AC3100 vs. AC3200 (Linksys vs. Asus)

[Koofteh]

So I'm quite excited, after many years of being imprisoned against my will by a giant telco on a capped 25 megabit plan I now have the option of a local company that provides uncapped gigabit fibre connections.

I have an older RT-N16 but I thought I'd get a fancy new router to go with my fancy new internet connection.

I compared the Linksys WRT3200 and the Asus RT-3100 and I went with the Linksys because it was a bit cheaper and I thought the 3200 was a updated version of the 3100 chipset.

But doing more research I see I was wrong, they are totally different. The 3100 is dual band whereas the 3200 is tri-band.

Now this is where I start to get confused, because it seems that the 3100 actually has better theoretical speeds than the 3200 but one has an extra band. It actually seems the 3100 has similar specs to the 5300 routers but missing the second 5GHz band.

So from what I understand unless you have many, many devices you're better off with a 3100 because it has better speeds per band than 3200?

I went back and bought the Asus too because they were on sale, so which is going back to Best Buy?

 

[psychopomp1]

But doing more research I see I was wrong, they are totally different. The 3100 is dual band whereas the 3200 is tri-band.

The Linksys WRT3200 is dual band:
http://www.linksys.com/us/p/P-WRT3200ACM/

 

[microchip]

Firmware-wise, I'd stick with the ASUS. Linksys own firmware is, IMHO, very limited. Unless you plan on putting DD-WRT on it or something else, I'd return the Linksys

 

[Koofteh]

The Linksys WRT3200 is dual band:
http://www.linksys.com/us/p/P-WRT3200ACM/

Huh, you're right.

Okay so I'm even more confused. So how do the two compare then? I'm getting lost in the marketing speak.

This is the link I was looking at but I guess the Linksys is not using the chipset mentioned here as 3200: https://www.cnet.com/products/asus-rt-ac88u-router/

 

[sfx2000]

Firmware-wise, I'd stick with the ASUS. Linksys own firmware is, IMHO, very limited. Unless you plan on putting DD-WRT on it or something else, I'd return the Linksys

A lot of Asus FANBOI's on this thread/forum...

If the Linky works, stick wth it...

 

[microchip]

A lot of Asus FANBOI's on this thread/forum...

If the Linky works, stick wth it...

Not a fanboy. Just stating things as they are. I used TP-Link and NETGEAR in the past

 

[thiggins]

This is the link I was looking at but I guess the Linksys is not using the chipset mentioned here as 3200: https://www.cnet.com/products/asus-rt-ac88u-router/

Read our review if you want accurate information.
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wire...-ac3200-mu-mimo-gigabit-wi-fi-router-reviewed

Also:
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/basi...029-how-to-buy-a-wireless-router-2017-edition

If you have a small space to cover and few devices, our general recommendation is an AC1900 class router. This would be a NETGEAR R7000, ASUS RT-AC68U/P or Linksys WRT1900AC

Check our rankings.
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/tools/rankers/router/view
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/tools/rankers/router/ranking/AC1900/rev8/195

If you have a large space I'd recommend NETGEAR Orbi.
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-reviews/33028-netgear-orbi-reviewed

 

[sfx2000]

This would be a NETGEAR R7000, ASUS RT-AC68U/P or Linksys WRT1900AC

Any one of these three would be an excellent choice...

 

[doczenith1]

I went back and bought the Asus too because they were on sale, so which is going back to Best Buy?

Did you get the Asus AC3100 at the $193 sale price? If so that might be the router to keep. Otherwise I agree the others that the AC1900 class is the sweet spot right now for price/performance. I have 6 days left before the deadline on returning my 3100. If I don't find a buyer for my 68U I will most likely return the 3100 as the 68U does what I need it to do.