Best bang for my buck for a router?

[Vandole]

Looking around, i found the Asus RT-n56U and c|net really loves it, i also like how it has two USB plugins. It's $130, but it seems to have many great features that I would find useful, especially its software.

http://reviews.cnet.com/routers/asus...-34200558.html



can anyone recommend this or perhaps suggest something better?

total i'm looking to connect the following: Desktop(wired), 2 laptops(wireless), xbox(wireless), iphone, and portable hard drive

[Caiyuo]

Interested in DD-WRT/whatever else firmware? Could probably save a boatload on whatever the shit else they're charging that much for. Can give you some well-received models, if so; I'm assuming wireless-N is the main req.?

[Vandole]

no idea about what you're talking about in the firmware, i'm just looking for something to get now that does everything i need. wireless-n is the main req with usb options being necessary too.

i hope you reply soon, i need to order one in the next hour and a half or so for overnight shipping. lol

[Caiyuo]

edit: WELL SHIT

They're custom-firmwares, same concept as PS3, that you can flash on certain consumer models to enable a much bigger feature-set. It's a little in-depth and there's risk of bricking if directions aren't followed, but from what you're saying that doesn't sound like the ticket. There's also a company called Mikrotik I saw Niya mention once that looks really worthwhile, but for out of the box and go consumer stuff, newegg reviews gave both of these higher marks:

NETGEAR WNDR3700-100NAS ($100)
- N+Dual-band with similar features and a single USB port

BUFFALO WZR-HP-G300NH ($67)
- N+not dual-band but similar features and a single USB port

[Kohan]

This is the model manufactured before the one you linked. It's won numerous awards, can be firmware modded with DD-WRT, and is incredibly reliable:

http://www.amazon.com/RT-N16-Wireles...5717674&sr=8-1

I do personally suggest moving to DD-WRT, as I specifically buy routers which can, but even if you don't, the RT-N16 is fantastic.

Alternatively, you can get its little brother, which is still more respectable than a lot of $50 routers:

http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-RT-N10-Wi...5717788&sr=1-1

Although its product description is not clear, the RT-10+ does support b, g, and n; I have installed it on a network, so I can tell you that for a fact.

EDIT: I did a lot of heavy research when purchasing a router, as I run torrents, downloads, and other people game in my home, all simultaneously. I never have issues with the router table being overloaded and dropping clients due to torrents, and this includes FFXI performance, since it's notoriously finicky about that. If you want a network running well at all times, these are my recommendations.