hias some of you already know it is imminent before i go and upgrade my P3 800however before i go and buy my upgrade i want to ensure i have done my homework.Now the thing is i have Telstra ADSL on this P3800 computer which i want to also access with my upgrade machine, which will be exclusively for FS 2002/2004i need to know by some knowledgebale people on this board, in steps what / how do i go about getting my FS computer access with the ADSL connection i have at the moment,i know a few details of my current ADSL setup.I have a PPoE connection, using a speedtouch home ALCATEL external modem, i also downloaded a software program called SYGATE which i believe will assist in this connection,what i need to know is what network cards etc do i need, and can you please tell me in basic english for example, cause i don't know what a router is.thx:-wave

A basic system follows:Cable/DSL modem --> Router/switch --> multi lines --> ComputersIs your ADSL modem internal/external? If internal, the problem is different. An External modem usually connects to a Network Interface Card (NIC) in your computer via Category 5 cable, when you only have one computer connected. If this is your case, then you would disconnect the cable at the computer end and place into the router input. You would connect all the computers to the output (switch) side.The router provides the necessary IP addresses connected on the output side of the router. It can also spoof the original IP address your internet company expects (some do, some don't).I recommend you visit www.netgear.com or any of the other LAN manufacturers' sites for more information. Also visit http://www.bigpond.com/broadband/access/default.asp for information on your present system.The above are generalities about ISPs and LANs and you may have different problems. I will not try to go into the ADSL internal modem since it is more complicated.

thxbut as i said earlier i have a external modem, anyway i will visit those sites:-wave

Correct, you did indeed indicate an external modem. I don't know why, but I was thinking it was a dial-up 56K modem. I went to a website that indicate the modem has an Ethernet output (10Mb/s) and uses the RJ45 connector.http://www.speedtouchdsl.com/Do you already have a Ethernet cable coming from the modem to your computer? If so, then all you need are the Router/4port-switch and another NIC for the other computer, if it is not built in.

thx for the informationyes there is a cable from the modem to the computer and there is also a card in there, im not too sure what the card isthx for your help

hialso can you tell me about the Asus P4PE Mobo,is this a good card and will i be able to put in a geforce FX card later on if i wanted to?thx

Visit the ASUS site for all the hype: http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/socket478/p4pe/overview.htm . It is a new MOBO with a lot of new stuff, one being the new Serial ATA option for disk drives. I would be wary of this option unless you can find hardrives that can utilize it. It will become more mature in the next year and probably replace the present interface. Until then, you will probably pay more for hardrives that have that capability.The MOBO also has a lot of on-board options, LAN and sound. The problem with these on-boards is that the manufacturer's tend to use one IRQ for them all which can cause problems.All in all, ASUS has made very good MOBOs in the past and probably will in the future. Since there are so many options, your performance will depend on what options you get on the board you buy.

If you get a router that has PPPOE built in, several companies make these such as linksys and netgear, you will not need sygate. Sygate basically allows on PC to act as a router for other PCs on your LAN.You would connect the Speedtouch to the WAN side on the router and your other pc's to the LAN side ports. The instructions with router will explain how to setup the PPPOE connection. You could then get rid of Winpoet or Enternet 300 or whatever software your ISP uses to authenticate you connection. Allen

Clayton,What type of operating system is your current machine (P3 800) using?