Archer c5 vs c7- Choosing a budget-friendly router
If you’re happy with your router when you don’t need an upgrade, but if you’re having trouble with speed, reliability, or range, it might be time to get an upgrade. The archer c5 vs c7 are great routers that can help in solving your router problems.
My first router was an Asus but after a few months it started developing a few problems and it would drop the net frequently. So I decided to go online and look for an upgrade and after reading some customer’s reviews for a lot of routers and taking into account my budget, I came up with two options the c5 and c7. So I came up with this table to help me decide.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between archer c5 and c7?
Archer router |
C5 |
C7 (Winner) |
Antennas |
2 external |
3 external and 3 internal |
Speeds |
2.4 GHz – 300 Mbps
5 GHz – 867 Mbps |
2.4 GHz – 450 Mbps
5 GHz – 1300 Mbps |
Processor |
800 MHz Broadcom |
720 MHz CPU |
Archer c5 vs c7. How do they differ?
Antennas
The c5 router comes with 2 external antennas to provide you with a faster and more reliable wireless performance at greater distances. The high-quality detachable dual-band antennas will provide a smoother experience when you’re streaming or gaming. The c7 router, on the other hand, has 3 external antennas and 3 internal antennas where the external ones are for the 5 GHz band while the internal ones are for the 2.4 GHz band. This produces an incredible performance and gives the dual-band flexibility where the 2.4 GHz band handles simple tasks while the 5 GHz band handles tasks with intense traffic.
Archer c7 has 6 antennas in total, with 3 external one for the 5 GHz and 3 internal for the 2.4 GHz. This gives it flexibility and better performance compared to c5.
Speeds
The c7 router is a dual-band router that operates on a 720 MHz CPU and it can reach speeds of 450 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. The c5 router is also a dual-band router but it operates on an 800 MHz Broadcom that can deliver 300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 867 Mbps on the 5 GHz band.
Archer c7 is a better performer with a powerful processor with faster theoretical speeds on both bandwidths.
Archer c5 vs c7. A comparison review
Archer c5
- Supports 802.11ac, the next generation of Wi-Fi
- 1.2Gbps of total available bandwidth
The Archer C5 ac1200 is a dual-band wifi router that can provide excellent performance and is ideal for small homes. It’s a small boxy router with a plastic case with its upper part divided into 3 pieces separated by small canals and covered by a glossy black finish. It has a non-intrusive look with an elegant casing and 2 antennas popping out at the back. There are 2 holes at the back of the router you can use to mount it on your wall or you can place it flat on your desk since it’s not too large it won’t take up much space. It has no cooling system but has air vents at the bottom that will help cool the router. At the front are LED lights for power, internet, wifi, WAN port, WPS, USB, and Ethernet ports. At the back are 2 USB 2.0 ports, 4 LAN ports, internet port, a WPS button, power and reset buttons, and power input. This dual-band router is equipped with an 800 MHz processor with 128 MB of RAM and 16 MB of flash storage. It has maximum theoretical speeds of 300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 867 Mbps on the 5 GHz.
The C5 is built on a Broadcom platform which means it can handle simultaneous connections for both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. However, it lacks beamforming technology which helps to maximize the signal enhance it to reach your connected devices. It has an IP-based QoS that allows you to set limits and control traffic to your devices, parental control to help you block or limit how many devices can connect to your internet. The guest network will provide your visitors with internet access that is separate from your network and for security, the C5 has advanced security encryption that will keep your data and network safe from attacks. It’s very easy to use the router’s tether app to configure and control your network from your phone. The C5 has good speed performance, so when using the 2.4 GHz band at close proximity, it can deliver 110 Mbps and 106 Mbps at 15 feet. For the 5 GHz band at close proximity, it scored speeds of 376 Mbps and 354 Mbps at 15 feet.
Pros
- Good performance
- Has an intuitive mobile interface through the tether app
- Has 2 USB 2.0 ports for file sharing and storage
- Has 4 gigabit Ethernet ports for faster network speeds
Cons
- Has very limited features
- Doesn’t have a USB 3.0 port
Archer C7
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A wireless dual-band router that is affordable and can perform just the same as the expensive routers. It’s a no-frills router that can deliver great performance and amazing range and has the speed and capability to cover a large area than other much expensive routers. It has the same glossy black chassis as the C5 router and 3 screw-on external antennas to handle the traffic. At the back are 4 LAN ports, 2 USB 2.0 ports, and buttons for power, WPS, and wireless. Apart from the 3 external antennas, C7 has 3 internal antennas where the external ones serve the 5 GHz band while the internal ones serve the 2.4 GHz band. This increases the performance of the router and offers flexibility to dual dedicated networks. The 2.4 GHz band can handle simple tasks like browsing while the 5 GHz band handles the heavy-duty tasks like online gaming, surfing, and HD streaming. You can easily install the router from your web browser on your PC and configure the settings.
C7 uses the latest encryption from WPA2 toWEP encryption to keep your network secure and parental controls to keep your kids away from harmful content, but this feature can be tedious because it’s based on the MAC addresses of your computer and that of your kids. It can use open-source firmware like DD-WRT to extend its performance or features which helps to optimize your router. C7 has outstanding throughput performance, where it can deliver 91.3 Mbps at close proximity on the 2.4 GHz band and 62.8 Mbps at 30 feet. For the 5 GHz band, it scored 509 Mbps at close proximity and 250 Mbps at 30 feet. It delivers quite an impressive performance on most tasks performed in an average home network.
Pros
- Very easy to install and manage
- Very affordable
- Excellent throughput performance
- Comes with 6 antennas that increase its range
Cons
- Only has USB 2.0 ports
- The 2.4 GHz band is a bit slow
Conclusion
Both archer c5 and c7 are wireless wifi dual-band routers that have a similar design except for the 2 external antennas you will find on the c5 instead of 3 external ones in the c7. This gives the c7 router more coverage than c5 which makes it better suited for large homes while c5 can accommodate simple tasks in a smaller home network.
So, which one is better Archer c5 or c7?
Archer C7 is better because it has 3 external antennas dedicated to the 5 GHz band and 3 internal ones dedicated to the 2.4 GHz band which gives the router flexibility and impressive performance and coverage.
FAQ
What is the difference between archer a7 and c7?
Archer a7 is the same as c7, but it uses Amazon Alexa to control some of its main features. It’s also short one USB 2.0 port at the back.
What is the difference between ac1200 and ac1750?
The main difference is mostly the speed levels. The number after AC indicates the speed so the higher the number the higher the speed of the router.
