This site may earn chapter commissions from the links on this page. Terms of use.

Killer-Feature

Rivet Networks, the company that owns the Killer brand, has announced a new adequacy rolling out to their Killer AC 1550 modules — and it's a rather cool feature at that. It's an expansion of the Killer xTend technology that the company has previously offered, which allows a car with multiple Ethernet ports to provide local internet access to other devices. Killer Wireless xTend, as the name implies, extends this technology into Wi-Fi — and expands its usefulness in the process.

Hither'southward how Rivet describes the feature:

Killer Wireless xTend introduces powerful MESH network capabilities to your calculator by leveraging the Killer Wireless-Ac 1550 WiFi module to seamlessly clone and extend your home network. But turn on this characteristic with a click of the button, and your computer volition extend its network access to other nearby wireless devices via Killer'southward strong and powerful WiFi network connexion. Nearby devices will automatically connect to Killer Wireless xTend when it provides a stronger signal than your access bespeak.

If you've ever tried to position a router inside a multi-story habitation of any size, y'all've probably played some iteration of the "Where does the router go?" game. Stick information technology in the basement about the actual cable pull, and nobody on the second flooring will have a Wi-Fi signal. Routing it upwards to the main floor may mean an unobtrusive Ethernet cablevision run and a partner who doesn't mind you boring holes through the floor or cupboard. Slapping downwardly a system and configuring it as a mesh network to handle traffic without needing to carp with wireless range extenders, powerline networking, or running conventional cable into multiple rooms is a major potential time-saver.

Rivet accomplishes this using the AC 1550 by using fourth dimension-slicing multiplexing to give incoming and outgoing signals 50 percent of its overall time while maintaining both connections. While doing this, Killer nevertheless uses its prioritization traffic management software to go on disquisitional packets moving to the necessary location(s). The Killer optimization software has half-dozen different settings it uses to prioritize traffic, with gaming at #1, VoIP at #2, local system video at #3, and traffic like torrents or other downloads down at #6. The goal is to ensure that gamers always have the lowest latency connection possible.

Extending Killer'south wired xTend technology from desktops to laptops outfitted with the Killer AC 1550 ways expanding the number of machines that tin theoretically have advantage of the capability. Company partners include Dell, MSI, Acer, Clevo, and Zotac. The feature will also be enabled for users who have slightly older AC 1535 modules in addition to the Air conditioning 1550, Anandtech reports, so you may get admission to this capability even if you don't have the latest and greatest wireless solution.