D-Link DIR-625: Another Draft N Router comes up short
by Gary Key on September 20, 2006 2:20 AM EST- Posted in
- Networking
Unencrypted Throughput - Server to Client:
Our throughput test continues with the performance of our four Draft N routers against the NetGear RangeMax 240 router based upon the Pre-N MIMO technology. These series of tests measure the performance of our clients to receive information from the desktop server.
Our Belkin N1 has the best overall scores in the maximum and average throughput test results of our Draft N routers, although the D-Link router is extremely close. However, the minimum throughput of both routers remains low compared to the NetGear and Linksys offerings. The NetGear WPNT834 Pre-N router still offers the most consistent performance. Our Linksys unit suffers a severe performance drop at the 80 foot range and after reviewing the test script results we noticed the Linksys had very sporadic connection rates. Although we never lost a signal it was obvious that the Linksys was having severe communication issues at this distance.
Encrypted Throughput (WPA2-PSK) - Server to Client:
The NetGear WPNT834 Pre-N router has the highest throughput overall with results almost doubling the capability of the other routers in the average results test at the 80 and 120 foot ranges. The NetGear WNR834B once again provides the most consistent throughput of the Draft N routers in the encrypted tests. We actually see the D-Link router performing better overall than the Belkin unit up to the 120 foot range. The Linksys WRT-300N posts the worst overall results when encryption is turned on.
Once again we see the Belkin, D-Link, and Linksys units struggling with encryption enabled in the majority of our 40 foot and above distance tests. It appears the current NetGear firmware and driver implementation is simply optimized better than our other Draft N routers. The NetGear WNR834B actually shows zero loss and up to a 10% improvement at the 40 foot range.
Our throughput test continues with the performance of our four Draft N routers against the NetGear RangeMax 240 router based upon the Pre-N MIMO technology. These series of tests measure the performance of our clients to receive information from the desktop server.
Our Belkin N1 has the best overall scores in the maximum and average throughput test results of our Draft N routers, although the D-Link router is extremely close. However, the minimum throughput of both routers remains low compared to the NetGear and Linksys offerings. The NetGear WPNT834 Pre-N router still offers the most consistent performance. Our Linksys unit suffers a severe performance drop at the 80 foot range and after reviewing the test script results we noticed the Linksys had very sporadic connection rates. Although we never lost a signal it was obvious that the Linksys was having severe communication issues at this distance.
Encrypted Throughput (WPA2-PSK) - Server to Client:
The NetGear WPNT834 Pre-N router has the highest throughput overall with results almost doubling the capability of the other routers in the average results test at the 80 and 120 foot ranges. The NetGear WNR834B once again provides the most consistent throughput of the Draft N routers in the encrypted tests. We actually see the D-Link router performing better overall than the Belkin unit up to the 120 foot range. The Linksys WRT-300N posts the worst overall results when encryption is turned on.
| Unencrypted versus Encrypted Throughput Maximum Mbps - Percentage Difference |
||||
| Client to Server | 10 Feet | 40 Feet | 80 Feet | 120 Feet |
| D-Link DIR-625 | -18.00% | -8.48% | -34.60% | -18.45% |
| Belkin N1 | -20.88% | -12.26% | -31.25% | -21.48% |
| NetGear WNR834B | -7.80% | 0.00% | -4.67% | -14.65% |
| Linksys WRT-300N | -13.33% | -33.40% | 68.60% | -14.06% |
| NetGear WPNT834 (Pre-N) | -16.73% | -12.18% | -13.54% | -12.55% |
| . | ||||
| Unencrypted versus Encrypted Throughput Average Mbps - Percentage Difference |
||||
| Client to Server | 10 Feet | 40 Feet | 80 Feet | 120 Feet |
| D-Link DIR-625 | -37.40% | -64.25% | -55.68% | -25.64% |
| Belkin N1 | -40.43% | -65.70% | -57.74% | -31.88% |
| NetGear WNR834B | -9.07% | 10.03% | -25.28% | -27.40% |
| Linksys WRT-300N | -55.92% | -54.97% | -31.58% | -24.14% |
| NetGear WPNT834 (Pre-N) | -13.63% | -9.85% | -9.03% | -8.04% |
| . | ||||
Once again we see the Belkin, D-Link, and Linksys units struggling with encryption enabled in the majority of our 40 foot and above distance tests. It appears the current NetGear firmware and driver implementation is simply optimized better than our other Draft N routers. The NetGear WNR834B actually shows zero loss and up to a 10% improvement at the 40 foot range.
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15 Comments
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zyren - Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - link
This review is pretty pointless considering the DIR-625 is an old router and the DIR-635 has been the successor of the 625 for a while now (with the atheros chip, if i am correct). I own the 635 and have been very pleased with it. Compared to my old g router, this is so much better. Why didnt they just review the 635?Gary Key - Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - link
We have a review of the DI-635 coming up, however the DI-625 is still for sale and the price point has been moved down to $99 now. Considering the marketing and advertising on this router is still in full swing we thought it was appropriate to review it. Also, in preliminary testing we have found no real difference between the two routers in actual performance. The 120 foot capability of the DI-635 is improved by about 4%, the other ranges are equal or within 1%. :)Chadder007 - Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - link
Im sticking with G for a long time it seems.....N doesn't offer anything extra that I need at home. Videos stream just fine on my G network.Myrandex - Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - link
I have always been a fan of DLink. Their customer support has been nice whenever I have called in, and they actually speak english (not Englishian). Their DGL4300 is an amazing router as well, with integrated Gigabit networking and decent wireless performance (in 802.11g mode with laptop and pocket pc). It looks prety badass as well with the blue LEDs.PAPutzback - Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - link
All I buy is DLINK. My DI-634 works great and my 16 port switch works great. But I won't buy another wireless router until they add gigabit ports. Why do they still limit to 10/100 speeds when even the cheapest MB are coming with gigabit NICsChadder007 - Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - link
Thats what I would like to know.
nullpointerus - Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - link
Have you followed the motherboard benchmarks? A motherboard gigabit NIC consumes tons of CPU time as the bandwidth increases. I assume there are additional cost and design issues for a gigabit router vs. a typical 10/100 Mbps part. My Linksys routers have a hard enough time not burning themselves through the desk just handling very light 10/100 Mbps traffic.yyrkoon - Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - link
They could slap in an Intel GbE processor, especially since the Intel NICs using this processor out perform other NICs of the same class. *shrug*I'm not even going to bother with another wireless router until Wi-Max hits the market personally . . .
mino - Thursday, September 21, 2006 - link
LOL, the problem is how to ROUTE such amount of traffic, not overheating NIC's...yyrkoon - Friday, September 22, 2006 - link
Perhaps, you were talking to the person above me ? In which case you should have replied to him, and not me :)