will gigabit nics make for better local connections. i have 4 pcs w/sof2 on a 4port router if i get all gigabit nics will this be better, will i need new router? cables? thnx
 

lol,

gigabit nics will give you larger bandwidth. Any MP game on the market today uses no more than say something like 50 kbit. 10 Mbit (the old ethernet) is already ample overkill, 100 Mbit is like major overkill, so the gigabit...

It may affect your pings a bit, but not much. Your ping on a LAN should be ridiculously low anyway.

Of course, it may make sense for other applications (video e.g.), not really for games. And yes, you will need a new router i think

fraco

not worth the money.

with my 100Mbps network i can use the fast dvd drive on my dads comp to watch dvds on mine over the network

First of all, the entire network would have to be a gigabit network. That means the cables, the router, and the NICs. Secondly, it's not going to improve your ping, because your cable/DSL modem can't use the entire network bandwidth anyway (maybe on a 10Mbit network you'd get close if you have a fat pipe). The only thing a gigabit network is going to speed up are file transfers over the actual network itself, like transferring files from PC to PC on the network.

And if you are just referring to playing games on a home LAN, then it's a big waste of money. You should be pinging like 0-10ms on a 10/100 LAN anyway.