Killer raises Internet performance with the E3100 Ethernet controller

What you need to know

• Killer announced the Killer E3100 Ethernet controller today.
• The controller frees up CPU cycles and PC memory to improve Internet performance.
• The Killer E3100 Ethernet controller is in devices from MSI and Acer, including some of the newly announced laptops from MSI.

Killer announced the Killer E3100 Ethernet controller today. The controller improves Internet performance by prioritizing gaming and freeing up CPU power and PC memory. It can reach speeds up to 2.5Gbps and can combine with Killer Wi-Fi products to reach up to 4.9 Gbps of theoretical throughput. The Killer 3100 is available in systems from Acer and MSI, including the newly announced MSI Creator 17 and MSI GE66 Raider.

The Killer E3100 uses several methods to improve Internet performance. First, it uses the Killer Prioritization Engine, which detects game traffic and prioritizes it above less important traffic. Killerstates that "Gamers can expect up to 3X better in-game latency performance during peak network usage periods."

The controller frees up 10 percent of CPU cycles and 20 percent of PC memory with GameFast Technology, according to Killer. GameFast Technology pauses processes that aren't needed when gaming, which frees up processing power and memory for gaming.

The E3100 also has a new Extreme Game Mode which reshapes a computer's network traffic to make sure packets don't get bogged down on networks. The controller also uses Killer Intelligence Engine to fix networking issues and lets people know when networking equipment isn't delivering optimal performance. Killer shared more details about the Killer Intelligence Engine at CES 2020.

The E3100 can work with Killer Wi-Fi products and supports DoubleShot Pro Technology. This technology allows a PC to use Killer Wi-Fi and the Ethernet connection through the E3100 at the same time. This combination can theoretically yield a maximum throughput of 4.9 Gbps.

The Killer 3100 will be in several upcoming devices from Acer and MSI. The MSI GS66 has the Killer E3100 and is available for preorder from Newegg with a release date of April 15, 2020.