Having used Killer LAN before, I would strongly prefer to use Intel wifi cards like the 8265. I find overall Intel LAN tends to give me fewer problems.
This basically amounts to an admission by Rivet Networks that Intel had faster wireless available in the AC9260 and that it can't compete so the company is now selling rebranded Intel WiFi with a reskinned driver and resource wasting value-added application. If so, what was the point of a Killer NIC to begin with? Why do we _need_ a wireless adapter with so-called premium features that's just a marked up Intel NIC? Wouldn't it make more sense for us to just buy Intel wireless and cut out Rivet Networks from the equation? I just can't understand why Rivet even exists at this point beyond putting a few random people on a payroll someplace so they can make their mortgage and car loan payments.
Intel reached out to Rivet and asked what was needed in hardware to enable Killer features. It's not Rivet repurposing an Intel chip, it's a collaboration, so one chip and two solutions (which saves FCC costs and validation).
The flow direction of contact between companies doesn't change the fact that Rivet isn't selling its own solution, but a product developed by its nearest competitor plus their software.
Why not benchmark Killer NICs? I'm curious to see if there really are situations where they can offer an improvement that supports the idea that Killer WiFi is an upgrade over other wireless solutions.
Hi - I am from Rivet Networks, makers of Killer. Just wanted to jump into the conversation - we are super up front with Ian, and all editors and journalists, that with Killer. Historically we have used chipsets from Qualcomm (who used to own Killer), and have always been up front about that. The promise of Killer is getting the best hardware and the best software that is designed to give you an optimal computing experience.
We test everybody's hardware all the time, and choose to base our products on the hardware we feel is best in the industry. We work with the chipset vendor to ensure they have built in the controls we need to shape traffic for an optimal online experience. Intel is the only vendor with 160MHz channel support - it is a cool feature that delivers a lot of throughput and it made sense to go with it for our latest product. So while I understand you may prefer the generic Intel chip - which is fine - it just means that you will be passing latency optimizations and traffic shaping that we do with Killer.
Seriously? A premium product Wi-Fi in a desktop replacement type laptop and is only 2x2?? WTF. Should be 3x3. MacBook Pros from 5 years ago were 3x3. Go 3x3 and all that Killer crap is pointless.
In the past, Killer has used decent enough hardware but their add-on software has been a bit flaky (Killer problems usually go away when only the bare drivers are installed). While using intel chips is definitely a step up, that won't help very much until they debug their software. Killer's problem is this: The very people who would most benefit from the extra Killer features are the same people who are least likely to put up with buggy hardware or software.
I see they are still shipping their awful "94% NTSC" TN panels for the 1080 offering, which is what will be found in the majority of the configurations shipped. What a shame.
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CrazyElf - Thursday, January 11, 2018 - link
Having used Killer LAN before, I would strongly prefer to use Intel wifi cards like the 8265. I find overall Intel LAN tends to give me fewer problems.Ian Cutress - Friday, January 12, 2018 - link
This one is built by Intel.yeeeeman - Friday, January 12, 2018 - link
Ian Cutress You should add from now on a TLDR after the article for users who are too lazy to read the entire articleWithoutWeakness - Friday, January 12, 2018 - link
Those people just read the headline and scroll straight to the comments section anyway.CrazyElf - Saturday, January 13, 2018 - link
My concern is that the "additional features" cause issues.See the following:
http://www.pcgamer.com/motherboards-with-killer-ne...
Yes it is built by Intel - but why this and not the Intel one directly?
PeachNCream - Friday, January 12, 2018 - link
This basically amounts to an admission by Rivet Networks that Intel had faster wireless available in the AC9260 and that it can't compete so the company is now selling rebranded Intel WiFi with a reskinned driver and resource wasting value-added application. If so, what was the point of a Killer NIC to begin with? Why do we _need_ a wireless adapter with so-called premium features that's just a marked up Intel NIC? Wouldn't it make more sense for us to just buy Intel wireless and cut out Rivet Networks from the equation? I just can't understand why Rivet even exists at this point beyond putting a few random people on a payroll someplace so they can make their mortgage and car loan payments.Ian Cutress - Friday, January 12, 2018 - link
Intel reached out to Rivet and asked what was needed in hardware to enable Killer features. It's not Rivet repurposing an Intel chip, it's a collaboration, so one chip and two solutions (which saves FCC costs and validation).PeachNCream - Friday, January 12, 2018 - link
The flow direction of contact between companies doesn't change the fact that Rivet isn't selling its own solution, but a product developed by its nearest competitor plus their software.Why not benchmark Killer NICs? I'm curious to see if there really are situations where they can offer an improvement that supports the idea that Killer WiFi is an upgrade over other wireless solutions.
.bgrim - Friday, January 12, 2018 - link
Hi - I am from Rivet Networks, makers of Killer. Just wanted to jump into the conversation - we are super up front with Ian, and all editors and journalists, that with Killer. Historically we have used chipsets from Qualcomm (who used to own Killer), and have always been up front about that. The promise of Killer is getting the best hardware and the best software that is designed to give you an optimal computing experience.We test everybody's hardware all the time, and choose to base our products on the hardware we feel is best in the industry. We work with the chipset vendor to ensure they have built in the controls we need to shape traffic for an optimal online experience. Intel is the only vendor with 160MHz channel support - it is a cool feature that delivers a lot of throughput and it made sense to go with it for our latest product. So while I understand you may prefer the generic Intel chip - which is fine - it just means that you will be passing latency optimizations and traffic shaping that we do with Killer.
CoreLogicCom - Thursday, January 11, 2018 - link
Seriously? A premium product Wi-Fi in a desktop replacement type laptop and is only 2x2?? WTF. Should be 3x3. MacBook Pros from 5 years ago were 3x3. Go 3x3 and all that Killer crap is pointless.LordConrad - Friday, January 12, 2018 - link
In the past, Killer has used decent enough hardware but their add-on software has been a bit flaky (Killer problems usually go away when only the bare drivers are installed). While using intel chips is definitely a step up, that won't help very much until they debug their software. Killer's problem is this: The very people who would most benefit from the extra Killer features are the same people who are least likely to put up with buggy hardware or software.dhonifan777 - Tuesday, January 16, 2018 - link
Thanks for sharing such a useful info with us. I think this laptop must be mentioned in the top 5anactoraaron - Tuesday, January 16, 2018 - link
I see they are still shipping their awful "94% NTSC" TN panels for the 1080 offering, which is what will be found in the majority of the configurations shipped. What a shame.