COMPARING USB TO ETHERNET CONVERTERS: APPLE VS. KNOCK-OFF
[Angus Gratton] just recently cracked open a pair of USB to Ethernet converters to see what’s inside. One was an Apple top quality device, the other a no-name from eBay. The former rings in at $30, with the latter just $4. This type of comparison is one of our favorites. It’s particularly fascinating with Apple products as they are understood for solid hardware options as well as the knock-offs are similarly notorious for shoddy imitations.
From the outside both gadgets look about the same. The interior differences begin right away with a whole-board metal shield on the Apple dongle as well as none on the off-brand. however the hardware inside is really rather similar. There’s an RJ-45 jack on the left, complied with by the Ethernet isolation chip next to it. From there we begin to see differences. The off-brand had a blank chip where Apple’s ASIX AX88772ALF USB to Ethernet bridge controller is located. There is likewise a difference with the clock; Apple is utilizing two crystals with the other utilizing just one.
[via Reddit]