upgrade intel centrino advanced-N 6200 on Dell XPS 15 L501x with a newer wifi card that support bluetooth 4.2 or above

[saadkhan955]

I would like to upgrade intel centrino advanced-N 6200 on Dell XPS 15 L501x with a newer wifi card that support bluetooth 4.2 or above

 

[JackMDS]

Finding a card like this can be a challenge since their compatibility varies between Brands and Models.

Try to work ebay it might be that you will find one.

That said, if you just need BT you can plug this to a USB port on the computer.

https://www.amazon.com/ZEXMTE-Bluet...4DMW2BPBA4N&psc=1&refRID=Y1FHDG9ZT4DMW2BPBA4N

 

[SamirD]

If Dell made such a part for it, the easiest thing would be to find that dell part number and get it from ebay.

If Dell never made one for this model and made it for another model, I'd say that would be your best bet. Find that Dell part number and then try it.

 

[sdifox]

Just need to get another pcihalf minicard
As in same size as old card. An Intel AC 7260 perhaps

Doh, 7260 is BT4.0, not 4.2.

7265 in half pcie minicard may not be easy to find.

 

[SamirD]

Other thing is that if the only reason you're doing this is for bt 4.2, just get a bt 4.2 usb dongle. They are quite small and it would be much, much easier, albeit slightly not as 'clean'.

 

[sdifox]

Other thing is that if the only reason you're doing this is for bt 4.2, just get a bt 4.2 usb dongle. They are quite small and it would be much, much easier, albeit slightly not as 'clean'.

Since they protrude a bit, you can break it off easily.

 

[SamirD]

Since they protrude a bit, you can break it off easily.

And it is just as easily replaced if need be. But I do hear you on this as it can damage the port on the motherboard too, and that's a bigger problem.

Worse case, you'll need to hack the bios if there's a bios block on it keeping a normal card from working. But I think almost any genuine Dell one would work.

 

[sdifox]

And it is just as easily replaced if need be. But I do hear you on this as it can damage the port on the motherboard too, and that's a bigger problem.

Worse case, you'll need to hack the bios if there's a bios block on it keeping a normal card from working. But I think almost any genuine Dell one would work.

Doesn't have to be dell branded.

 

[SamirD]

Doesn't have to be dell branded.

Dell, Lenovo, HP, et al sometimes do have brand detection in the bios that will prevent a non-branded or other branded card from working.

Besides, when the cost for a Dell branded part will be the same or less, why not get the real thing?

 

[sdifox]

Dell, Lenovo, HP, et al sometimes do have brand detection in the bios that will prevent a non-branded or other branded card from working.

Besides, when the cost for a Dell branded part will be the same or less, why not get the real thing?

Dell doesn't make nics. They just slap a sticker on it.

Lenovo seems to be the only ones whitelisting now.

I put in a 7260 on my studio 17.

 

[SamirD]

Dell doesn't make nics. They just slap a sticker on it.

Lenovo seems to be the only ones whitelisting now.

I put in a 7260 on my studio 17.

I'm aware of that--and the funny thing is that I've found that the branded versions (HP, Dell) can be substantially cheaper as well as less likely to be fakes.

Yep, I know Lenovo is usually the strictest, but I've also read about Dell and HP being sticklers at times.

Good to know. Sounds like it should be simple enough.

 

[JackMDS]

There is only 6-7 manufacturers of Network/Wireless chipsets.

Everybody else buys a version of the chipset with generic drivers from them. Decides which aspects of the Drivers to implemant, and "dress" it a little the drivers so it looks like it is thier product.

I do not know how many Laptop's manufacturers currently white list only their specific hardware of the Wireless card.

The Dell XPS 15 L501x is rather old, in its time Most of the manufactures used the BIOS blocking "Discpicle" proccess.

Why? Because it enabled them to sell their piece of "plastic/silicone" for 10 times of it real market price.

 

[SamirD]

There is only 6-7 manufacturers of Network/Wireless chipsets.

Everybody else buys a version of the chipset with generic drivers from them. Decides which aspects of the Drivers to implemant, and "dress" it a little the drivers so it looks like it is thier product.

I do not know how many Laptop's manufacturers currently white list only their specific hardware of the Wireless card.

The Dell XPS 15 L501x is rather old, in its time Most of the manufactures used the BIOS blocking "Discpicle" proccess.

Why? Because it enabled them to sell their piece of "plastic/silicone" for 10 times of it real market price.

If even that many manufacturers, lol.

And while this pricing strategy worked for profit back in the day, now when hardware is old, prices drop to the same level for all versions of the part, and sometimes even cheaper for the branded ones since there are so many spares out there like in the case of Dell parts.

I got Intel dual-port MT Server cards as the HP version (NC7170) for almost 1/3 the price. Why? Because so many of the Intel ones on ebay were actually fakes and this was the easiest way to get a genuine Intel product since there weren't so many people trying to fake HP parts. It's where I cut my teeth on looking for cheap branded stuff that works like the original. You can find some serious deals this way.

 

[sdifox]

I have seen pcie minicard adapter for M.2 wifi nics though I have not personally used one.