# Computer Install ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 18, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-install/622286 "2012-05-18T03:04:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-install/622286/1 "2012-05-18T03:04:41Z")
Just purchased an HP All-in-One with wireless keyboard & mouse. I already have a wireless router installed. I’m told I have the option of plugging in the cable from my router into the CPU or just letting the computer run off my wifi. Assuming this is true, would not my computer run faster if I “hard wired” it directly to the router? ---
**Author:** ![Jake\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Jake\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-install/622286/2 "2012-05-18T03:10:37Z")
Wired connection is preferred, always. Unless it’s inconvenient to run an ethernet cable from your PC to your router, you should do so. The same is true of any internet equipped appliance, such as a TV, Blue-ray, gaming console or anything else. Wired connection is best practice, wireless should be reserved for matters of convenience only. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-install/622286/3 "2012-05-18T03:14:36Z")
Faster? I don’t think so. I am pretty sure that neither wireless nor ethernet use up CPU cycles (no more than one-another, anyway). However, a wired connection will be more reliable and more secure. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-install/622286/4 "2012-05-18T03:36:47Z")
wired is more reliable. ---
**Author:** ![Jake\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Jake\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-install/622286/5 "2012-05-18T03:38:44Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Faster? I don’t think so. I am pretty sure that neither wireless nor ethernet use up CPU cycles (no more than one-another, anyway). However, a wired connection will be more reliable and more secure. What do CPU cycles have to do with network speed? Nothing. Wired ethernet is going to be 100 Megabit or 1000 Megabit (Gigabit). Both are faster than your standard cable or DSL connection will offer. CPU cycles are completely irrelevant to network speed. Faster does come into play with fiber to the home, but 100Mb is suffucient for almost all home users. 802.11g maxes at 54Mb and 802.11n at 600Mb, so there is a wide margin, but both are sufficient for most home use. You are correct about reliability and security. These are the primary reasons that wired is best practice versus the convenience of 802.11 protocalls. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-install/622286/6 "2012-05-18T03:47:01Z")
> [@Jake\_Jones](#): > > Wired ethernet is going to be 100 Megabit or 1000 Megabit (Gigabit). Both are faster than your standard cable or DSL connection will offer. Nit, I think: If you have more than one computer on your network and move large files between them (e.g. copying large video files), then Gigabit speeds come into play. ---
**Author:** ![Jake\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Jake\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-install/622286/7 "2012-05-18T04:03:37Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Nit, I think: If you have more than one computer on your network and move large files between them (e.g. copying large video files), then Gigabit speeds come into play. No, it’s not a nit. I couched my words in “most home users” and such. It’s just usually not an issue of your internal infrastucture. You just don’t need Cat6 cabling and Gigabit infrastructure in a home network, typically. When have you ever seen a download that exceeded 1-2Mbps? It’s a unicorn. Usually, you see way less. If you can saturate a 10Mbps download across multiple sites, you’re not a typical home user. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-install/622286/8 "2012-05-18T04:32:26Z")
Distance is also a factor, the farther away you are from the wireless router the slower it may be as speed can drop with signal. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-install/622286/9 "2012-05-18T04:57:57Z")
I was meaning to ask about this as well. My computer is MUCH faster wireless than plugged directly into the router and I can’t explain it. Any ideas? FWIW I just got DSL from AT&T installed and wireless it’s very fast, wired it’s just OK. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-install/622286/10 "2012-05-18T05:05:58Z")
**zoid** , your router may not be sufficient for handling the type of speeds you’re capable of getting. Going wireless bypasses the router. Unless it’s the router itself providing you with the wireless signal, then I got nothin’. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-install/622286/11 "2012-05-18T05:12:15Z")
Yeah it’s a wireless router, I’m the only one using it. I’m wondering if it’s just configured wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-install/622286/12 "2012-05-18T05:24:22Z")
It’s probably a wrong duplex setting or something. That’s pretty effective at killing network speed. ---
**Author:** ![JKilez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e5b9ba/32.png) [@JKilez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKilez)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-install/622286/13 "2012-05-18T15:48:35Z")
> [@Jake\_Jones](#): > > What do CPU cycles have to do with network speed? Nothing. So then you agree with **njtt** when he notes that a wired network connection will not make a computer run faster, correct?