Realtek Gigabit Ethernet USB 3.0 Driver 5.006 for Windows XP

This article provides information about the Realtek Gigabit Ethernet USB 3.0 Driver 5.006 for Windows XP, focusing on the functionalities and features enabled by the Realtek RTL8153-CG Ethernet controller. This driver facilitates high-speed network connectivity for systems utilizing the older Windows XP operating system via a USB 3.0 interface.

Understanding the Realtek RTL8153-CG Ethernet Controller

The Realtek RTL8153-CG is a highly integrated Ethernet controller that combines several key components to deliver Gigabit Ethernet performance through a USB 3.0 connection. It integrates an IEEE 802.3u compliant Media Access Controller (MAC), a USB 3.0 bus controller, and embedded memory. This integration minimizes component count and streamlines the design process for manufacturers.

Key Components and Technologies:

• Media Access Controller (MAC): The MAC layer handles the data link layer functions of the Ethernet protocol, responsible for addressing, error detection, and media access control. The IEEE 802.3u compliance ensures compatibility with existing Ethernet standards.
• USB 3.0 Bus Controller: The USB 3.0 interface provides a high-bandwidth connection between the Ethernet controller and the host system. This is crucial for achieving Gigabit Ethernet speeds, as USB 2.0 would become a bottleneck.
• Embedded Memory: The controller includes embedded One-Time-Programmable (OTP) memory, eliminating the need for an external EEPROM (93C46/93C56/93C66/TWSI) for storing configuration data. This simplifies the design and reduces costs.
• DSP and Mixed-Mode Signal Technology: The RTL8153 utilizes advanced Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and mixed-mode signal technology to ensure reliable high-speed data transmission over standard CAT 5 UTP cable or CAT 3 UTP (at 10Mbps only) cable.

Core Functionalities and Features

The RTL8153 offers a comprehensive suite of features designed to enhance network performance, reliability, and power efficiency. These include:

• Robust Transmission and Reception: The controller implements several advanced technologies to ensure reliable data transmission, including:
  • Crossover Detection and Auto-Correction: Automatically detects and corrects cable wiring errors, simplifying network setup.
  • Polarity Correction: Corrects for reversed wire pairs, ensuring proper signal transmission.
  • Adaptive Equalization: Compensates for signal degradation caused by long cable runs.
  • Cross-Talk Cancellation: Reduces interference from adjacent wires in the cable.
  • Echo Cancellation: Eliminates reflected signals that can distort data transmission.
  • Timing Recovery: Accurately recovers the timing of the received signal.
  • Error Correction: Detects and corrects errors in the received data.
• USB 3.0 Advantages: The Realtek Gigabit Ethernet USB 3.0 Driver 5.006 for Windows XP leverages the advantages of USB 3.0, including:
  • Higher Bandwidth: USB 3.0 provides significantly higher bandwidth compared to USB 2.0, enabling Gigabit Ethernet speeds.
  • Improved Protocols: USB 3.0 incorporates improved protocols for more efficient data exchange between the host and the device.
  • Advanced Power Management: USB 3.0 offers advanced power management features, enabling the device to consume less power when idle or under low load.
• Advanced Power Management (ACPI, APM): The controller supports ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) for modern operating systems capable of OSPM (Operating System-directed Power Management). This allows the operating system to control the power state of the device, minimizing power consumption. The RTL8153 also supports remote wake-up (including AMD Magic Packet and Microsoft Wake-Up Frame) in both ACPI and APM (Advanced Power Management) environments.
• Microsoft Wake Packet Detection (WPD): The RTL8153 supports WPD, providing Wake-Up Frame information to the OS (e.g., PatternID, OriginalPacketSize, SavedPacketSize, SavedPacketOffset, etc.). This helps prevent unwanted or unauthorized wake-up of a sleeping computer.
• ‘RealWoW!’ Technology: The RTL8153 supports ‘RealWoW!’ technology, enabling remote wake-up of a sleeping PC through the Internet. This allows PCs to reduce power consumption by remaining in a low-power sleeping state until needed. Note that the ‘RealWoW!’ service requires registration upon first use.
• Protocol Offload: The RTL8153 supports protocol offload, offloading some of the most common protocols to the NIC hardware in order to prevent spurious wake-up and further reduce power consumption. The RTL8153 can offload ARP (IPv4) and NS (IPv6) protocols while in the D3 power-saving state.
• ECMA Proxy for Sleeping Hosts: The RTL8153 supports the ECMA (European Computer Manufacturers Association) proxy for sleeping hosts standard. This standard specifies the maintenance of network connectivity and presence via proxies to extend the sleep duration of higher-powered hosts. It handles some network tasks on behalf of the host, allowing the host to remain in sleep mode for longer periods. The operating proxy can generate reply packets, ignore packets, or wake the host as needed.
• IEEE 802.3az-2010 (Energy Efficient Ethernet): The RTL8153 supports IEEE 802.3az-2010, also known as Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE). EEE operates with the IEEE 802.3 Media Access Control (MAC) Sublayer to support operation in Low Power Idle mode. When the Ethernet network is in low link utilization, EEE allows systems on both sides of the link to save power.
• NDIS Support and VLAN: The Realtek Gigabit Ethernet USB 3.0 Driver 5.006 for Windows XP is fully compliant with Microsoft NDIS5, NDIS6 (IPv4, IPv6, TCP, UDP) Checksum features, and supports IEEE 802 IP Layer 2 priority encoding and IEEE 802.1Q Virtual bridged Local Area Network (VLAN). These features contribute to lowering CPU utilization, especially benefiting performance when in operation on a network server.

Target Applications

The RTL8153 and its corresponding driver are suitable for a wide range of applications, including:

• Desktop PCs
• Mobile devices (laptops, tablets)
• Workstations
• Servers
• Communications platforms
• Docking stations
• Embedded applications

Obtaining the Driver

The Realtek Gigabit Ethernet USB 3.0 Driver 5.006 for Windows XP can be obtained from various sources online. It’s crucial to download drivers from reputable sources to avoid malware or corrupted files.

Download Link:

• Driver Download Link – Ensure Source is Reputable and Scan Downloaded Files (This is a placeholder link. Please replace with an actual download link.)

Alternative Download Link:

• Softpedia – Realtek USB FE / GbE / 2.5G / Gaming Ethernet Family Controller Driver 10.059.0904.2024 (Although this is a newer version and may not be specifically for Windows XP, it’s provided as an alternative source. Check compatibility before installing.)

Important Considerations:

• Compatibility: While this article focuses on the Windows XP version, ensure the downloaded driver is indeed compatible with your specific operating system.
• Security: Always scan downloaded files with a reputable antivirus program before installation.
• Driver Updates: Consider checking for newer versions of the driver, as they may contain bug fixes and performance improvements. However, verify compatibility with Windows XP before installing.
• Source Verification: Download drivers only from trusted sources, such as the official Realtek website or well-known driver repositories.

This information aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Realtek Gigabit Ethernet USB 3.0 Driver 5.006 for Windows XP and the underlying technology of the Realtek RTL8153-CG Ethernet controller. Always exercise caution when downloading and installing drivers from the internet.