Confused about which router to buy? What about which wi-fi adapter for use with a router? Have no fear; we’re here to help.
In this article, we’ll be covering the wrt3200acm vs wrt32x wireless routers. We’ll also be discussing two USB adapter antennas that are named after each of the routers.
The WRT3200ACM MU-MIMO Gigabit Wi-Fi Router is the latest addition to the Linksys family of WRT routers, and like its predecessors it allows you to substitute the router's stock firmware with open-source code that offers customized settings and advanced monitoring capabilities. It also supports Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) data streaming, which sends data to MU-MIMO–compatible clients simultaneously rather than sequentially. It also offers Tri-Stream 160 technology, which effectively doubles the 80MHz channel width on the 5GHz band to achieve faster throughput speeds. The problem is, there aren't yet any Tri-Stream clients available to take advantage of the increased throughput capabilities. The WRT3200ACM took top honors on our file transfer tests. And although it also performed quite well on our 5GHz and MU-MIMO throughput tests, it couldn't match the overall performance of the Trendnet AC2600 StreamBoost MU-MIMO WiFi Router (TEW-827DRU).
Design and Features
The WRT3200ACM retains the familiar black-and-blue 2.1-by-9.6-by-7.6-inch (HWD) enclosure design used on earlier WRT models such as the WRT 1200AC and the WRT 1900AC. It has four adjustable removable external antennas and a series of LED status indicators on the front for Internet, the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio bands, WPS, the LAN ports, the USB and eSATA ports, and Power. Around back are four Gigabit LAN ports, a WAN port, a USB 3.0 port, a USB 2.0/eSATA combo port, and Reset, Power, and WPS buttons. The WRT3200ACM is powered by a 1.8GHz dual-core processor and uses the latest 802.11ac circuitry with support for MU-MIMO, beamforming, and Tri-Stream 160MHz technologies. This is an AC3200 router that can reach (theoretical) throughput speeds of up to 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 2600Mbps on the 5GHz band.
The WRT3200ACM uses the same Web-based Smart Wi-Fi management console as the EA9500 Max-Stream AC5400 MU-MIMO Gigabit Router and the EA7500 Max-Stream AC1900 MU-MIMO Gigabit Router, and can also be controlled using the Smart Wi-Fi mobile app. The Web console's home page contains various widgets on the right and a list of Smart Wi-Fi Tools and Router Settings on the left. The Network Map tool displays all devices connected to the network and total Internet bandwidth usage, and the Guest Access tool allows you to create individual SSIDs and passwords for guest use. The Parental Controls tool is what you use to block Internet access and access to certain sites for one or more of your clients, and the Media Prioritization tool lets you favor network traffic for specific devices and applications such as online games. Use the Speed Test tool to see how fast your Internet upload and download speeds are and the External Storage tool to share folders on connected hard drives and set up FTP and Media Server capabilities.
Pros
Bottom Line
We’ve been using open source Linksys routers for just short of two decades and the high performance of the familiar blue and black reminds us why we’re still Linksys fans. The Linksys WRT3200ACM has one of the fastest processors available for any FlashRouter on the market, and with up to 3200 Mbps dual-band wireless speeds, it offers the fastest, most reliable speed and best performance of any current open source router.
The WRT32X's 5GHz throughput performance was good, but not as fast as the competition. It's score of 464Mbps on the close-proximity test couldn't match the D-Link DIR-885L/R, the Synology RT2600ac, or the Trendnet TEW-827DRU, which led with a score 590Mbps. On the 5GHz 30-foot test, the WRT32X's score of 258Mbps was nearly identical to the Trendnet TEW-827DRU, but trailed the Synology RT2600ac and the D-Link DIR-885L/R.
We test MU-MIMO performance using three identical Acer Aspire R13 laptops equipped with Qualcomm's QCA61x4A MU-MIMO circuitry. The WRT32X's score of 175Mbps on the close-proximity test beat the Synology RT2600ac by a hair, but came in behind the D-Link DIR-885L/R and the Trendnet TEW-827DRU. On the 30-foot test, the WRT32X's score of 76Mbps came in dead last, while the D-Link Dir-885L/R led with a score of 165Mbps.
Design and Features
The WRT32X has a somewhat different look than the WRT3200ACM MU-MIMO Gigabit Wi-Fi Router despite sharing many of the same hardware attributes. It uses the same 2.1-by-9.6-by-7.6-inch (HWD) enclosure with four removable and adjustable antennas, but has an all-black finish rather than the familiar black and blue color scheme that has defined the WRT line for the past decade. All of the router's numerous ports are located on the back panels and include four gigabit LAN ports, a WAN port, a USB 3.0 port, and an eSATA/USB 2.0 port. Here you'll also find WPS and reset buttons and a power switch. The front panel contains a row of blue LED activity indicators for power, WPS, Internet, 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, all four LAN ports, and the USB 3.0 and eSATA/USB ports.
The WRT32X is powered by a dual-core 1.8GHz CPU, 256MB of flash memory, and 512MB of DDR3 memory. It's a dual band AC3200 router capable of speeds of up to 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 2600Mbps on the 5GHz band. As with the WRT3200ACM, it is DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) certified, allowing it to effectively double the 5GHz band's 80MHz channel width to achieve faster throughput speeds when used with clients that support Tri-Stream160 technology. It supports Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) data streaming, which transmits data simultaneously to compatible devices rather than sequentially, and Beamforming, which transmits data directly to clients rather than over a broad spectrum. As with other WRT routers, the WRT32X allows you to substitute its firmware with open-source code that offers customized settings and advanced monitoring capabilities, but if you go this route you'll lose the embedded Killer Prioritization capabilities.
Pros
Bottom Line
The Linksys WRT32X Wi-Fi Gaming Router uses the Killer Networks Prioritization engine to make sure you have plenty of bandwidth for online gaming. It also offers fast 2.4GHz and file transfer performance.
In this article, we’ll be covering the wrt3200acm vs wrt32x wireless routers. We’ll also be discussing two USB adapter antennas that are named after each of the routers.
Read Also - Linksys AC4000 vs AC5000 Compression
Linksys WRT AC3200 Dual-Band Open Source Router
The WRT3200ACM MU-MIMO Gigabit Wi-Fi Router is the latest addition to the Linksys family of WRT routers, and like its predecessors it allows you to substitute the router's stock firmware with open-source code that offers customized settings and advanced monitoring capabilities. It also supports Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) data streaming, which sends data to MU-MIMO–compatible clients simultaneously rather than sequentially. It also offers Tri-Stream 160 technology, which effectively doubles the 80MHz channel width on the 5GHz band to achieve faster throughput speeds. The problem is, there aren't yet any Tri-Stream clients available to take advantage of the increased throughput capabilities. The WRT3200ACM took top honors on our file transfer tests. And although it also performed quite well on our 5GHz and MU-MIMO throughput tests, it couldn't match the overall performance of the Trendnet AC2600 StreamBoost MU-MIMO WiFi Router (TEW-827DRU).
Design and Features
The WRT3200ACM retains the familiar black-and-blue 2.1-by-9.6-by-7.6-inch (HWD) enclosure design used on earlier WRT models such as the WRT 1200AC and the WRT 1900AC. It has four adjustable removable external antennas and a series of LED status indicators on the front for Internet, the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio bands, WPS, the LAN ports, the USB and eSATA ports, and Power. Around back are four Gigabit LAN ports, a WAN port, a USB 3.0 port, a USB 2.0/eSATA combo port, and Reset, Power, and WPS buttons. The WRT3200ACM is powered by a 1.8GHz dual-core processor and uses the latest 802.11ac circuitry with support for MU-MIMO, beamforming, and Tri-Stream 160MHz technologies. This is an AC3200 router that can reach (theoretical) throughput speeds of up to 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 2600Mbps on the 5GHz band.
The WRT3200ACM uses the same Web-based Smart Wi-Fi management console as the EA9500 Max-Stream AC5400 MU-MIMO Gigabit Router and the EA7500 Max-Stream AC1900 MU-MIMO Gigabit Router, and can also be controlled using the Smart Wi-Fi mobile app. The Web console's home page contains various widgets on the right and a list of Smart Wi-Fi Tools and Router Settings on the left. The Network Map tool displays all devices connected to the network and total Internet bandwidth usage, and the Guest Access tool allows you to create individual SSIDs and passwords for guest use. The Parental Controls tool is what you use to block Internet access and access to certain sites for one or more of your clients, and the Media Prioritization tool lets you favor network traffic for specific devices and applications such as online games. Use the Speed Test tool to see how fast your Internet upload and download speeds are and the External Storage tool to share folders on connected hard drives and set up FTP and Media Server capabilities.
Pros
- Very fast 5GHz throughput in testing
- Outstanding file transfer speeds
- Supports MU-MIMO and Tri-Stream 160MHz technologies
- Linksys went back to the classic design everyone loved
- Excellent wired connectivity
- Middling 2,4GHz throughput scores
- No 160MHz clients available
- DD-WRT requires some technical chops
Bottom Line
We’ve been using open source Linksys routers for just short of two decades and the high performance of the familiar blue and black reminds us why we’re still Linksys fans. The Linksys WRT3200ACM has one of the fastest processors available for any FlashRouter on the market, and with up to 3200 Mbps dual-band wireless speeds, it offers the fastest, most reliable speed and best performance of any current open source router.
Linksys WRT32X Wi-Fi Gaming Router
The WRT32X's 5GHz throughput performance was good, but not as fast as the competition. It's score of 464Mbps on the close-proximity test couldn't match the D-Link DIR-885L/R, the Synology RT2600ac, or the Trendnet TEW-827DRU, which led with a score 590Mbps. On the 5GHz 30-foot test, the WRT32X's score of 258Mbps was nearly identical to the Trendnet TEW-827DRU, but trailed the Synology RT2600ac and the D-Link DIR-885L/R.
We test MU-MIMO performance using three identical Acer Aspire R13 laptops equipped with Qualcomm's QCA61x4A MU-MIMO circuitry. The WRT32X's score of 175Mbps on the close-proximity test beat the Synology RT2600ac by a hair, but came in behind the D-Link DIR-885L/R and the Trendnet TEW-827DRU. On the 30-foot test, the WRT32X's score of 76Mbps came in dead last, while the D-Link Dir-885L/R led with a score of 165Mbps.
Design and Features
The WRT32X has a somewhat different look than the WRT3200ACM MU-MIMO Gigabit Wi-Fi Router despite sharing many of the same hardware attributes. It uses the same 2.1-by-9.6-by-7.6-inch (HWD) enclosure with four removable and adjustable antennas, but has an all-black finish rather than the familiar black and blue color scheme that has defined the WRT line for the past decade. All of the router's numerous ports are located on the back panels and include four gigabit LAN ports, a WAN port, a USB 3.0 port, and an eSATA/USB 2.0 port. Here you'll also find WPS and reset buttons and a power switch. The front panel contains a row of blue LED activity indicators for power, WPS, Internet, 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, all four LAN ports, and the USB 3.0 and eSATA/USB ports.
The WRT32X is powered by a dual-core 1.8GHz CPU, 256MB of flash memory, and 512MB of DDR3 memory. It's a dual band AC3200 router capable of speeds of up to 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 2600Mbps on the 5GHz band. As with the WRT3200ACM, it is DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) certified, allowing it to effectively double the 5GHz band's 80MHz channel width to achieve faster throughput speeds when used with clients that support Tri-Stream160 technology. It supports Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) data streaming, which transmits data simultaneously to compatible devices rather than sequentially, and Beamforming, which transmits data directly to clients rather than over a broad spectrum. As with other WRT routers, the WRT32X allows you to substitute its firmware with open-source code that offers customized settings and advanced monitoring capabilities, but if you go this route you'll lose the embedded Killer Prioritization capabilities.
Pros
- Uses Killer Networks Prioritization engine.
- Fast 2.4GHz throughput in testing.
- Easy to install and configure.
- Supports MU-MIMO streaming.
- Fast file-transfer speeds.
- Pricey.
- Middling 5GHz throughput.
Bottom Line
The Linksys WRT32X Wi-Fi Gaming Router uses the Killer Networks Prioritization engine to make sure you have plenty of bandwidth for online gaming. It also offers fast 2.4GHz and file transfer performance.
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