Network Standards

• Ethernet is the most commonly used network standard today. Ethernet controllers require a hard-wired connection to the network. The Wi-Fi wireless network standard is also common. Wi-Fi NICs transmit data to a wireless network router using microwaves. Token ring network controllers were used widely in the 1980s, but are less common today. NICs also are available for communication between computers and wireless Bluetooth devices.
  
  

Network Connections

• Most Ethernet NICs will have either a BNC connector, an RJ45 connector or both. The BNC connector looks like a television cable connector and is for networks that use coaxial cable. The RJ45 connector looks like a telephone connector and is for networks using category 5, 6 or 7 cables. Token ring NICs connect to a three-wire cable. Wi-Fi NICs communicate using an antenna.
  
  

Data Transfer Speeds

• Ethernet controllers come in speeds of 10 Mbits per second (Mbit/s), 100 Mbits/s and 1 Gbits/s. Standard token ring controller speeds are 4 Mbit/s and 16 Mbit/s. Data transfer speeds in Wi-Fi controllers vary from 2 Mbit/s to 54 Mbit/s. The higher speed NICs will only transmit at the higher speeds if the network router supports those speeds, otherwise they will default to a slower speed.
  
  

Installation Options

• Many NICs are integrated into the computer motherboard. Some can be purchased separately and installed in an open PCI expansion slot on a PC or Macintosh. Some cards are available for installation in older ISA expansion slots. Smaller NICs are made to fit into a laptop's PC-MCIA slot. Many of the new wireless NICs can be installed in a USB port.