Mini Review: Bigfoot Networks Killer 2100 Gaming NIC
By Tim Hage on Nov 2nd, 2010 at 10:00AM
Rather than an in-depth look at the technical mumbo-jumbo behind what makes this card tick, we’ll be dedicating this review to a more practical look on how well it works in practice. Many gamers like us are understandably skeptical about this proposed instant boost in gaming skill. Let’s see what we can find.
Taking up residence in my 1x PCIe slot, the Killer 2100 from Bigfoot Networks left me unimpressed at first. I didn’t feel any magical or cosmic change in my overall gaming skill and my in-game ping had only been lowered by about 3-5ms. However, it is clearly noted that the lowering of one’s ping is not what this card is designed for. Instead, it works by moving high-priority information to and from the gaming server, allowing all of your actions to be more reliable and smooth. Despite this, I felt little difference in my overall gameplay. That is, until later that week when I noticed I was having more “good days” in gaming, where I would perform better than usual in league and ladder matches.
It’s undeniable that the Killer 2100 gave me a stronger competitive edge, but it’s really a card for more competitive-minded online gamers, as the card didn’t offer much of a change in public servers. The advantages were much more noticeable in competitive clan matches. Having said that, it seemed headshots and twitch-reaction shots were more common and reliable when playing on public servers. It may also be hard to justify for the more budget-minded gamers with the Killer 2100′s $80-90 price tag.
Going into this review, I was as skeptical as anyone about the legitimacy of these cards. Sure, the technology within the card and development team behind the company is clearly evident, but could this innocent little NIC really take your gaming skill to the next level? Is there really such a quick-fix that works? The answer is an undeniable yes, but don’t expect it to take you from an average gamer to a competition-dominating gaming god.
Score: 9 Olives
Purchase the Bigfoot Networks Killer 2100 Gaming NIC on Amazon.
