Specification and Test Methodology
Netgear Nighthawk XR500 Pro Gaming Router Specification |
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| Package Contents | • XR500 Nighthawk Pro Gaming Router (XR500) • 4 detachable antennas • Ethernet cable • Quick start guide • Power adapter |
| Physical Specifications | • Dimensions: 12.7 x 9.6 x 2.2 in (321.9 x 243.7 x 55.0 mm) • Weight: 1.77lb (801g) |
| Standards | • Two (2) USB 3.0 ports • IEEE 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz + 256 QAM support • IEEE 802.11 a/n/ac 5.0GHz • Five (5) 10/100/1000 Mbps—(1 WAN & 4 LAN) Gigabit Ethernet ports |
| Technical Specifications | • AC2600 (800Mbps @2.4GHz—256QAM support +1733Mbps @5GHz 11ac) • Simultaneous Dual Band WiFi - Tx/Rx 4x4 (2.4GHz)+ 4x4 (5GHz) • 4x4 11ac 80MHz + 2x2-160/80+80MHz • Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) • Powerful dual core 1.7GHz processor • Four (4) high-performance external antennas • Memory: 256MB flash and 512MB RAM • IPv6 support (Internet Protocol Version 6) • On/Off LED light switch |
| Key Features | • Gaming Dashboard—Customizable view of real-time bandwidth utilization by device, ping, etc. • Geo-Filter—Control your lag by limiting distance to game servers or other players • Gaming VPN Client Support—Protect your network identity and prevent DoS attacks • Network Monitor—Check bandwidth- hogging devices and identify what causes lag • Quad Stream & 160MHz for faster speeds • MU-MIMO support for simultaneous streaming • Quality of Service—Prioritize gaming devices and allocate bandwidth by device • Beamforming+ for more reliable connections • ReadySHARE USB to share your USB hard drive & printer • ReadySHARE Vault—PC software for automatic backup to USB hard drive connected to the router |
| Support | • 90-day complimentary technical support following purchase from a NETGEAR authorized reseller. • Join the NETGEAR Community Forum. Visit http://community.netgear.com |
| System Requirements | • Microsoft Windows 7, 8, 10, Vista, XP, 2000, Mac OS, UNIX, or Linux • Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 or higher, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome 55 or higher, Firefox 45 or higher, Safari 10 or higher |
| Security | • VPN support—secure remote access • WiFi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2—PSK) • Double firewall protection (SPI and NAT) • Denial-of-service (DoS) attack prevention |
| Warranty | • www.netgear.com/warranty |
Comparison Routers |
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| Router | Receiver | HEXUS Review | Reviewed Price | Product Page |
| Linksys WRT32X Gaming Router | Killer Wireless-AC 1435 | November 2017 | £300 | linksys.com |
| Netgear Nighthawk XR500 Pro Gaming Router | Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 | April 2018 | £240 | netgear.com |
| Synology Router RT1900ac | TP-Link Archer T4U AC1300 | January 2016 | £120 | synology.com |
| Synology Router RT2600ac | TP-Link Archer T4U AC1300 | January 2017 | £210 | synology.com |
| TP-Link Archer VR900 | TP-Link Archer T4U AC1300 | October 2015 | £140 | tp-link.com |
| TP-Link Archer VR2600 | TP-Link Archer T4U AC1300 | October 2016 | £200 | tp-link.com |
Test Methodology
Evaluating the wireless performance of a router can be something of a minefield. The sheer amount of surrounding wireless broadcasts is such that the test environment is always subject to change, and performance will fluctuate as a result. With this in mind, please be aware that our performance results may not mirror your own and the following benchmark numbers should be viewed as theoretical.
To provide examples of real-world performance, the routers are installed on the ground floor of a three-storey house built in 2006. Routers with a built-in modem are connected directly to a BT Infinity line, whereas standalone routers are first connected to an external DrayTek Vigor 130 VDSL modem. Wireless performance on non-Killer routers is tested from a ThinkPad X1 Carbon laptop outfitted with a TP-Link Archer T4U dual-band wireless adapter. Killer-enabled routers are tested from an Alienware 15 R3 laptop equipped with a Killer Wireless-AC 1435 adapter.
Wireless performance tests are conducted at multiple locations. Location A is defined as a first-floor room directly above the router, representing a distance of roughly 15ft and one separating floor. Location B is on the ground floor at a horizontal distance of roughly 45ft from the router, with multiple separating walls. Finally, Location C is on the top floor at a vertical distance of roughly 40ft, with two-floor separation.
In each location, we test wireless performance by copying 2GB of data to and fro a Synology NAS wired to the network via a TP-Link TL-SG1024 Gigabit switch. For comparison's sake, we also run the same file transfer using a wired connection to the laptop, and we also test transfer speed to a router-attached storage device - an SK hynix Canvas SC300 SSD installed in a basic USB 3.0 caddy.
Given the throughput potential of modern routers, the limitation in these tests has historically centred around the receiver. The first routers on show were tested using a laptop outfitted with a TP-Link Archer T4U dual-band AC1300 wireless adapter. To better highlight the XR500 Pro's potential, Netgear has supplied a Nighthawk AC1900 adapter capable of speeds of up to 600Mbps on 2.4GHz and 1,300Mbps on 5GHz. The XR500 Pro results shouldn't therefore be compared directly to the other routers, but the numbers provide insight on what can be achieved with this combination of high-end hardware.
