Re: i386 home firewall/router/nat bottleneck diagnostics?

[yancm%sdf.lonestar.org@localhost]

> On Wed, Mar 16, 2011 at 01:57:10PM -0000, yancm%sdf.lonestar.org@localhost 
> wrote:
>> Network cards:
>> - to the cable modem I have a realtek 8169SC
>>   which uses the re driver. Mode is 1000baseTX.
>>
>> - to the internal network I have a realtek 8139
>>   which uses the rtk driver. Mode is 100BaseTX.

> I think that 8139 (rtk) is not happy when it has to share its
> interupt line - e.g. machines with lots of PCI slots.
>
> The advice is to get a Real Network Card for the inner network,
> too.

This sounds like practical advice, and I'm OK with doing this.
But...what do I need for a "Real Network Card"?
Is an 8169SC based card "real" enough? I can obtain them for $8-20US.
Others have specifically said only Intel, which I see at $25-50US.

I know, I know...you get what you pay for...but is the cost
difference really worth it in this case? Are there other
chipsets or manufacturers that behave well?