2nd NIC on G5

I am using artnet to control 3 Catalyst servers. In addition I need to access the content drives on the servers via Gigabit Ethernet (constantly). As Artnet runs at 10t it would drag the speed down across the network. I would like to install a 2nd NIC for the pupose of running a Gigabit network alongside the Artnet network. How does Catalyst behave when a 2nd NIC is installed? Is there a NIC which is preferable?

Any help and advice is much appreciated

Thanks,
Sven

i havent ever played with a second ethernet card because using a gigabit switch solves all these issues.

ethernet does not change speeds like usb or firewire.

a switch buffers the data and sends it out to the ports at the speed they are selected at.