EVGA Killer Xeno Pro Gaming Network Card Review

How Does It Work

The Killer Xeno Pro bypasses the Windows Network Stack to transfer packets directly to/from the game, without using the system CPU to perform any function, differently of what happens when you use the motherboard on-board network card, since Killer Xeno Pro has a dedicated networking processor. In layman’s terms Killer Xeno Pro behaves like an overzealous porter that receives a FedEx addressed to you and immediately sends it over to your apartment, instead of piling up stuff over the counter and waiting to deliver everything by the end of his shift, like Windows does.

The Killer Xeno Pro is like a computer in itself, as it sports a processor, memory and storage capacity (you can plug a pen drive in its USB port, for instance). BigFoot Network promises that some features will benefit by later applications like, for instance, running a Torrent client through its processor and saving the downloaded file unto a pen drive, bypassing the whole system entirely.

Once you click on the Xeno icon, you have access to a menu that features “game mode” (optimizes the system for gameplay); “application mode” (does the same for each selected app); “Xeno configuration” (the actual card control panel) and, finally, “bandwith control” (duh).

Figure 4: User menu.

The user can fine-tune the bandwidth according to each application and set maximum and minimum download/upload values. It’s also possible to manage the VoIP feature from some games through the card, taking this load of the system and minimizing voice lag among players.

Figure 5: Configuration.