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Killer Networking products (Killer NIC), from Rivet Networks, are designed with the intention to deliver smooth and fast gaming, video, and communication experiences.

Commonly found in motherboards, notebook computers and desktop computers targeted towards gamers and performance PC users, Killer Networking products are the only consumer networking hardware products that feature Quality of Service (QoS) capabilities that detect and prioritize traffic to ensure the most important applications get the network bandwidth they need. Killer Networking products were first introduced into the market in 2006.

Killer Networking products can be found in products by manufacturers such as Acer, Alienware, AsRock, MSI, and Gigabyte.

History
Killer Networking products were first introduced in 2006 by an Austin-based start up, Bigfoot Networks. Bigfoot Networks launched several PCIe add-in networking cards, both wired and wireless, that were designed to reduce lag and latency in online gaming. Qualcomm Atheros purchased Bigfoot Networks in 2011, and facilitated the transition from stand-alone PCIe products to a line of Killer Networking products that were integrated onto motherboards, and notebook and desktop computers. During this time, market adoption skyrocketed as these integrated Killer Networking products also launched the first Quality of Service capabilities in consumer electronic products.

In 2014, Austin-based technology company Rivet Networks took over the Killer Networking line of business from Qualcomm. By August 2015, Rivet Networks had launched all-new models of Ethernet and Wi-Fi Killer Networking products.

Key Technologies
Killer Networking products employ several technologies that are designed to deliver impressive networking performance and fast, smooth online gaming, video, and communication experiences:

Advanced Stream Detect 2.0
Killer Networking products feature QoS capabilities that enable Killer Networking products to accurately detect and prioritize network traffic for websites and application that are running on the computer. By prioritizing the network traffic for key websites and applications above lower priority apps/sites, Killer allows users to have a faster, smoother, enjoyable and uninterrupted experience.

ExtremeRange
Killer Networking’s ExtremeRange Technology introduces full MU-MIMO (Multi-User-Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output) support, which can dramatically increase network efficiency by working with a MU-MIMO enabled access point. ExtremeRange™ Technology also includes two external 5GHz signal amplifiers to improve your performance at longer distances. The External Power Amplifier and the Low Noise Amplifier work together to increase and maximize your WiFi range and to amplify your wireless signals so they cut through the noise to deliver your data as quickly as possible.

DoubleShot Pro
DoubleShot Pro Technology from Killer Networking allows the use of both the Killer Ethernet and Wi-Fi products at the same time. Killer DoubleShot Pro Technology automatically picks the fastest network connection (Ethernekillt or Wireless) and sends all high priority traffic over that interface. All standard traffic is then sent over the other interface. This ensures the highest priority traffic will always be put on the fastest and most reliable link. Killer technology will automatically identify latency sensitive gaming. Through the use of the Killer Control Center, users may customize which applications go over each interface.

Killer Prioritization Engine
Killer Networking’s first router technology, called the Killer Prioritzation Engine, works in conjunction with Killer-enabled PCs to prioritize important Killer networking traffic (such as game, streaming video, or Skype calls) over less important home networking traffic. In addition, the KPE prioritizes downloads on Killer-enabled PCs below other home networking traffic.

Products
Currently Rivet Networks does not offer any standalone products - Killer Networking products must be purchased as part of a motherboard or computer containing the technology inside. The following products are actively available on the market:

Killer E2200
Originally launched by Qualcomm in 2012, the Killer E2200 gigabit Ethernet controller can still be found in some motherboards on the market today. The Killer E2200 was the first product to feature Killer's QoS technology, called Advanced Stream Detect.

Killer E2400
The Killer E2400 gigabit Ethernet controller was launched in August of 2015. The E2400 was Rivet Networks' first product to feature the all-new Advanced Stream Detect 2.0 Technology and was target toward gamers and performance PC users that demanded strong networking performance out of their PCs.

Killer E2500
In September 2016, Rivet Networks launched the Killer E2500 gigabit Ethernet controller. With the Killer E2500, Rivet announced its all-new Killer Control Center and the ability to detect and prioritize website and individual connections within applications. With this technology, Killer products are better able to manage, detect, and control network streams within browsers and within gaming utilities such as Steam.

Killer Wireless-AC 1535
Rivet released the Killer Wireless-AC 1535 with ExtremeRange Technology in May of 2015. The 1535 was the first Wireless-AC module in the PC market to fully support 11ac Wave 2 functionality such as MU-MIMO technology. In addition, Rivet placed two hardware amplifiers on the module to increase throughput at longer distances.

Killer Wireless-AC 1435
In mid-2016, Rivet Networks announced the availability of the Killer Wireless-AC 1435. Featuring many of the same features as the more premium 1535, but it did not have the hardware accelerators featured in the 1535's ExtremeRange technology.

Killer xTend
At Computex in 2017, Rivet Networks announced Killer xTend technology, which incorporates 3+ Killer gigabit Ethernet controllers and a Killer Wireless product into a PC. xTend not only provides network access for a computer, but also can act as a built-in switch and wireless range extender.

SmartByte
In June of 2017, Rivet announced SmartByte software. Featured on Dell's Inspiron line of notebook and desktop computers, SmartByte detects and prioritizes networking traffic for streaming video and interactive video chats such as Skype. SmartByte is designed to keep your videos smooth, lag-free, and at high-resolutions.

Linksys WRT32X AC3200
In August 2017, Rivet Networks partnered with Linksys to launch the world's first router featuring the Killer Prioritization Engine inside. The Killer Prioritization Engine works in tandem with Killer-enabled PCs to manage home networking traffic. The router will prioritize Killer networking traffic such as games, Skype calls, and videos above other home traffic and it will also de-prioritize less urgent Killer traffic (such as downloads).