The Killer NIC Card
Since the dawning of the online gaming age, millions of gamers have consistently despised one thing: lag. That tiny, split second delay, although seemingly trivial, makes the difference between winning a fight, or losing it; living, or dying.
The irritating pest is typically the computer, because the processor needs to manage the network connection while running the complex, memory intensive game. Some gamers have already taken steps to speed up their PC, like upgrading RAM, or adding a video card, but outcomes often vary, and lag still may remain.
The developers at Bigfoot Networks play video games also, so they decided to devise a product that will banish lag from their game-play experience forever. Many call it the holy grail. Others call it the BigFoot Networks Killer NIC M1. This network card is a lot more than just an addition to your gaming-machine - it's actually an independent Linux computer, devoted exclusively to managing the data coming in and out of your PC, lifting some of the load off of your processor, and thus accelerating framerate and lowering server ping (the amount of time - usually in milliseconds - it takes for your computer to communicate with the server). Killer affords you superior speed and performance, with more Frames Per Second and lower Pings when they count most: during extreme online gaming action. The high-performance Killer NIC card manages this by several innovative processes.
Speeding Up Your Internet Connection
No matter which of the various high speed Internet Service Providers you are using, the KillerNIC card can most likely improve your connection speeds.
Network packets from your game are prioritized and delivered ahead of other network activity. UltimatePing Technology maximizes the speed of your PC because the 400MHz Network Processor Unit (NPU) delivers data to games faster, reducing your Ping. If some adversaries complain that your ping is “too low,” then PingThrottle permits you to adjust it a little higher – then dial it back down to go in for the kill. MaxFPS technology offloads network processing to Killer, permitting your CPU to prioritize what you need it to: your game. This unique feature also permits small programs to be executed on the M1, like a firewall to protect your computer, or a Bittorrent manager, so you are able to download files without using your Windows machine, speeding up both the download, and your gaming.
The M1 is easy to use, as all it requires is a hardware installation, making it genuinely ‘Plug-n-Play.’ The firewall has a simple GUI (Graphical User Interface) that enables both seasoned and new users to configure the firewall.
SpecificationsTechnical Specifications from KillerNIC:
- Data Rates: 10/100/1000 Ethernet Fast Ethernet Controller
- 400 MHz Network Processing Unit
- Integrated Memory: 64MB DDR PC2100
- IEEE Compliance: 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3x, 802.3z
- Data Path Width: 32-bit PCI
- Data Transfer Mode: Bus-master DMA
The Killer NIC is a specially designed NIC targeted specifically at the hard-core gamer. Some gamers will experience a benefit while others do not. Hardcore deathmatchers are apt to feel the Killer NIC advantages while the middle-of-the road player won't be fine tuned enough to profit from the experience. We advise you make a point and research the impacts that the Killer NIC might have in your favorite games before purchasing as the Killer NIC delivers clear benefits in some games, but not in others.
As we all know, we have no control over what occurs between our PCs and the servers on the Internet that we access to inflict harm upon our fellow friends and gamers. What we do have control over are the resources within our operating systems. This is where the Killer NIC shines brilliantly, utilizing its power to bypass the Windows IP stack and directly manage & process all User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packets. UDP is the base for communication in multi-player gaming online and on Local Area Networks.
An Essential Network Card For Online Gamers
Gamers value their time online. A lot. Anything that can enhance game time, improve frame rate or targeting performance is a big plus. The Killer NIC is an essential evolution in computer gaming, adding virtually an additional system on a card, instead of a traditional Network Interface Card. The Killer NIC does precisely what it's advertised to do. It will lower your pings and very likely yield you marginally better framerates in real world gaming scenarios. The Killer NIC isn't for everyone as it is extremely expensive in this day and age of “free” onboard NICs.
There are, however, many people interested in the Killer NIC from a Linux perspective. The fact that you are able to have an embedded Linux system running inside your Windows box will be a quality that a lot of enthusiasts go nuts over. With Bigfoot's FNApp support and their awarding cash to the people that push the FNApp community forward by writing apps for it, FNApps will surely grow.