United States
Q
What is a network card?
A
A network card, or network interface card (NIC), is a hardware component that enables a computer to send and receive data over wired or wireless networks.
Q
How do I choose the right network card for my computer?
A
Select a network card based on your required interface (PCIe, USB, M.2), desired speed (1 GbE, 2.5 GbE, 10 GbE), form factor and compatibility with your motherboard and operating system.
Q
What is the difference between wired and wireless network cards?
A
A wired network card uses an Ethernet cable to connect to a LAN for stable, high-speed data transfer, while a wireless card uses Wi-Fi signals for cable-free connectivity at potentially lower speeds.
Q
What does PCIe mean in a network card?
A
PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) refers to the high-speed slot standard on motherboards that network cards use for fast, low-latency data transmission.
Q
How do I install a network card in my desktop PC?
A
Power down your PC, open the case, insert the network card into an available PCIe slot, secure it with a screw, close the case and boot up to install drivers.
Q
How do I install network card drivers?
A
Download the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website, run the installer, follow on-screen prompts and restart your system to complete the driver installation.
Q
What is PoE support on a network card?
A
PoE (Power over Ethernet) support allows a network card to receive electrical power and transmit data over a single Ethernet cable, ideal for devices in remote or power-restricted locations.
Q
How can I check my network card’s link speed?
A
On Windows, open the Network and Sharing Center, click your connection, and view Connection Speed; on macOS, open System Report > Network and review link speed.
Q
What is full-duplex versus half-duplex mode?
A
Full-duplex mode allows simultaneous two-way data transmission, doubling throughput, while half-duplex transmits in only one direction at a time.
Q
How do I troubleshoot network card connectivity issues?
A
Check cable connections, update drivers, verify link lights, run network diagnostics tools and test the card in a different slot or machine.
Q
Can I use multiple network cards in one system?
A
Yes, modern systems support multiple NICs for load balancing, redundancy or network segmentation, provided you have available expansion slots.
Q
What is a MAC address on a network card?
A
A MAC (Media Access Control) address is a unique 48-bit hardware identifier assigned to a network card for device-level communication on a local network.
Q
What are jumbo frames and why use them?
A
Jumbo frames are oversized Ethernet packets (typically up to 9 KB) that reduce CPU overhead and improve throughput on high-speed networks when all devices support them.
Q
How do I update the firmware on my network card?
A
Download the firmware update tool from the manufacturer, run it with administrative privileges and follow the prompts to flash the new firmware.
Q
What is virtualization offloading on a network card?
A
Virtualization offloading (e.g., SR-IOV) allows a network card to allocate virtual functions directly to virtual machines, reducing CPU load and improving I/O performance.
Q
Are network cards compatible with all operating systems?
A
Most network cards support Windows and Linux; always verify driver availability and vendor certification for your specific OS before purchasing.
