Could someone please settle an argument between my friend, and I? Is it possible to increase the transfer rate between two computers by putting two network interface cards (NICs) in each computer, and putting two Ethernet connections on each computer, and connecting the two computers with two Ethernet cables? I said that it would not, and may even slow transfer rates because the processor is switching between two NICs. Also, since each computer can have only one IP address since each MAC address is unique, and that computer will process the packets of information it receives one at a time. He thinks that the NICs have buffers in them that allow the packets of information to be stored until the CPU processes them. So according to him, you can send a chunk of data faster by splitting it in half, sending the halves over two cables, and receive the halves with the other computer and NICs, and put the chunk of data back together again. He thinks that transfer rates would increase if you increased the CPU speed, since each CPU could split the info and put it back together faster, and faster. I told him that transfer rates are dependent upon the rate of your NIC and your transfer medium (ex. Ethernet, optical, wireless) and cannot be affected by simply adding more NICs and transfer mediums between two computers. I think he's confusing processing rates with transfer rates. Whose right? -- _______________________________________________ Surf the Web in a faster, safer and easier way: Download Opera 8 at http://www.opera.com Powered by Outblaze