Slow Ethernet Connection

Greetings,

I am running an Ethernet (hardwired) connection from my Comcast modem to a Netgear WNR834B v.2 router then to my iMac 20" 2.16Ghz (previous white version)'s Ethernet port. I did this because I have been experiencing slow connection and frequent drop-outs (gets disconnects frequetnly when playing WC3). Now that the same problem still exists when using this wired setup. Whenever I open up Safari and go to a webpage (except for google.com), the page hangs while loading, and it will take about 10~20 seconds to get the page fully loaded with pictures and everything else. If I unplug the Ethernet cable that goes to the iMac from the router, and then plug it into the modem (so that my iMac is connected to the modem directly), the connection speed is blazing fast, and the webpages would fully load in no time. Therefore I am wondering what might be the cause of the slow Ethernet connection? Is it my router since that connection speed is super fast when connecting to the modem directly? or is it something else that might cause the problem? Has anyone experienced the same thing and come up with a fix? I look forward to receiving any valuable opions. Thanks!

 

First off, thanks for the input.

I just updated the firmware, same thing. and the cable that I use to connect the modem to the computer is the very same one that i used to connect the modem to the router then to the computer. = (
I guess it is my router in this case. Are iMac's picky about what type of router I use? Do you guys have any recommendation on routers that work flawlessly on Macs? Apple AirPort Extreme is kind of too expensive for me, I am thinking of an alternative that would intergrate to my iMac w/o creating any problems... Thanks