Need help deciding between rt-ac1900p v3 or the rt-ac68u c1

[JohnCrichton]

I currently have both the rt-ac1900p v3 and the rt-ac68u c1 and I need to return one.
The AC1900p v3 is the only one that gives me a little bit of information about the hardware on the box and on Asus's website. It says it has a 1.4 GHz dual-core processor.
Also somewhat interested in trying out other firmware in the future but not sure if I'm willing to give up a hardware upgrade to do it.
Every website I've searched I have been getting different information, so I'm a little confused. Which one of these have the newer, better hardware? Which one would you recommend I keep?

 

[L&LD]

The RT-AC1900P is the latest version of the RT-AC68U router model line. This router works with RMerlin's firmware for the RT-AC68U, no issues (as has been reported in these forums).

With the highest performing processor and the latest power amplifiers (and WiFi circuit design), this is the router I would bet on long term.

 

[JohnCrichton]

Thanks for your input on this and helping clear this up for me. I really appreciate it.

 

[Darcy]

How does the RT-AC1900P stack up to to the RT-AC3100? They have the same processor correct? How about the power amplifiers? Circuit design? Are they the same as well? I know they are different class router's but does the 3100 justify the $80 price increase?

 

[L&LD]

How does the RT-AC1900P stack up to to the RT-AC3100? They have the same processor correct? How about the power amplifiers? Circuit design? Are they the same as well?

I would guess they are equal or above (in the RT-AC3100). The RT-AC3100 does have double the ram (512MB) of the previous generation of routers though.

 

[RMerlin]

How does the RT-AC1900P stack up to to the RT-AC3100? They have the same processor correct? How about the power amplifiers? Circuit design? Are they the same as well? I know they are different class router's but does the 3100 justify the $80 price increase?

Different wifi chip. The CPU is the only thing similar.

 

[Darcy]

Different wifi chip. The CPU is the only thing similar.

So the 3100 has the better chip I would assume?

 

[RMerlin]

So the 3100 has the better chip I would assume?

Yes. 4x4 + MU-MIMO instead lf just 3x3, also has its own dedicated CPU.

 

[Darcy]

Yes. 4x4 + MU-MIMO instead lf just 3x3, also has its own dedicated CPU.

Thanks

 

[sfx2000]

Yes. 4x4 + MU-MIMO instead lf just 3x3, also has its own dedicated CPU.

Huh?

The Wireless chips have always had their own MCU inside, as this is how it's done - that's why there is firmware blobs that need to be loaded, and all the attending GPL issues...

It's not a public interface, but wifi chips have real-time requirements than Linux on the SoC cannot handle...

(more Broadcom PENTACORE!!! propaganda here...)

 

[RMerlin]

Huh?

The Wireless chips have always had their own MCU inside, as this is how it's done - that's why there is firmware blobs that need to be loaded, and all the attending GPL issues...

It's not a public interface, but wifi chips have real-time requirements than Linux on the SoC cannot handle...

(more Broadcom PENTACORE!!! propaganda here...)

No, there was an actual architecture change between the 4360 and the BCM43602/BCM4366. Older chips had the code run almost entirely on the main CPU as a kernel driver (wl.ko), these newer chips offload a lot of that code on the SoC's dedicated CPU (with the DHD architecture they now use).

I'm talking about an actual CPU (it's an ARM Cortex A7 if I remember correctly), not just a specialized logical unit here.

 

[sfx2000]

No, there was an actual architecture change between the 4360 and the BCM43602/BCM4366. Older chips had the code run almost entirely on the main CPU as a kernel driver (wl.ko), these newer chips offload a lot of that code on the SoC's dedicated CPU (with the DHD architecture they now use).

I'm talking about an actual CPU (it's an ARM Cortex A7 if I remember correctly), not just a specialized logical unit here.

4331 and 4360 both have dedicated microprocessors onboard - as do many of their client oriented chipsets - see the brcm fullmac driver code and not the press releases... the softmac driver has some code that runs on the host cpu, as it's a split architecture there.

Can't say much more... in any event, the ARM in the 4366 is not accessible by the host os..

 

[RMerlin]

in any event, the ARM in the 4366 is not accessible by the host os..

I never said it was. My point wasn't about that, my point was about more code being offloaded to that CPU to explain the difference between the 4360 and the 4366. I did use the word "dedicated" in my post.

 

[sfx2000]

I never said it was. My point wasn't about that, my point was about more code being offloaded to that CPU to explain the difference between the 4360 and the 4366. I did use the word "dedicated" in my post.

True true - the 4366 has a fair amount more work to do as it has to do all the MU calculations, MU group management, and scheduling for MU appropriate traffic - and if I recall, it's a Cortex A53 variant...

 

[Rootee]

I bought a RT-AC1900P at BB about a month ago, and the box says it's a "V1"? Anyone know the difference between the "V1" and "V3" 1900P's?

 

[L&LD]

I bought a RT-AC1900P at BB about a month ago, and the box says it's a "V1"? Anyone know the difference between the "V1" and "V3" 1900P's?

If I remember correctly, a 'V3' RT-AC1900P model has 1.4GHz processor instead of a 1GHz processor.

 

[Rootee]

If I remember correctly, a 'V3' RT-AC1900P model has 1.4GHz processor instead of a 1GHz processor.

My RT-AC1900P box clearly states that it has a 1.4 GHz processor, and that it's H/W V1.

 

[sfx2000]

If I remember correctly, a 'V3' RT-AC1900P model has 1.4GHz processor instead of a 1GHz processor.

Tracking back thru history - if I recall, all the RT-AC1900P's are the same CPU/Clock speed...

 

[L&LD]

Tracking back thru history - if I recall, all the RT-AC1900P's are the same CPU/Clock speed...

You may be right (sounds 'right'). What I may be remembering (or, still forgetting) is that the power amplifiers were changed on the later versions?

 

[RMerlin]

You may be right (sounds 'right'). What I may be remembering (or, still forgetting) is that the power amplifiers were changed on the later versions?

Nobody knows what's different between an RT-AC1900 V1 and V3. The fact that they both appeared at the same time makes me suspect there might not be any difference and this might just be a packaging quirk. I can't see Asus going through three major revision within the course of a few weeks.