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[SBMongoos]

So you think the built in PCIe NIC is fine?  Also, how does it help to use static IP addresses?  Also, my cables are Cat 5e. I assume there is no need for Cat 6?

[FurryNutz]

One test you can do is speedtest.net with your PC directly connected to the ISP modem. Should tell you that your PC NIC is good. If you don't see good speed then possibly the NIC isn't performing well.

Using static IP addresses on the router helps devices maintain there own addressing, the addresses don't change and effect options that you might have setup. If you don't use static IP addresses, it's possible that the IP might change thus effecting any options you set for those addresses, thus breaking the options or rules you set. Helps in troubleshooting and management of the router and your network.

Cat5e should perform well, however I do recommend CAT6 now that it's cheap and and easy upgrade.
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5844819_cat-cable-vs_-cat-cable.html

[SBMongoos]

So I assume you recommend setting static IPs in the router?  

Ya, my speeds are 22Mbps/down and 4Mbps/up with or without the modem (DOCIS 3.0 - 1Gb port).

By the way bookmark Monoprice.com for cables.  You can get killer prices on Cat6 that are 550Mhz.  Plus, tone of audio/video cables and all sort of thing.  Highly rated by may people on AV Forums and at AudioHolics. Do you think I'd see a worthwhile boost moving to Cat6?

[FurryNutz]

Yes use the router for setting up IPs for all devices. What the routers job is. LOL.

Ya been there already It's cheap enough it makes sense too man. I did a upgrade, just patch cables for everything accept for 3 wires which are eventually going away for less than $30 bucks. I bought a 1000 ft roll for about $90 at the time. Thats going in the new addition when it gets ready. 

[SBMongoos]

Hey...I just tried a direct ethernet connection between my laptop and NAS.  I assigned a static IP to my laptop at the laptop and a static IP to the NAS (at the NAS) and got no better speeds.  This sux as this is a good test to try.  So, with all the testing I've done it seems I can connect to everything at gigabit speed but my actual data transfer is around 11MB. 

I'm I just getting frustrated and going down the wrong path here or what?

[FurryNutz]

Well you do realized that achieving actual GB speed is not possible. The GB speed is a physical connection speed between devices and getting a thru put at that speed is not possible at this time. Same thing with 5Ghz N mode WiFi 300Mps. Max speeds I see on my Mac Laptop is 10Mb for file xfers. These are just connection or link speeds, not file xfer speeds. However realistically you should be seeing upwards of 20-60Mbs at least.

However there are some factors that can contribute to xfer speeds:
OS, PC HW, HDD speeds, loaded 3rd party sw and such.

I know is sounds crazy that technically you should be throwing 900Mb speeds over a Gb line. Wouldn't that be nice. One day I guess.

[SBMongoos]

I realize that connection speeds and actual transfer speeds are two different things.  I'm seeing 11MB/s. So it is megabytes per second. But based on research it looks like people have been getting 40-60 "MB" unless they are stating it wrong.  There's plenty of room for error and I'm not clear if it's the lingo of something in my network yet.

Using a quick conversion tool I'm told 11MB = 88Mb.

Here's an example with the NAS 110: http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/nas/nas-reviews/30982-new-to-the-charts-seagate-blackarmor-nas-110. I've seen higher on other sites.  Here he's using "MB".

[FurryNutz]

Ya I keep for getting that theres differences between MB and Mb. Possibily the OS is showing MB thus converting it to Mb for actual helps.

Was curious, how long is it taking to xfer a large file?

Some dull reading: 
http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=343089

[SBMongoos]

Well my main two concerns are:

• large data backups
• streaming movies and especially HD

Need the bandwidth. 

[FurryNutz]

I recommend the following layout:

ISP Modem> 825 router> external GB Switch<PCs/NAS and HD streaming devices connected to switch.
                             ^Any non critical devices like gaming or phones or PCs can be connected directly to router if needed.

I have my 2 xboxes connected direct to router. All others are connected to switch.

Thus the switch would mostly elimiate any traffic or segregate traffic from other higher bandwidth traffic from lower band width traffic. So you could be watching HD or doing back ups while someone whos connected directly to the router shouldn't bother any devices connected on the switch.

[SBMongoos]

After reading more I'm clear people are having success with 40-60MB range (not Mb). 

As for my data transfer times.  Right now my biggest issue is when I'm doing a full system backup.  This is done every 5th backup and I think at 11MB/s it takes 5-6 hours which is nuts.  It drops quite a bit even if I hit 25MB/s. That's why I want to get this worked out as to where the issue is. 

I had thought about taking this switch back as it's performing the same as the DIR-825 for speeds.  Maybe a little bit faster.  But, since my bro bought it for me and it looks like I could use more ports anyway I think it's a keeper. Unless I find out that the Trendnet TEG-S80g is crap.

[FurryNutz]

Well no real experience with TrendNet HW. I guess i'm a dye hard HP fan so I jump for what I could afford.
http://bizsupport1.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c02563672/c02563672.pdf
Seemed kinda extreme at the time, proved way valuable in the long run. Specially with new addition being completed hopefully this year, the networking is changing in a major way and this switch is going to be handy.  

[SBMongoos]

Here's the end result:

* had Cat5 cables between the PC and router and the NAS and router, replaced with Cat5e (on hand)
* speeds between PCs (via the switch or the 825) are up to 55MB/s (yes MB)
* speed to this NAS is improved every so slightly. Maybe now 12-12.5MB/s from 11.5MB/s

Nice to know the router is doing is well as the switch.  Wish the NAS were faster for large backups.  However, since I do one full system state backup and then five incremental it's not such a big thing. I'm still using my secondary internal drive anyway for now yet.

I think the answer for the NAS is in the CPU and RAM. It has a 800Mhz Marvel CPU and 128Mb of RAM. I see the new Netgear ReadyNAS Plus and Pro units are running a dual core 1.6/8Ghz CPU and 1G of DDR3 RAM. Speeds on these according SmartNetBuilder are pushing 65-105MB/s depending on the model. These units don't come with HDDs.

Installed the Boxee Box and have tested it about as much as I can.  Have done 1080P via WiFi with no issues from NAS to Boxee onto my plasma.  Love to watch TED.com.  Lots of stuff to choose from.  Just need to get the Manta TR1 so I can use my Harmony One (IR) to control the Boxee Box (RF). Be nice if the Boxee were dual band but it only has 2.4Ghz.  Interesting that we have the dual band routers but the equipment I'm seeing out there (Blu-rays, Boxee...etc.) seem to run on 2.4Ghz and not 5Ghz.  However, shouldn't be an issue for me.

[FurryNutz]

Wonder if CAT6 would do you better?

Sounds like you have been narrowing down the speed issue.
Glad the router and switch are proving to work well though.

I think the main problem with the dual band is that the 5Ghz freq is proven to be hard to use in the house hold. It's subject to interference from walls and doors and is not very good in this aspect due to it's high freq. All OEMs have this problem. 2.4Ghz has proven to be a good band for use. If they could find away to beef up the 5Ghz freq some how.

Been using my iPhone for controlling the Boxee, hehe. Been doing great here.

[SBMongoos]

Wonder if CAT6 would do you better?

Sounds like you have been narrowing down the speed issue.
Glad the router and switch are proving to work well though.

I think the main problem with the dual band is that the 5Ghz freq is proven to be hard to use in the house hold. It's subject to interference from walls and doors and is not very good in this aspect due to it's high freq. All OEMs have this problem. 2.4Ghz has proven to be a good band for use. If they could find away to beef up the 5Ghz freq some how.

Been using my iPhone for controlling the Boxee, hehe. Been doing great here.

Good point about 5Ghz.  For me I have a pretty clear shot between the router and devices. 

I've wondered about the Cat6 cables and if that would help much.  I will say there was barely any improvement between the Cat5 and the Cat5e when using the NAS.  Big difference however for the PC. Like I was saying I think this NAS can do the job and it would be having to pay to get something with much better with a beefier CPU and RAM.

How does that work between your iPhone and the Boxee.  I see the Boxee is uses RF for the remote so this must be what your iPhone sends out.  When I get the RF adapter I believe I get all the basic functions like forward, rewind, pause..play.  But the Qwerty keyboard functions are out for the Harmony One.  That I don't think will be an issue. Will have to see.  I haven't bought that adapter yet.  The Manta TR1.