Linksys Announces the WRT32X AC3200 Gaming Router

[Raevenlord]

Linksys has announced their latest in gaming routers, the WRT32X AC3200, developed in partnership with Rivet Networks, developer of the Killer NIC solutions. The boasts are real with this products: Vince La Duca, global product manager at Linksys, had this to say: "Serious gamers are spending money on game play and expect to have technology that provides significant advantages to beat their opponents. The Linksys WRT32X provides advantages that no other routers have - and that is the Killer Prioritization Engine. The router, when paired with a Killer-enabled PC, provides a powerful end-to-end connection to prioritize gaming traffic to reduce peak ping times up to 77%; Providing a real advantage for faster kills over opponents that use regular "so-called" gaming routers."

The new Linksys WRT32X AC3200 Gaming Router, therefore, enables the Killer Prioritization Engine, should your PC's integrated NIC be a Killer solution. This prioritizizes gaming network traffic above all others, thus lessening lag and response times. Linksys is also introducing a new firmware and GUI for this particular router.





Hardware-wise, the Linksys WRT32X leverages a dual-core 1.8 GHz processor, 512 MB DDR3 RAM, and 256 MB flash memor, with dual-band wireless network support (N600 on the 2.4GHz band and AC2600 on the 5GHz band) through the AC3200 802.11ac Wave 2 Dual-band 3 x 3 wireless radio.



Connectivity-wise, the WRT32X AC3200 Gaming Router provides 4x Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, 1x Gigabit Ethernet WAN, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0/eSATA combo ports for your printers and storage devices. The router is available now at a special launch price of $299, down from $329.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Cybrnook2002]

Nail in the coffin right there:

"The router, when paired with a Killer-enabled PC"

"enables the Killer Prioritization Engine, should your PC's integrated NIC be a Killer solution"

Not sure about everyone else, but I strive to get intel based nic solutions in my house, not bloatware filled Killer solutions.

So what, if not Killer (TM) Branded NIC's on the network, you get the standard old "Enable QoS" checkbox?

As well, don't expect any of this functionality to port over to opensource. Will be the same old, currently still being fielded, 3200ACM builds, no difference except for the paint job and marketing addon.

EDIT: Pffff $299 - 329, yeah right!?!

 

[Konceptz]

Killer NICs have always been a joke. Networking wise, component systems are the way to go. Router/firewall, separate gigabit smart switch, separate wireless access point.

 

[koaschten]

Someone needs to re-read the article.

WRTX AC3200
WRT32X
WRT3X AC3200

So what is that thing called?

 

[Raevenlord]

Someone needs to re-read the article.

WRTX AC3200
WRT32X
WRT3X AC3200

So what is that thing called?

I did. Updated the story.

Thanks =)

 

[JalleR]

And exspect the router to spontan reboot like the WRT-1900ACS (v3) the bug was reportet to linksys one year earlyer in the 1900AC (v1) and wasnt fixed when i bought my 1900ACS... WTF linksys....

 

[RejZoR]

People keep whining over Killer Networks NIC's, but I have one now (E2200) and it's perfectly good. Prioritization also works well. People don't realize that Killer is using QoS to lower latency, not some black voodoo magic. It's a very standard feature. But Intel doesn't use it. You can however get similar functionality with Intel as well if you buy CFosSpeed. Essentially similar thing as Killer's stuff.

Better routers have it onboard though. Like my ASUS RT-AC87U (I think entire ASUS N and AC lineup has it) which has a QoS with profiles. It doesn't matter what I'm doing, everything works fast everywhere on all devices connected to it. It was expensive, probably because of stuff like this, but it's by far the best router I've ever used. Before, TomatoRAF or Shibby Tomato had best and most flexible QoS controls, but they don't work anymore because most connections are encrypted. ASUS however has proprietary stuff from Trend Micro which is capable of sorting even encrypted traffic. And it works really well. And with Merlin firmware, it's by far the best and most stable router. ASUS all the way in this regard.

 

[niko084]

People keep whining over Killer Networks NIC's, but I have one now (E2200) and it's perfectly good. Prioritization also works well. People don't realize that Killer is using QoS to lower latency, not some black voodoo magic. It's a very standard feature.

Exactly.

Killer nics are not bad nics, they are actually pretty good. They are comparable to some higher end server nics with maybe a bit too much hype.
They operate on QoS, which means unless your network is saturated they wont do much with that feature.
The other feature is they offload your CPU, a tiny tiny bit and in doing so can reduce latency, a tiny tiny bit.

Overrated? Sure.
Junk? Definitely not.

Networking wise, component systems are the way to go. Router/firewall, separate gigabit smart switch, separate wireless access point.

In what respect do you feel the separation superior?

 

[Konceptz]

Exactly.

Killer nics are not bad nics, they are actually pretty good. They are comparable to some higher end server nics with maybe a bit too much hype.
They operate on QoS, which means unless your network is saturated they wont do much with that feature.
The other feature is they offload your CPU, a tiny tiny bit and in doing so can reduce latency, a tiny tiny bit.

Overrated? Sure.
Junk? Definitely not.



In what respect do you feel the separation superior?

Intel NICs are superior, with enough bandwidth you dont need QOS. Separation allows the router's cpu/ram to focus on just routing. Separate switch allows for better switching (same reasons), a separate AP allows you to place it where ever for better coverage. All in ones work fine for most people, but component systems allow for better functionality and versatility.

 

[niko084]

Intel NICs are superior

Most Intel nics especially the ones on your mainboard are just basic software driven nics, in which case the Killer is superior.
You'll probably find it hard to measure any differences in transfer speeds or latency and extremely minor cpu usage differences.

With enough bandwidth you dont need QOS.

Correct, unless your networked is saturated the QoS will have nill measurable effect, this will generally not be an issue for home networks.

Separation allows the router's cpu/ram to focus on just routing.

You'll achieve near nothing in separating these devices on a performance aspect in the majority of networks, especially home networks.
The processing power on some of the high end routers is nearing insane, lessor units can handle networks much larger than your average home network.

 

[mrthanhnguyen]

will this turn a casual noob to a pro player?

 

[rtwjunkie]

Killer NIC are gimmicky and very temperamental. Now that I have had Killer, Realtek and Intel, I will even choose Realtek if necessary. Killer's tend to just drop out and refuse to connect without reinstalling the bloated drivers, in my experience.

Don't like don't like don't like.

 

[RejZoR]

No such issues with E2200 on my MSI X99A Gaming 7 board. I have some other issue with the Advanced Stream detect which seems to be exclusive to my system (lucky me eh), but since my packet sorting is already done by ASUS router it's no biggie.

 

[Rowsol]

Even routers are jumping on the "put "gaming" in front of everything we sell" shtick. Wooee.

 

[niko084]

Even routers are jumping on the "put "gaming" in front of everything we sell" shtick. Wooee.

Don't tell anyone I told you but RGB is next.

 

[Cybrnook2002]

Don't tell anyone I told you but RGB is next.

Already done son:

https://www.snbforums.com/threads/another-new-router-entry-on-the-fcc-gt-ac9600.38867/

"According to the GPL code currently out:

- Alpine CPU
- Quantenna QSR10G
- Aquantia AQR107
- RGB/Aura lighting
- M2 SSD support

(edit: added Aura and M2)"

 

[neko77025]

I have owned many Killer NIC .. even the big ass old one with the Huge K on it ...

They have never had issues. And in the past when I sues them .. they were faster. The only Issue I have ever had with Killer NIC was Linux Drivers.


The killer wifi is better then other wifi .. but its still wifi.


Gaming and wifi ...LOL .. Maybe they talking about Tablets & candyCrush.

 

[Solaris17]

They are comparable to some higher end server nics

run fleets of servers. This is not true. No one in the industry thinks this.

 

[bonehead123]

Not sure why all the hate toward Killer NICs....

My board came with both the e2500 and Intel 1219, I am hardwired to a nighthawk R7000 and a 4 port GiB switch, and I honestly can not notice any real differences in the speeds or latencies between them...

I don't do any online gaming, but I do a considerable amount of cloud-based work that involves uploading and downloading files in the 500-1000 GB size range, as well as working with enterprise-level, multi-user/interconnected workstation business apps that are much more demanding than any computer game, and have never, ever, had any issues with either NIC providing me a solid, stable and fast connection in any situation.

Maybe I'm just lucky