How long before PC desktop CPUs are sold, with 3G or better internet, built-in?

[Valantar]

Isn't WiFi pretty much a feature on Mini-PCs? Even for home use, WiFi is much easier and cheaper to setup then running and installing Ethernet cables all over the place.

Sure, on mini-PCs. But those are essentially laptop parts in a non-laptop chassis. When I'm talking about desktop parts, I mean dedicated desktop parts - if mini PCs, NUCs and the like are included, the distinction becomes meaningless.

And yes, WiFi is easier to set up. But cheaper? Heck no. Cheap WiFi routers/access points are unstable garbage. Any $15 gigabit switch is capable of handling heavier traffic than most wireless networks. Cables are dirt cheap too. WiFi roughly equivalent to a $50-60 home ethernet network is a several hundred dollar proposition. Minimum.

 

[whm1974]

Sure, on mini-PCs. But those are essentially laptop parts in a non-laptop chassis. When I'm talking about desktop parts, I mean dedicated desktop parts - if mini PCs, NUCs and the like are included, the distinction becomes meaningless.

And yes, WiFi is easier to set up. But cheaper? Heck no. Cheap WiFi routers/access points are unstable garbage. Any $15 gigabit switch is capable of handling heavier traffic than most wireless networks. Cables are dirt cheap too. WiFi roughly equivalent to a $50-60 home ethernet network is a several hundred dollar proposition. Minimum.

I haven't priced network equipment recently, but I was thinking about the time and labour needed to install Ethernet cabling in the walls.

 

[Piroko]

I thought that there was a slide posted in the Skylake thread, that showed that Kaby Lake or Cannonlake chipsets were going to include WiFi in the base chipset now? Which is going to require an antenna. Which, conceivably, could allow 3G access as well.

No. Different frequency = different antenna. Especially with all the noise from other WiFi networks nearby.

As for the viability, I'd say it's not popular enough to warrant an implementation into all CPU lines.

 

[MrTeal]

Agreed. It would be visible on die photographs/xrays.

Even if they wanted to, I can't imagine how an on-die (or on package) antenna would even work on the CPU. The CPU is covered with a copper heat spreader, and then smooshed between a metal backplate and a pretty hefty chunk of aluminium or copper. That whole assembly is then placed within an extremely noisy RF environment, inside a grounded, usually metal, box.

 

[quietplates]

Previously, here: https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/3g-chip-inside-intel-vpro-skus.2344208/

Previously, Reddit: https://m.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/2dvwu4/comment/cjtuxsl


The public evidence suggests that vPro Intel CPUs have a feature to communicate with a 3G radio elsewhere on the system. No public evidence that it is embedded in the CPU itself.

 

[Valantar]

Previously, here: https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/3g-chip-inside-intel-vpro-skus.2344208/

Previously, Reddit: https://m.reddit.com/r/privacy/comments/2dvwu4/comment/cjtuxsl


The public evidence suggests that vPro Intel CPUs have a feature to communicate with a 3G radio elsewhere on the system. No public evidence that it is embedded in the CPU itself.

"have a feature to communicate with a 3G radio elsewhere on the system."
Yep, they do. It's called PCI Express.

And implementing a "wake-on-WAN" feature is not evidence of anything other than that this is possible on devices containing a modem, radios and a constant power supply.

The linked articles stink of conspiracy theories, admit they have no actual evidence, and the claims, if true, would be relatively easily confirmed through die shots. One story even bases itself off the classic "some guy on the Internet" source, with no evidence to back up the claims. They do not in any way constitute "public evidence", they constitute "public, unfounded and unsubstantiated speculation." Those are not the same thing.

Also, if the radio was off-chip, it would have to be somewhere in the device...

And again, all of this ignores the fact that for actually functional 3G/4G, you'd need unobstructed external antennas. A heatsink on top? Won't work. RF shield (which every tablet in the world has)? Won't work (duh). The antenna's physical dimensions also directly relate to its intended frequencies - i.e. they would be visibly different from WiFi antennas and would be relatively easily identifiable.

 

[ariknowsbest]

And how many of these are consumer models? From my experience, business laptops come in more SKUs than consumer models, and thus are slightly overrepresented in quick checks like this. And sure, anyone can buy a business laptop. They just don't.

Most consumer models seems to be lower midend laptops or lowend business laptops, consumer models seems to be standard 15.6" while business models 12". Myself have had two, one netbook maybe 6-7 years ago with a high end 3G modem, and my previous Dell had a 4G modem (the only 13" in stock at the time) I always get business laptops because of build quality and klever cases.

 

[Valantar]

Most consumer models seems to be lower midend laptops or lowend business laptops, consumer models seems to be standard 15.6" while business models 12". Myself have had two, one netbook maybe 6-7 years ago with a high end 3G modem, and my previous Dell had a 4G modem (the only 13" in stock at the time) I always get business laptops because of build quality and klever cases.

Exactly. Most consumer laptops are 15" "desktop replacements" (in terms of never really being moved around), are meant for 90%+ home use, and rely on WiFi for connectivity. Consumer Ultrabooks are thin, light, take-anywhere machines, but their use case is still home use, school/work use, and hipstering off in coffee shops - all places with abundant WiFi. Business notebooks usually fall in three categories: cheap(ish) but functional, high-performance workstation, and suitable for working whereever. The last category almost requires built-in mobile data. Business users are simply far more likely to require a constant, uninterrupted internet connection whereever they might take their laptop - and are willing to pay for it. Heck, think of all of the people working out of their cars every day, or on trains, in airports, and so on. Getting access to whatever "public" WiFi is available in locations like this is both unreliable and extremely annoying. Also, most solutions like this cost money - which makes a $50-100 4G add-on very palatable.

 

[Blue_Max]

Not every phone can access every network. I *have* seen some netbooks from Rogers Wireless that worked on its network but it was underpowered and overpriced.

You're better off getting a USB dongle from your wireless provider of choice and attaching it to whatever lappy/desktop you want.