converter; but someone recently told me that won't work because my old computer can't read the signal from a DSL, and that I would need some type of CARD. Can anyone tell me if I need BOTH the card and the adapter or just the card? *I also need to know the name of the card, and WHERE exactly you insert the card. Thanks
Computers & Internet
Answers & Comments
Since you indicate that the system is from 2000, if this is a desktop computer, you will probably want an Ethernet adapter card with a PCI interface. This is an example: http://www.microcenter.com/product/243519/32-bit_10-100-1000Mbps_Copper_Gigabit_PCI_Adapter?ob=1 .
Before you purchase any card, you need to check if the system has available slots for add-on cards. Make sure to open the case and look at the motherboard. If your desktop has one or more lines that are perpendicular to the back of the case and have some sort of removable cover on the case, then those are the slots you will need to identify. Some of the slot covers break off; others are secured by a screw. The screw will help hold the card in place.
Note: some systems have an adapter that positions some slots perpendicular to the motherboard. Most have these slots on the motherboard. Some of the smallest case formats use motherboards with only 1-2 slots for add-on devices. The slot may be occupied with another I/O device card (serial port, parallel port or video card). A video card slot from this era could be a PCI or AGP slot.
If you check and add a comment with the model number of the computer or the motherboard itself, I may be able to provide a list of the the available slots. It's even possible that I could find a diagram of the motherboard layout.
There are also USB ethernet adapters. However, these will run at the speed of your USB adapter. This is an example: http://www.microcenter.com/product/209572/Hi-Speed_USB_20_10-100Mbps_Fast_Ethernet_Adapter?ob=1 .
I hope this helps.
Cindy Wells
(I have added ethernet adapters to desktops. One was an older system that had no internet capabilities when new. The other was a system with a faulty network adapter on the motherboard. The hardest part was adding drivers for a system with a non-working optical disc drive. Not all cards come with driver disks, the systems couldn't reach the network until the driver was loaded. You may need to use another system to download the appropriate driver (library/friend's computer) or chose an adapter that comes with the driver disc in the packaging.)