If a get a gigabit motherboard, do I have to buy new ethernet wires and a new router to take advantage of it?

Answer 1

Your network moves as fast as your slowest component unless you use a switch. If you use a 100 Base-T capable router with a 10 Base-T adapter card, your speed is only going to be 10 Mbps. So if you have a Gigabit (1000 Base-T) adapter card and hook it up to a 100 Base-T router, your speeds will cap at 100 Mbps.

If you have a network switch, then each adapter card communicates with the switch at the fastest rate. Using a switch allows you to have 10 Mbps & 100 Mbps connections on the same network, without dropping the speeds. So 100 Mbps PCs can communicate with each other at 100 Mbps, but they would drop to 10 Mbps only when communicating with the machine with the slower adapter card.

Answer 2

Wires should not have to be replaced. It depends on the router. If the router says "10/100/1000", "gigabit", or "1Gb", then your old router should be fine. Check the documentation that came with the router or the manufacturer's website if the speed is not printed on the router.