A Complete Guide to Network Interface Cards

This guide is intended as a general introduction to network interface cards. It will explain what a NIC is, what it is used for, how it works, and the advantages of the different types available.

We will provide some clear and concise answers to common questions about networking and connectivity hardware, how network interface cards are used, and how to choose the best type of NIC for your hardware setup and networking needs.

Network interface controller is another term for a network interface card (NIC). Regardless of which term is used to describe them, all share basic similarities. NICs are hardware components that can be added to a computer internally or externally, enabling a connection to the internet (or a device network).

Most network cards consist of a printed circuit board housing various soldered components, including the network controller chip. Many models also include some type of LED indicator, showing things like current activity and connection status at a glance.

NIC technology has come a long way in recent years, although its core function has remained largely the same. They now support a wide range of fast connection and throughput speeds and are generally much smaller and less obtrusive than older models. It is very rare to find a modern PC motherboard or laptop that does not have an Ethernet port onboard as standard.

Various benefits come from adding a network interface card to an existing PC.

The first and most important advantage, of course, is that it provides a communication port for internet or LAN data if the computer does not already have one. In this case, installing a NIC means your desktop or laptop can now go online, or interact with other devices around the home or workplace, via either a wired or wireless connection. Without a network card, the computer is limited to performing whatever standalone functions its internal hardware and software allows.

Secondly, even computers that do ship with an onboard network interface controller (usually integrated into the motherboard I/O panel) can benefit from an aftermarket NIC add-on. Controllers included on budget motherboards can often be of somewhat low quality, and may not support particularly fast or stable connections. For NICs that rely on a wired connection to the internet, frequent plugging and unplugging of cables can degrade or damage the port over time. Even where reasonable quality network controllers are included with a premium motherboard, they may not support the level of throughput required for more specialist uses (particularly if they rely on a USB connection, rather than PCI-E).

There are various types of network interface cards sold online. Choosing the best NIC for any given setup depends on several factors, the most important of these being:

• Your current hardware specifications and compatibilities (i.e. what type of slots you have available on your motherboard)
• What you want to connect your PC to and the types of connectors that will require
• What sort of performance and protocol you require (e.g. Ethernet connections will typically be more stable and faster in terms of Mbps than wireless connections, particularly if you are using Gigabit Ethernet)

Many users will not need anything much more advanced than an external USB wireless network card to achieve a straightforward, reliable and easy-to-install internet connection. However, in the sections below, we will take a closer look at each of the main types of NIC sold by tech suppliers and retailers in the UK.

Wireless Network Interface Cards

A wireless network card enables wireless (Wi-Fi) communication between a desktop or laptop computer, and the home or office network it is being used on.

Again, in most cases, this will mean wireless internet connectivity. It could also mean a wireless connection with any number of other devices - whether this is other computers sharing information and data between each other, or a range of external peripherals and accessories (keyboards and mice, printers, fax machines, routers, servers, and so on).

Wireless NICs feature some sort of aerial or antenna to send and receive broadcast data via microwaves. This can either be in the form of one or more moveable antennae or a hidden component embedded in the body of the NIC. The latter is more common on models designed to be attached externally, usually via USB - these are often called wireless adapters or Wi-Fi dongles.

Strictly speaking, a wireless network card would normally indicate an expansion component designed to be attached to the PC internally (they are typically bus-mounted directly to the computer’s motherboard). These models tend to feature one or more external antennae, which protrude from the side or back of the PC case when the card is installed.

Wired Network Interface Cards

A wired network interface card performs the same basic function as a wireless model, except it is designed with an embedded female RJ-45 socket or similar communications port instead of an antenna.

This enables a wired link to the internet or LAN, which can often provide higher Mbps (or even Gbps) speeds and a more stable connection than Wi-Fi. The obvious compromise is the lesser convenience of your device being physically tethered by a cable while sending or receiving data. However, it is more secure and immune to wireless hacking.

As with wireless models, wired network cards can be designed for internal (PCI and PCIE) or external (USB) mounting, although the latter tends to be more common for wired internet connectors on desktop PCs.

However, there are plenty of USB-A and USB-C wired NICs available for adding Ethernet connectivity to laptops and other smaller devices which may not have them preinstalled. You will commonly see them referred to as an Ethernet adapter or similar when sold online.