Realtek 8139 (rl) very poor performance

[Godwin Stewart]

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On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 12:08:16 -0500 (EST), Vladimir Pianykh
<vlad at alpha.VL7.net> wrote:

> I had some problems with "rl" cards with "auto" media.

You're probably not the only one.

Note this comment from sys/pci/if_rl.c

/*
 * The RealTek 8139 PCI NIC redefines the meaning of 'low end.' This is
 * probably the worst PCI ethernet controller ever made, with the possible
 * exception of the FEAST chip made by SMC. The 8139 supports bus-master
 * DMA, but it has a terrible interface that nullifies any performance
 * gains that bus-master DMA usually offers.

- -- 
G. Stewart - gstewart at bonivet.net

Sign spotted outside a second hand shop:
WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING - BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES, ETC.
WHY NOT BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN?
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