Network Interface Card / Wireless Efficiency

[Corky]

Ok, so my curiosity is peaked…. So, here is my situation. I am playing a good match of TF2. Then the wife streams some Netflix on the laptop and my ping goes through the roof (from 45 to 300). Now as you can imagine with my frustration, I ask her to stop or wait till later. (Of course she doesn’t understand how one can affect the other). So, I have her try using the Playstation 3 instead. The result is my ping is now about 70 and the video quality is better than it was with the laptop. Great so everyone is happy. :)But my question is there a difference in efficiency with wireless devices? The laptop is semi new … 2007 and I am extremely picky about keep’n the crap ….. (toolbars etc.) off of the computer that would/ or might suck extra bandwidth. Both of the devices receive their connection wirelessly from the same router. It still boggles me that my PS3 gives me a better ping than my laptop along with a better picture. So what gives?? Not really worried about the video…. But the connection thing….. any input on why such a huge difference would be cool. Is there a such thing as efficiency with ethernet adapters?? Just kinda find it interesting. Thanks for any input.

[metacide]

piqued* not peaked

Netflix uses a different amount of bandwidth when you connect using a console than if you were to use a real computer. The lower amount of bandwidth being used would let you have more fun playing TF2.