If a nic card is 802.11b/g/n and there's a N router, which speed would I be receiving, b, g or n?

wireless connection n, assuming adequate wireless signal strength.

here's how works,

using wifi adapter allow device connect via wifi wireless router.

there various backward compatible wireless standards.
802.11b = 11 mbps
802.11g = 54 mbps
802.11n = 150 mbps

standards backward compatible.

these speed wireless connections. ethernet connections determined speed of port , cabling.

connection speed negotiate speed of slowest device.

wireless speeds measured in mbps, millions of (bits) per second, not confused mb/s millions of (bytes) per second.

example b,g,n wireless network adapter can connect of 3 standards @ respective speeds. example if went someone's house old wireless g router connect @ maximum of 11 mbps (millions of bits per second).

if have newer wireless n router @ house can connect @ 150 mbps

wireless signals affected many factors including distance, wall density, electrical interference, directional antenna range, etc.all of these factors affect actual wireless performance.

fyi: fast router or wireless lan connection not make internet faster.

router connects 2 separate networks , manage traffic between them.

in home network applications router connects local group of computers , devices known lan internet, commonly called wan or wide area network.

wan speed determined isp , measured in mbps (millions of bits per second).

if pay 3 mbps internet connection, 3 mbps.

no router or wireless connection change 3 mbps internet speed. connection bandwidth shared entire lan via router.

example if have 3 mbps internet plan , 1 user utilizing 2.5 mbps of bandwidth stream netflix movie leaves 0.5 mbps of rest of users on lan.

if have wireless n laptop connected wireless n router @ 150 mbps , internet connection 3 mbps fastest internet speed can 3 mbps, assuming no other users on lan sharing wan connection @ time.

fast wireless routers , wlan adapters designed stream large files on lan quickly. high speed routers permit fast transfer of files between devices connected lan, wan speed still limited isp.

luck...

Computers & Internet Computer Networking Next