Linksys WRT1900acs vs WRT3200acm – A battle of two Linksys routers
The Linksys WRT3200acm, being a more advanced version of the Linksys WRT1900, promises better speeds and performance. Does it live up to these expectations? Read this Linksys WRT1900acs vs WRT3200acm comparison to find out.
If you have multiple Wi-FI and internet enabled devices in your home, getting an ideal wireless router should be a priority. However, picking an affordable wireless router with fast, reliable speeds is not an easy task. As an upgrade to WRT1900acs and previous models in that line, the Linksys WRT3200acm promises more features and better performance. With its additional Tri-stream 160 and MU-MIMO technologies, the WRT3200acm has better considerably better speeds, control and overall performance.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between Linksys WRT1900acs and WRT3200acm?
Model |
Linksys WRT1900acs Open Source Dual-Band router |
Linksys WRT3200acm Dual-Band Open Source router (Winner) |
Processor |
1.6Ghz |
1.8Ghz |
Wi-FI technology |
Dual-band (802.11ac) |
Dual- Band (802.11ac) |
MU-MIMO |
NO |
YES |
Throughput Speed |
1900mbps on the 5Ghz band
600Mbps on the 2.4Ghz |
2900mbps on the 5ghz band
600mps on the 2.4ghz band |
RAM |
512MB |
512MB |
Linksys WRT1900acs vs WRT3200acm – How do they differ?
Design
The Linksys WRT1900acs sports a practical chunky look with an embellished blue plastic at a1/3 or so part of the front. The router has flat rubber feet that allow you to position the router on the desk or shelf and the grooves on the feet make the router mountable. Although the Linksys WRT1900acs carries a lot of weight, you can still mount it on the wall and on the ceiling. The router has 4 short external antennas; two on its rear and 2 on each side of the router.
The router has 1 gigabit WAN port, 4 Gigabit LAN ports, a USB3.0 port and combination USB2.0 eSATA port. The circular, horizontal LED lights on this router are easy to spot from across the room. They are positioned in the front of the router and indicate internet connection, power, the dual bands, USB ports, LAN ports, WPS and the eSATA port.
While the WRT3200 is made with the 1900 and previous designs in mind, it has more of a futuristic look. The blue enclosure design is more cutting edge and modern, making it fit for any modern home design. Similar to the Linksys WRT1900, the WRT3200acm has 4 adjustable and removable external antennas on the back and sides. At the front side of the router are LED status indicators for USB, eSATA combo ports, LAN ports, WPS, radio bands, internet and power
The linksysWRT3200acm is better than the WRT1900acs in terms of design. While they are similar, the Linksys WRT3200acm has a more cutting edge futuristic design that blends in with most modern homes.
Speed and performance
The Linksys WRT1900ac is a designed with a dual core 1.6 GHz processor. It has 512mb of SSR3 RAM and is also equipped with 128mb of flash memory. It supports 3×3 802.11ac wireless over its 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz band. The router is expected to reach estimated throughput speeds of 1300mbsps on the 5 GHz band and 600mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. When tested, the Linksys WRT1900 shows average performance. The router can sustain speeds of up to 50OMbps on it 5 GHz band at close proximity, and 110 at 15 feet. On the 2.4 GHz band, it can sustain 65Mbps at close proximity and 78Mbps at 15 feet.
The Linksys WRT3200acm is powered by a 1.8 GHz dual core processor. It utilizes the latest 802.11ac technology. The router also supports 160 MHz, Tri- stream, MU-MIMO and beamforming technology. Just like the WRT1900acs, the WRT3200acm features 512MB of RAM that helps boos the speeds over wireless frequency on its 5GHZ and 2.4GHZ bands. It is designed to reach throughput speeds of up to 2600Mbps on the 5 GHz band and 600mbps on the 2.4 GHZ band.
When tested the Linksys WRT3200ACM shows a considerably great performance. At close proximity, the router sustains speeds of around 596mbps per second on the 5GHZ band. At around 30 feet, the routers can sustain speeds of up to 238Mbps. On the 2.4 GHz, the router can sustain speeds of 1OOMbps at close proximity and 60mbps at around 30 feet.
The Linksys WRT3200ACM has better software features and faster speeds when compared to the Linksys WRT1900acs.
Linksys WRT1900acs vs WRT3200acm comparison overview
Linksys WRT1900ACS overview
- Wireless AC, up to 4.3x faster than N technology: Simultaneous dual band speed up to 600 Mbps (2.4 GHz) +...
- 4 high performance antennas: Engineered to enhance dual band communication, four external, adjustable...
The Linksys WRT1900acs is an 802.11 enabled router with a dual core 1.6 GHz processor, 512mb of memory. It features 4 external adjustable antennas that promise optimal coverage and high signal strength. The router is equipped with dual band performance, 5GHZ and 2.4GHZ, to improve Wi-FI coverage.
You can remote access and manage the Linksys WRT1900ac. This is possible using the Linksys smart Wi-Fi account that allows you to remotely log into the home network and configure the quality of service for gaming and video plus router management. The Linksys WRT1900ac is designed with a powerful 1.6 GHz dual core arm processor. It can handle fast transfer rates during video streaming, web surfing, online gaming and large file transfer. You can multitask on this router with no network lag.
The 521 MB of ram allow users to move large files at fast speed. The router provides fast storage performance for both wireless and wired devices. Its wireless ac AC1900 technology utilizes beamforming and other tech to strengthen the signal to chosen devices resulting in better range, stronger connections and faster speeds. Wireless repeater and bridge modes allow the users to extend the Wi-FI signals for both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band making it a powerful range extender.
Pros
- Has great AC Wi-FI performance
- Robust and functional designs
- Has an open WRT support
- Powerful UI
- Great USB transfer performance
Cons
- Does not have basic view for UI
Linksys WRT3200acm overview
- Fast wireless router provides Wi-Fi coverage for your home (works with existing modem)
- Open source firmware offers advanced customization; Certified operating systems: MacOS (10.X or higher),...
The Linksys WRT3200ACM is an enterprise grade router that is perfect for any office or multiple device home. The router is equipped with a tri stream 160 GHz to deliver fast Wi-FI performance to multiple devices simultaneously. The ports are designed to connect to a wide range of devices including network printers, hard drives, flash drives and more. It has 2 Wi-FI ands, 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz, which can sustain combined speeds of up to 3.3 mbps
The innovative 160GHZ tri-stream technology enables the router to deliver fast speeds without any lag. The MU-MIMO tech on this device allows it to facilitate fast simultaneous activities online. This means multiple users/devices can play online, stream HD/4K movies, listen to music and download files without lag.
This router can be controlled through a smart Wi-FI mobile app. It features a parental control tool that you can use to block internet access and access to certain cites for some of the clients/connected devices. The media prioritization tool on the app allows users to redirect network traffic to specific devices, games and applications. The router is open source ready which means you can modify it to suit your needs. This includes setting up secure VPN, detecting intrusion, analyze and manage network traffic plus more.
Pros
- Fast 5 GHz throughput test
- Has outstanding file transfer speeds
- Supports MU-MIMO and Tri-stream 160Mhz tech
- Parental control-enabled
Cons
- Does not have 160 MHz clients
Conclusion: So, which one is better: Linksys WRT1900ACS or Linksys WRT3200acm?
Linksys WRT3200acm is the winner between the two models. Not only does the router spot a better design than its counterpart, but also has advanced software additions. Its 1.8 GHz core processor and 160GHZ tri-stream technology enables the devices to work faster and wt better range. The Linksys WRT3200acm is more expensive than the WRT1900acm but it’s definitely worth it due to better/improved of speeds and performance.
FAQ
Does the Linksys WRT3200acm run hot?
After constant use, the router does start to get warm. It is advisable you place the router in an open airspace to avoid over processing.
What is the range of the WRT3200acm?
You can access the router at a range of about 4000 square feet ‘
