The NICs and the 4-port router I'm currently using is made by Linksys.  It's also what we use for our equipment at UCSD...well, aside from 3COM NICs.  I think the Linksys ones are a lot easier to deal with.  Both the NICs and the router can operate at 10/100.  I know that you can get the NICs for as low as $10 USD (Fry's) here and I just saw an advertisement for the 8-port router for $200 USD.  Combine that with the $5 rebate on the NIC cards and I forgot what the rebate was on the router.  It's definitely worth it.  I wish I had waited for the 8-port one because I just about got the 4-port one for the price of the 8-port!