How to use two nic cards in one computer

I'm running Windows Xp as my operating system. I would like to upgrade my system, in order to speed up my system. I'm planning to insert one more nic card, so that there would be two nic cards on my system. I currently have the integrated card disabled in my BIOS. Now, can body tell me that how can i use two nic cards in one computer? Can any body tell me that how can i do it? Has any body done this before? Kindly let me know your views on the above issue.

Hey you can have as many NIC cards on your computer, as there are slots available on your motherboard. This can support your different protocols as well as it can support your Ethernet cards. Do you want to use your computer as a gateway for your LAN and set up a Software Firewall on it?

I think you need to share the connection through Windows connection sharing or either you can try to bridge two or more connections, if you want to connect each card to a router or hub or to a switch. In this way you can have number of NIC cards on your system.

According to me, it seems to be that you have two possible gateways on your system. Try to use the router's ip's on each nic configuration in order to point out the correct router.