Battle of the AC3200 monster routers: ASUS RT-AC3200 vs. D-Link DIR-890L

For the Modern Connected Family

When was the last time you counted the number of devices you have connected to your router? How many connected devices do you think you have? Count and add them up - PCs, notebooks, smartphones, tablets, and don’t forget your IP cameras, smart home plugs and any Internet of Things devices you might have. If you happen to have a large family, chances are there could be as many as twenty devices connected to your router. That’s a lot of devices that a single router needs to serve.

And because of the current limitations of router technologies, connecting multiple devices, especially if they are all active at the same time, degrades performance. We explained why in our guide to wireless 802.11ac networking, so if you are unfamiliar with networking in general, the guide is a good place to start reading and catch up on the latest router technologies.

To adapt to our changing needs and usage scenarios, we have the new AC3200 class of routers. These are typically tri-band router and they broadcast three separate networks - two independent 5GHz networks and a single 2.4GHz network. The additional 5GHz network provides 1300Mbps of extra throughput, giving a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 3200Mbps - 1300Mbps each from the 5GHz bands and 600Mbps from the 2.4GHz band. The idea is to put the faster devices on one 5GHz band and the slower ones on the other. This way, on the faster band, the amount of time needed to serve each device will be kept down to a minimum, allowing it to quickly serve one device and then the next. And as we have shown during our testing of the Linksys EA9200, this technology really works. Not content to let Linksys have the AC3200 market all to themselves, ASUS and D-Link both recently launched their own AC3200 router. Now it’s time to find out which is best.

ASUS RT-AC3200 Tri-Band Wireless-AC3200 Gigabit Router

We first saw the ASUS RT-AC3200 at Computex 2014 last year. Needless to say, it was the sheer number of external antennas that it had that caught our eyes. Furthermore, it was also the first AC3200 class tri-band router that we saw. After a long wait, it is finally here now.

Under the hood, the ASUS RT-AC3200 router is powered by Broadcom’s 5G XStream chipset, which consists of a single 1GHz dual-core Broadcom BCM4709A and three offload Broadcom BCM43602 processors, each dedicated to one of the RT-AC3200’s three radios. The 5G Xstream chipset is paired with 256MB of RAM. This configuration is similar to the Linksys EA9200 router.

On the outside, the RT-AC3200 router looks almost identical to the previously reviewed RT-AC87U router, save for the extra two external antennas. It has the same highly angular and chiseled chassis and upon closer scrutiny, we discovered that the RT-AC3200 router is actually slightly larger than the RT-AC87U. It doesn’t help that the RT-AC3200 also has 6 sizeable external antennas, each measuring 21cm long. All this means that the RT-AC3200 is one humongous router. Still, despite the RT-AC3200 router’s sizeable dimensions and hefty weight, there are actually mounting points on the underside of the router, so wall-mounting is definitely possible. However, if it were up to us, we would just find a nice flat surface to put the RT-AC3200 router.

Elsewhere, the ASUS RT-AC3200 router has the same row of LED status indicators upfront like the RT-AC87U router. However, the positioning has been slightly revised. Compared to the RT-AC87U router, they now protrude slightly, making them easier to see, plus they glow brighter. Like the RT-AC87U router, the RT-AC3200 router’s single USB 3.0 port is still positioned at the front. This is an odd choice as plugging in devices (presumably an external storage device to take advantage of the USB 3.0 port's superior speed) would break up the router’s good looks and makes for a messy setup. On the front are also two buttons, one to turn off the LED status indicators and another to turn off Wi-Fi.

Behind the ASUS RT-AC3200 router, users will find the usual assortment of Gigabit Ethernet ports - a single WAN port and four LAN ports. Behind is also where users will find the USB 2.0 port as well as WPS setup and reset buttons.

Setting up the ASUS RT-AC3200 router was a breeze thanks to the well thought out and extremely functional ASUSWRT setup interface. It’s not the prettiest looking, but it loads quickly and it gets the job done. We like how it provides a good balance between ease of use and options for more advanced users. As ASUS’ latest flagship router, the RT-AC3200 router comes with all of ASUS’ latest features including Adaptive QoS, AiCloud 2.0 and AiProtection. Adaptive QoS is a form of QoS that adapts dynamically based on usage scenarios and network workloads. AiCloud 2.0 is ASUS’ second-generation cloud storage utility. Users can connect external storage devices to the router and access them remotely from anywhere in the world using an accompanying app on their smartphone or tablet. Finally AiProtection is a built-in anti-spyware and anti-malware utility that actively scans incoming packets of data.

The ASUS RT-AC3200 router also gets a new feature called Traffic Analyzer, which lets users analyze their traffic and usage on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis. It’s really fun and interesting to see which user or device is consuming the most bandwidth, and it is also a handy way for parents to keep track of their children’s usage. There’s also an additional tab that shows real-time traffic usage.

The ASUS RT-AC3200 features Tri-band Smart Connect which automatically manages and assigns devices to either the router’s single 2.4GHz or dual 5GHz bands to maximize performance. This is similar to Linksys’ Smart Connect technology. However, unlike Linksys’ Smart Connect technology which broadcasts its twin 5GHz networks as a single SSID and its 2.4GHz network as a separate one, the RT-AC3200 router goes one step further and broadcasts all three of its 2.4GHz network and twin 5GHz networks as a single SSID when its Tri-band Smart Connect technology is enabled. This makes it especially easy for less tech savvy users since everything is taken care of by the router. However, this also means that devices can sometimes suffer from drops should the router decide that it needs to move devices around on its Wi-Fi network to maximize performance. Advanced users who want to manage the way devices connect to the router manually can choose to configure the RT-AC3200 router to broadcast three separate networks.

D-Link DIR-890L AC3200 Wireless Tri-Band Gigabit Cloud Router

We first laid eyes on the D-Link DIR-890L router earlier this year at CES 2015. It was difficult to miss, considering its striking blood red chassis, numerous antennas, and greater size. While it might be announced later than the ASUS RT-AC3200, it was actually faster to market and was released locally in early February. So let’s have a closer look at this brightly colored router.

First things first, what’s under the hood? The key components powering the D-Link DIR-890L is no different from rivals in the same class. The main ingredient here is the Broadcom’s 5G XStream chipset, which consists of a single dual-core Broadcom BCM4709A running at 1GHz and three additional offload Broadcom BCM43602 processors each dedicated to one of the D-Link DIR-890L’s three radios. Like the ASUS RT-AC3200 and the Linksys EA9200, the Broadcom 5G XStream chipset in the D-Link DIR-890L is also paired with 256MB of RAM.

In terms of design, the D-Link DIR-890L router is unlike any other router we have seen. To begin, its choice of color can only be described as bold, but we think it is a move that has paid off. Coupled with its aggressive pyramidal design, steep sides, and large external antennas, the DIR-890L router looks like its ready for a fight. However, we will concede that its striking looks is not exactly for everyone. At nearly 40cm wide and weighing close to a kilogram, it is also incredibly large and heavy. Furthermore, even with its immense size it does not feature any more ports than its rivals. On the front, right down the middle, there’s a row of LED status indicators, but only for the WAN port, wireless networks and USB ports. This means that if you are having trouble with your LAN connections, there’s no quick way to see what’s wrong.

Behind the router, users will find the usual single Gigabit Ethernet WAN port and four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports. There’s also a USB 3.0 and a USB 2.0 port. Considering the size of the router, we expected a bit more in terms of connectivity, but considering that all routers in this class offer the same connectivity options, we suppose we cannot fault the DIR-890L for it either. The WPS and reset buttons are also located at the rear of the router. If we were to compare, the arrangement of the USB ports on the D-Link DIR-890L is much more convenient and sensible.

Setting up the D-Link DIR-890L router was a breeze thanks to D-Link’s easy to navigate and intuitive setup user interface. Users can also downlink the mydlink Cloud app (free for iOS and Android devices) to remotely control and manage their routers. However, like its competitors, the implementation of such apps still leaves much to be desired since some features are missing from the app. D-Link also offers another app called SharePort that lets users access files on external storage devices connected to the router using their iOS or Android device.

Like the ASUS RT-AC3200 and Linksys EA9200, the D-Link DIR-890L router also has Smart Connect technology, which automatically manages devices connected to the router and assigns them to the most efficient band. Interestingly, like the ASUS RT-AC3200 router, enabling D-Link’s SmartConnect will cause the router to broadcast only a single SSID, which all devices can connect to. From there on, the router will automatically move devices around on its three bands to maximize performance. While this is undoubtedly more convenient, there is the chance that users’ connections will be interrupted when the router decides it needs to move devices around to make more efficient use of its available bandwidth. For more savvy users who want to manage how devices connect to the router themselves, the D-Link DIR-890L can also be configured to broadcast three separate networks.

Test Setup

Our routine test setup includes a desktop PC, the reviewed router, and a laptop to simulate a wireless home network. The desktop system takes on the role of a host machine, while the router acts as a gateway. And lastly, an external Wireless 802.11ac adapter attached to the notebook is used to fulfill the role of a wireless remote client. The router is locked down in 802.11ac for the 5GHz band to prevent the use of varying 802.11 standards. Typically, a channel bandwidth of 80MHz is used for the 5GHz AC band, if the option is available.

We'll be using Netgear's A6200 802.11ac USB adapter for our throughput tests to reduce the number of variables involved. The Netgear A6200 USB adapter supports up to two spatial streams for a maximum data transfer rate of 866Mbps - the maximum for USB adapters currently. Hence, if your system has a more advanced wireless chipset that supports three spatial streams, you can expect even higher speeds.

Here is a graphical representation of our network test setup.

To evaluate, we will be using a mix of synthetic benchmarks and real-world testing. The synthetic benchmark we are using is called LAN Speed Test. As for real-world testing, we will be measuring the routers’ speeds in transferring a 1GB zip file. We will do multiple tests at different distances to simulate use around a typical home. For the 5GHz band, we also measured how performance is affected if two clients are connected and uploading and downloading data at the same time. Here are the test distances we used and what they represent.

• 2m - Right beside the router.
• 5m - In the adjacent room.
• 13m - In the room opposite.
• 17m - To simulate extreme distances.

An important thing to note is that we will be steadily phasing out 2.4GHz testing from our benchmarks. For one, 802.11ac is now being widely supported by most if not all mobile devices. If your device supports 802.11ac, it makes absolutely no sense to connect to the router via the slower and more congested 2.4GHz band. Speaking of congestion, our test environment currently has no less than 19 different 2.4GHz networks being broadcasted. The amount of noise and interference makes it very difficult for us to properly evaluate 2.4GHz performance. As such, we'll only be presenting performance from the 5GHz band.

5GHz Performance

Looking at charts depicting uplink and downlink speeds, we can see that both the ASUS RT-AC3200 and D-Link DIR-890L routers are quite evenly matched. If anything, the ASUS RT-AC3200 router enjoyed slightly better uplink speeds, whereas the D-Link DIR-890L router had better downlink performance. And if we were to compare both routers against the Linksys EA9200 router, the Linksys router offered more consistent all round performance. But all in all, the speeds offered by all three AC3200 class routers are competitive, with significant differences seen only at the extreme 17m range. 

Our file transfer benchmark saw the D-Link DIR-890L router posting very impressive speeds and it came out tops amongst our trio of AC3200 class routers. At 17m, it managed 156.86Mbps, which is impressive considering the ASUS RT-AC3200 and Linksys EA9200 both recorded just 125Mbps - this translates to a difference of about 25%. The performance of the D-Link DIR-890L was almost about on par with the ASUS RT-AC68U and Linksys WRT1900AC - these two routers have the best range of all the routers that we have tested thus far.

The unique selling point of AC-3200 routers is arguably the additional bandwidth offered by the extra 5GHz band. In our performance load test, we enabled the smart connect feature on both routers which will automatically sort devices to maximize performance and connected two devices to the 5GHz band. In our test, we found that both routers were clever enough to automatically assign both devices to separate networks once we started running our benchmarking tasks on them. The D-Link DIR-890L router performed admirably on this benchmark and managed a very impressive 210.53Mbps, which was a good 23% faster than the second-placed Linksys EA9200 router. The ASUS RT-AC3200 managed just 163.27Mbps, which was a little disappointing when compared to its rivals. However, it was still significantly quicker than the other dual-band routers.

Different routers for different folks

The high-end router space is often fiercely contested and it is no different with this new breed of AC3200 routers. But because Broadcom’s 5G XStream chipset is currently the only available solution for manufacturers who want to put a tri-band AC3200 router, the differences between the routers in this space really boils down to design, implementation and features.

From a performance perspective, the ASUS and D-Link routers are mostly even matched from 2m to 13m, with the D-Link DIR-890L router having the advantage at our farthest test range of 17m and also in our performance load test. That said, we think most users would be hard pressed to notice the difference in real world usage scenarios. Still, if you have a large home and require wider Wi-Fi coverage, our results indicate that the D-Link DIR-890L router is the better bet.

And when it comes to features, it is hard to beat ASUS' routers. ASUS has always crammed the most features into their routers and the new RT-AC3200 router boasts of many useful features including Ai Protection, cloud storage via Ai Cloud 2.0, and of course ASUS’ new and very nifty Traffic Analyzer tool. However, ASUS routers are still sorely lacking some form of remote app management at this point, but considering the company’s track record, we think this is a feature that will soon be implemented on ASUS routers. The D-Link DIR-890L is no slouch of course, but its features pale in comparison to the ASUS RT-AC3200. It can, however, be managed remotely using the mydlink Cloud app; and it does offer cloud storage functionality by way of its SharePort app.

To summarize, the D-Link DIR-890L is arguably one of the better performing AC3200 routers in the market right now. Its uplink and downlink speeds are both strong and its performance across all ranges is certainly above average. What’s more, when under load, its performance suffered the least degradation across all AC3200 routers we have tested. And at S$399 is also one of the more affordable ones - relatively speaking, of course. If performance is your utmost priority and you don't mind its hulking size, the D-Link DIR-890L comes highly recommended.

That said, the ASUS RT-AC3200 is by no means an inferior alternative. Though it costs more at S$429 and offers a bit less performance, it redeems itself with its very rich feature set. We especially like the new Traffic Analyzer function as it allows users to very quickly see all connected devices’ usage. We expect parents to love this new feature as it will allow them to easily monitor their children’s online usage. Bosses and IT administrators of SMEs will like this new feature too. If you find the features offered by the ASUS RT-AC3200 router useful, don't be dissuaded by its slightly lower performance because it is definitely still a very capable router.

	Click here for detailed results break-down.
	Click here for detailed results break-down.

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