EVGA Bigfoot Networks Killer Xeno Pro Review

 

Installation of the Killer Xeno Pro is very straightforward, despite the relative complexity of the card in relation to most other NICs or the network controllers integrated onto most motherboards.

Bigfoot Networks Killer Xeno Pro NIC
Drivers and Software

Simply insert the card, connect the audio pass throughs to the aux input on your sound card, install its drivers, and you're basically done. With the installation complete, an icon will be present in the system tray that gives user's access to the card's control panel and a few simple toggles.

Clicking on the system tray icon opens the menu above and allows users to quickly switch between game and application modes and access the Zeno configuration tools or bandwidth control menu. Game mode is just what it sounds like--the mode in which the card bypasses the Windows network stack and prioritized game data for reduced latency. Clicking on the Xeno configuration menu option, opens up the card's control panel, which is represented in the images below.

  

On the main screen user's are able to alter the card's link speed or configure the Xeno Pro's LLR mode for games or better application compatibility. And on the TCP tab, users can alter a trio of settings from MTU size to ACK (acknowledgement) frequency and Algorithm control. There is a third tab labeled "About" as well (not pictured) that shows the driver version and features a diagnose button that lists some specifics about the card when pressed.


Marco Chiappetta

Marco Chiappetta

Marco's interest in computing and technology dates all the way back to his early childhood. Even before being exposed to the Commodore P.E.T. and later the Commodore 64 in the early ‘80s, he was interested in electricity and electronics, and he still has the modded AFX cars and shop-worn soldering irons to prove it. Once he got his hands on his own Commodore 64, however, computing became Marco's passion. Throughout his academic and professional lives, Marco has worked with virtually every major platform from the TRS-80 and Amiga, to today's high end, multi-core servers. Over the years, he has worked in many fields related to technology and computing, including system design, assembly and sales, professional quality assurance testing, and technical writing. In addition to being the Managing Editor here at HotHardware for close to 15 years, Marco is also a freelance writer whose work has been published in a number of PC and technology related print publications and he is a regular fixture on HotHardware’s own Two and a Half Geeks webcast. - Contact: marco(at)hothardware(dot)com

Related content