# Cable Modem Question

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cable-modem-question/191398>\
**Category:** PittSpeed Off Topic\
**Created:** [July 27, 2007, 5:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cable-modem-question/191398 "2007-07-27T05:35:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jeff95TA](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jeff95ta/32/5935_2.png) [@Jeff95TA](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jeff95TA)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2007, 5:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cable-modem-question/191398/1 "2007-07-27T05:35:20Z")

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I’m replacing my parent’s Mac with a Dell and Comcast Internet. I’ve found a Motorola SB5101 and an SB5120 locally. Would you recommend one over the other? Nothing jumped out at me in the specs.

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**Author:** ![4doors5gears](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/4doors5gears/32/6006_2.png) [@4doors5gears](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/4doors5gears)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2007, 6:08am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cable-modem-question/191398/2 "2007-07-27T06:08:01Z")

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They’re both very similar, the SB5101 is a little bit newer and also just recently had a firmware update. These are the most common ones here at Comcast. Whichever one is cheaper, but if they’re the same price, get the 5101.

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**Author:** ![Jeff95TA](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jeff95ta/32/5935_2.png) [@Jeff95TA](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jeff95TA)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2007, 7:13am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cable-modem-question/191398/3 "2007-07-27T07:13:47Z")

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I did some searching and there were reports of a lot of packet loss with the 5120 with Comcast service. Have you heard anything about that? It sounded like it was only a problem for stuff like gaming with an Xbox, which my parents won’t be doing!

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**Author:** ![4doors5gears](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/4doors5gears/32/6006_2.png) [@4doors5gears](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/4doors5gears)\
**Post date:** [July 27, 2007, 7:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/cable-modem-question/191398/4 "2007-07-27T07:27:28Z")

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Nothing outstanding as far as packet loss goes… We’ve gotten calls off and on about packet loss when gaming or slow speeds, but consoles are also pretty demanding and a lot of people go through routers and experience packet loss as well. Packet loss also is dependant upon signal levels and noise in the line.

On a day to day basis for normal surfing and even a small network, both modems are capable of handling everything your parents will be doing online I’m sure.