I selected seven routers from among the top 10 fastest routers on the latest updated router chart (April 2006). The routers chosen all happened to be wireless, mainly because that's what has been coming in for test most recently.

Belkin's Wireless Pre-N (F5D8230-4) router was one of the first MIMO routers and the original model I had for test is based on a Broadcom BCM4704 processor. It's essentially the same as the Linksys WRT54GX, which was also among the routers tested. The 10/100 switching capability is provided via a Broadcom BCM5325 and the WAN port Ethernet is handled by an Altima (Broadcom) AC101L 10/100 Ethernet Tranceiver.

Belkin F5D8230-4 Wireless Pre-N Router

D-Link is represented by two models: the DI-634M and DGL-4300. Both are based on Ubicom's IP3023 Wireless Network processor, which as you'll see shortly is pretty powerful. The DI-634M's 10/100 switch chip is a Realtek RTL8305SC, while the DGL-4300's gigabit switching features come courtesy of a Broadcom BCM5385.

D-Link DI-634M Wireless 108G MIMO Router

D-Link DGL-4300 Wireless 108G MIMO Router