Designed for large homes that require maximum bandwidth for online gaming and 4K video streaming, the Asus RT-AC5300 Wireless AC5300 Tri-Band Gigabit Router ($399.99) uses the latest 802.11ac technology and three individual radio bands to deliver game-worthy throughput to multiple clients. This oversized router is packed with features, including game-enhancement options, Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) data streaming, 4X4 data transmissions, and a wealth of management settings. It turned in very respectable scores in our throughput tests, but couldn't quite match the overall performance of our top pick for high-end routers, the D-Link AC5300 Ultra Wi-Fi Router (DIR-895L/R)($368.00 at Amazon).

Design and Features

Measuring 2.6 by 9.6 by 9.6 inches (HWD), the RT-AC5300 ($299.99 at Newegg) requires a good deal of desktop space, but not as much as the D-Link DIR-895L/R, which measures 5.8 by 16.4 by 10.3 inches. The router uses a matte-black enclosure with red trim and beveled edges, and has eight removable and adjustable antennas. The front edge contains small LED indicators for Power, 2.4GHz and 5GHz band connectivity, WAN and Internet activity, and WPS activity. On the left side is a USB 2.0 port, as well as buttons for enabling and disabling the LEDs and the Wi-Fi bands and for initializing the WPS security feature. Around back are four Gigabit LAN ports, a WAN port, a USB 3.0 port, and a Power button.

A 1.4GHz dual-core processor powers the RT-AC5300, and the router uses 802.11ac circuitry with three individual radio bands (one 2.4GHz band and two 5GHz bands). It's an AC5300 device that delivers theoretical throughput speeds of up to 1,000Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 2,167Mbps on each of the 5GHz bands. As with the D-Link DIR-895L/R, the RT-AC5300 is a 4X4 router, which means it uses four individual streams to deliver and receive data. It also supports beamforming, sending signals directly to clients, Smart Connect, which automatically chooses the best band for optimal throughput, and MU-MIMO technology for simultaneous rather than sequential streaming.

Asus RT-AC5300 Wireless Tri-Band Router

ASUS RT-AC5300 Tri-Band Gigabit Wi-Fi Gaming Router

Good Secondhand Condition