Will upgrading my DIR-615 router(Rev B2) to a better one help me?

Right now i have 2 desktops, 1 laptop, xbox 360 and a phone connected to my Wireless N router. (Only the laptop is connected wirelessly) And usually when i have friends over (yes we use all 3 computers and the xbox 360 usually at once. everything lags so much. especially xbox live. Also when im downloading something on one of my computers same thing happens. i already updated my router with the latest firmware. So will getting a faster router help me? I just checked and saw that my laptop and my 1 desktop supports 1000mps (Gigabit Ethernet). So if i get a router that have GBE will it help me by alot? And i know that this is all limited to my ISP but i don't really know anything about the ISP and bandwidth stuff so.. MY ISP is optimum online So anyways help! will getting a faster router help? OR do i have to upgrade my modem? I have a motorola SBV 5120 modem. And im trying to stay in budget so maybe like around $50 for a router.. anyways please help.

 

The DIR 615 is a wireless N router but from what I can see, doesn't support 5Ghz transmission and definitely doesn't have gigabit ports. Gigabit will speed up computer to computer services, (reduce lag during gaming) and the 5Ghz wireless could be useful if your laptop is always used close to your router (like if in you're in a 1 or 2 bdrm apt but doesn't seem to be the case) but your isp bandwith will then become the bottleneck.

I don't know if the XBox supports 1000MB/s transfer rates. All the XBox & Playstation setups I've seen are wireless. If you buy a gigabit router (which you should), you'd need to upgrade the ethernet card in the desktop that doesn't support the gigabit rates. If everything on your side is maxed out with equipment (gigabit in your router and all your comps) then see where you are with lag at that point and then look into upgrading your ISP package if necessary.

If you download something on only one computer, none of the others doing anything else, not even internet browsing, you still think your connection is slow?

 

Gigabit will only help between computers on your network.

If all your lag is while uploading and downloading to the internet, Gigabit and N will do little. Your internet connection is probably the culprit. Check your phone bill and see what internet plan you have/speed. For that much stuff you really want AT LEAST a 3meg internet connection. G and 1/100 is plenty fast for this connection so long as you are not sharing large files between the computers.

Again, N and Gigabit is only needed if you are sharing large files between computers on your network or you have a pretty fast internet connection (over 10meg). On the other hand, if you were buying a new router, I would say only buy a gigabit/N because they are cheap enough that the price difference isn't worth it in most cases.

 

If only 2 of my comps have gigabit ethernet and i buy a gigabit router, will it only help those 2 computers? And i experience lag when we all start playing games on all of the comps/xbox live or if theres 2 computers being used and one of them is downloading something, it lags really bad. I get about 12mps in download and about 2mps in upload if i run speedtest.net while connected to the router and my computer is the only one thats being used. And im not sure if this is true but when the phone rings it seems to be slowing down my internet too.

 

Precisely

Either you have a Q.O.S. (Quality Of Service) issue, or something is wrong with your router or modem. Also, if you don't have filters on your phone lines, get them in place at each phone jack being used, I doubt they will help, but they are cheap or free. Lastly, you may need to have the phone lines checked. Bad phone lines will create issues with internet when used, and a bad modem can slow down considerably when a phone is used.

I would start with seeing if there is an upgrade for your firmware for the router and possibly modem. Then check the router for a Q.O.S. section where you can set what things have priority, downloads should be down the list, games should be highest. If that fails, consider a new router and/or modem. Used modems are very cheap on Ebay, I paid $5 for my last one. Do some research on good ones. For a while Speedstream was considered the ones to get.