No, they’re not garbage. They work fine and are reliable.
No, they’re not garbage. They work fine and are reliable.
Consider upgrading to a fiber optic connection. Your current router struggles with speeds of just 1 Mbps, especially with your 2.5 Gbps motherboard. The new TP-Link AX5400 offers Gigabit performance and advanced features like streaming, gaming, VPN support, and MU-MIMO for better efficiency.
The initial connection only supports 100 Mbps Ethernet, which is quite slow. The first step is determining your internet speed. A router's performance is limited by its SOC, affecting how quickly it can handle NAT. As you move to gigabit speeds or higher, you'll need a robust SOC or a custom-built router using PC components and a specific OS. Keep in mind that x86 architecture isn't very efficient for this task, which can reduce performance and increase power usage.
For 800 mbps, TP links might be better than Linksys, or you could check if there are other options available. If you want faster speeds later and strong parental controls, consider what’s best for your needs. Your child’s school Chromebook sometimes doesn’t follow the rules I set on my router.
Router specs are often kept secret. Smallnetbuilder.com could hold the details, but unless someone verifies it’s hard to confirm. I’m familiar with my Synology RT2600AC handling just over 800 Mbps, though it uses WiFi 5. Likely I’d prefer WiFi 6 now. For parental controls, I can’t say for sure. Honestly, if the child is clever enough, they might find a workaround. Speeds above Gigabit usually need a router with a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port on the WAN side and another 2.5 Gbps on the LAN side to maintain full performance. The problem is these devices are scarce and costly.
Altafiber will add an Eero Pro 6 to the package, though opinions on reviews are varied. It seems you might need to adjust expectations for overall speed or per-connection performance. If your ISP provides around 2.5 Gbps in total but less than that individually, it should still be acceptable. Your current router delivers only 100 Mbps per device. I’d appreciate suggestions if you can find better options. You’re using an Asus TG H670 Pro Wi-Fi card and a B650M Wi-Fi card on your child’s device; we favor Ethernet connections. Other devices perform worse than expected.
The router serves as a versatile gadget. Many models come equipped with an integrated four-port switch. If your LAN ports support Gigabit speeds—like in a 1000 Mbps network—the internal system will operate at that rate. For internet access, NAT functionality becomes important. Most manufacturers don’t specify exact throughput figures for LAN to WAN or vice versa, which determines the speed of your connection. That’s why I recommend checking Smallnetbuilder.com for independent testing. Today’s quality routers typically support gigabit ports. If possible, opt for wired connections since Wi-Fi can be inconsistent. You might experience a strong signal one day and a weak one the next. I’ve used the Synology RT2600AC, which offers over 800 Mbps internet and four Gigabit LAN ports. One port can double as a second WAN link, and the USB port works for cellular data. This router helped me monitor data usage with a 1.2 TB limit, making it useful for tracking consumption. The downside is its age—WiFi 5 only, uncertain future support. I’ve heard good things about ASUS routers, but some security concerns have arisen recently; it’s unclear how long software updates will continue. I’ve also seen ASUS AI Mesh, which lets you create your own mesh network if needed. TP Link is budget-friendly, though Ethernet ports often cost more to justify the speed. I set up a TP Link router for my sister—it performed well enough, but it lacks advanced features like parental controls, which you’ll need to explore separately. Lastly, remember that Wi-Fi performance varies widely depending on your local environment; the numbers listed are just estimates.
It's reasonable to say x86 remains quite functional when built around laptop components. The real issue arises with older desktop systems where performance drops significantly. Modern automation of internet access for particular devices is nearly unattainable given current protocols. Success would require extremely powerful equipment.