Asus RT-N56U and I can highly recommend it. The wireless speeds are "only" 300Mbps + 300Mbps, instead of 450Mbps + 450Mbps on the Linksys you linked, but it is a bit cheaper, has an extra USB port and the rest is fairly similar to the Linksys. The Linksys you linked in your first post is a great choice as well.

That was really helpful! Thanks! :) Lots of information to digest.

Certainly helped me.