The Atheros L1 Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000Base-T Controller is a network interface card (NIC) built by Atheros, a company that specializes in networking hardware. This specific controller supports wired Ethernet networking at speeds up to 1 Gbps (Gigabit Ethernet) over standard Cat 5e/6 cables. The device provides connectivity for your computer or laptop to a wired network.

The Windows driver for this Ethernet controller allows the operating system to communicate with the Atheros network card. Without the correct driver, your computer may not be able to connect to the network or may experience poor network performance.