Can someone give me a rundown on mini PCIe WiFi cards?

[Yuriman]

I'm aware of the basics of wireless networking. I'm aware of the differences between wireless N and AC, 2.4GHz and 5GHz, understand how 2x2 and 3x3 work, and know how to pair a router and WiFi card. What'd I'd like to know about are the different chipsets on the market, and what the major differences are aside from the basic specs. For instance, in what significant and relevant ways is a Realtek 8821E different than an Intel 7260, assuming we're comparing models with similar basic specs? How do Intel, Qualcomm, Broadcom and Realtek compare, generally speaking, and what are their strengths and weaknesses?

 

[VirtualLarry]

RealTek is more generally supported, in Windows and Linux, although Intel isn't far behind.

Intel probably has more robust performance and compatibility with the most routers.

 

[XavierMace]

RealTek is more generally supported, in Windows and Linux, although Intel isn't far behind.

You may be correct in Linux, but I'm pretty confident Intel's driver support is far better in Windows than Realtek's.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I wasn't really speaking to the quality of support, just the likelyhood of driver availability. (Intel has withheld driver releases before, for prev-gen "unsupported" OSes... like their early AC miniPCI cards, and Win7.)