Setting up two networked (Older) Pcs help..

[Snake2715]

Ok,

So a while ago I was going to get some of our older work PC's for some old school netowrking in my almost finished basement Computer room.

I dont have all the details as I am picking them up today.

But they have a network card and are a matching pair of PC's. I am setting them up on Win 98 to play the older LAN games (Ie Doom, Heretic, C&C, Serious Sam, Warcraft, Starcraft etc)

Do I need something other than a cable to link the two pc's? Or can i connect the two pc;s directly with each other w/no hub?

[tornadomann]

get a crossover cat5 or cat6 cable and you should be set for hooking the 2 up without a router or hub

[Steggy]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812117808

That is what you will need ( A crossover cable)

Wont find a cheaper deal really... they have a 25 ft one for a dollar more. Not sure what length you needed so I picked the standard 10. I use this same one to rip games from my gamecube to computer and it works w/o a hitch. Just a note, a regular networking cable WILL NOT cut it, you need a crossover cable to direct connect two computers.

[Steggy]

get a crossover cat5 or cat6 cable and you should be set for hooking the 2 up without a router or hub

boooo, beat by 2 minutes... if only I hadnt wasted the time typing so much. Ah well, maybe my link will provide him with some help.

[Snake2715]

Now let me ask this because you both rock so much and answered so quickly..

If I were to connect say 3 exact pc's..

Then what would I need?

[Steggy]

pretty sure you could use one computer with two network cards and just connect your two pcs to that main computer... Use the same crossover cable method. It should work.

[Steggy]

honestly, itd probly be cheaper to just buy a router if you dont have extra NIC's laying around your house... I do have a nice linksys router Id be willing to trade or sell you if you are interested. Nothings wrong with it, I just upgraded to the same wireless version so I could play mario kart ds. Heres a link of the router I have http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-images/B00004SB92/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_2/102-9689740-0500141?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s=electronics&index=2#gallery

[Steggy]

pretty sure you could use one computer with two network cards and just connect your two pcs to that main computer... Use the same crossover cable method. It should work.

link that explains better what my post was all about http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/webmaster/article.php/3303861

[Indiana]

Now let me ask this because you both rock so much and answered so quickly..

If I were to connect say 3 exact pc's..

Then what would I need?

A hub (repeater) or switch.

[Steggy]

A hub (repeater) or switch.

or exactly what I said....