NETWORK INTERFACE CARD
( NIC )


  • Network Interface Cards is the networking hardware that use to connect the computers to a network.
  • It provides the physical connection between the computer workstation and the network.
  • Most NICs are built-in internally and they are included along with the purchase of computers.
  • Sometimes the network is hard to connect or facing low speeds of download.
  •  It is because of the network interface cards. The network interface card is the major factor in determining the speed and performance of a network.
  • For example, we have a high speed internet service but having a low level of network interface card, therefore we will only obtain a slow speed of internet connection. 
There are some examples of common network interface cards :

Ethernet Cards 

  1. A Ethernet card may containing the connections of coaxial or twisted pair cables or both.
  2. BNC (Bayonet Neil-Concelman) connection for coaxial cable and RJ-45 connection for twisted pair.
  3. In some cases, some of the Ethernet cards also using AUI connector.
  4. It is used to attach coaxial, twisted pair or fiber optics cable to the Ethernet card.
  5. Commonly, the RJ-45 connector is found the most widely used on most modern Ethernet cards.

​LocalTalk Connectors​

  1. ​LocalTalk connector is the Apple’s company own created built-in solution for networking Macintosh computers.
  2. It utilizes a special adapter box and a cable that plugs into the printer port of a Macintosh.
  3. When compare the LocalTalk and the Ethernet, the LocalTalk is slower than the Ethernet.
  4. Ethernet provides approximately 10Mbps data transfer but LocalTalk only have 0.23Mbps.
  5. In the market nowadays, most computers are available with Ethernet cards unlike LocalTalk connector works only on Macintosh computers.

Token Ring Cards​

  1. Token Ring cards are look similar to Ethernet cards. The only visible difference is the type of connector on the back end of the card.
  2. Generally it contains a nine pin DIN type connector to attach the card to the network cable.
  3. Token ring network cards contain all the intelligence required for speed autodetection, routing and etc.
  4. It also can eliminates the issues of collisions unlike Ethernet cards with the present of collisions.
  5. Token ring is more complex because it require a specialized processor for each interface.