Let's settle the debate: can a Killer NIC really improve your network experience? Have a potential PC upgrade brewing in the back of your mind? We imagine you'd be considering, among other things, a newer CPU, a faster GPU, more memory and a high-speed SSD. These are the pillars of any new build, but hands up, how many of you have given any real consideration to the system network interface controller (NIC)?

The answer, we assume, is not many. And we can see why - network controllers tend to just work, and they're one of those integral components that require no user intervention outside of the occasional driver install. They're frequently supplied by Intel or Realtek, with the former gaining preference based on brand recognition, yet it's usually a case of either one will do.

But would it pay to give the network controller greater consideration? After all, won't practically all of your new PC's usage scenarios revolve around a web connection? The folks at Killer reckon it's time to revisit the NIC and see if there's value to be had in its latest-generation wired and wireless solutions.