PCI-e Wireless Card Recommendation

[goobernoodles]

I'm looking to replace the crappy belkin USB wireless card I have with a PCI-E card. Is there a clear cut, best bang for the buck card out there? If not, does anyone recommend any specific card? I'd rather not dish out $50+ for a wireless card unless it's actually worth it. I'm leaning towards purchasing an external antenna as well for the hell of it. Router is 1 floor below and probably 25 feet away horizontally.

 

[wirednuts]

i gave up on proprietary solutions. i now like using the pcie-to-minipcie adapters, and just buy laptop wifi modules to use in them.

right now my carpc uses the intel 5300, which is about as good as intel makes. they have a 6300 now, but i read that its not a whole lot better so whatever. the 5300 is cheap.

it gives me 3 external antennas that i run off sma extension cables. works a treat! and when either my car or my laptop's wifi card dies someday, ill have backups in service. i really like using interchangeable parts for all my pc's...

 

[stahlhart]

YMMV, but overall I've had more problems with cards than USB adapters. I'm currently on a $20 Intellinet fob from Micro Center, which works perfectly. I had some initial struggle with getting the router and password to stick for the first few reboots, but since then it's been fine.

At the time I was putting my build together I noticed that the reviews for most all of the USB adapters on Newegg were roughly 50/50, so mabye it just comes down to one particular one working better with a given wireless router than another.

 

[Sentrosi2121]

I bought this D-Link card last year for my secondary PC and haven't had any problems with it what so ever.

 

[wirednuts]

YMMV, but overall I've had more problems with cards than USB adapters. I'm currently on a $20 Intellinet fob from Micro Center, which works perfectly. I had some initial struggle with getting the router and password to stick for the first few reboots, but since then it's been fine.

At the time I was putting my build together I noticed that the reviews for most all of the USB adapters on Newegg were roughly 50/50, so mabye it just comes down to one particular one working better with a given wireless router than another.

i always had the problems with pci adapters, especially nowadays since it seems the pci lanes are emulated through pcie or whatever....

i havent really had any problems at all with pcie devices

 

[goobernoodles]

I bought this D-Link card last year for my secondary PC and haven't had any problems with it what so ever.

Seems like it has pretty good reviews. I snagged one with the -$15 coupon for $40 shipped.

 

[goobernoodles]

i always had the problems with pci adapters, especially nowadays since it seems the pci lanes are emulated through pcie or whatever....

i havent really had any problems at all with pcie devices

Thanks for the suggestion also. Looked like a fun way to do things.

 

[JackMDS]

Wireless is a technical issue on its own.

While in regular computing size does not matter the 1 and the 0 are the same at any size.

In Video, Audio, and Wireless size does matter.

I.e., components that generate power and depends on peripherals (like Speaker, and Antenna) for their Job do not follow the rule off 1 and 0 and size does not matter.

USB Wireless is usually entail puny RF Amp, that has a little wire for Antenna, it has No heat dissipation so it throttle its power down after a while. s a result USB is not a good solution when it comes to Signal strength issues in Wireless.

Mini Wireless card thingies has external Antenna so that might not be a problem but their power output tend to be limited, thus they are Not a great solution unless they are already embedded in a laptop.

If you have a regular PCI slot, then use PCI it is the most reasonable solution.

Otherwise, something like the D-link linked to above is the next choice.