PC slow down w/ NIC installed / router question

[elty]

Well, my old PC (K6 166+48MB ram) slow down quite a bit after I install a NIC (at one point I almost think it wont boot up). Is it because I havent attach it to a network yet or NIC itself consume a lot of overhead?

Also, what router should I buy? I only need a normal router now but wireless one isn't that expensive (but wireless card cost much more). Can I shut down the wireless function on it (the less wave in my home the better) until I get some wireless device?

Many thanks

[RZetlin]

What do you mean by slow down? Is this during startup time?

If you are talking about the startup time, yes it takes longer for Windows to start up with a NIC installed without a connection.

What happen is Windows is waiting for a connection on the NIC card.

Connect the computer up to a network. The startup time will improve.

[Chinoz]

I have an unused NIC (waiting for my broadband to come~~~) and it doesn't slow my comp down

For routers, I'd recommend either SMC or Linksys. And i'd recommend not doing a wireless setup unless you find it necessary. Wired networks are always better then wireless ones (/me thinks abt the time when my wireless keyboard went dry on juice while playing nolf2 )

[elty]

I am not going to do a wireless setup. I am only thinking about buying a wireless router because the price difference between them is small