Whats the deal with wifi built into motherboards.

[JimmiG]

Question is, why would anyone want a wireless connection...?

They don't..! Wireless is just a personal compromise, to make something "easier", or cheaper for someone. Why even build a quality or performance orientated computer, and use wireless internet?

100ft of cat6 is pretty cheap.

I can't start drilling through the walls of my rented apartment to run cables from the router to my computer. I'd get evicted.

802.11ac provides me with about 550 Mb/s actual throughput, which is enough for my needs. I only have a 250 Mb/s Internet connection. Even transfers to/from my wired NAS are good enough - 60-65MB/s with SMB.

For my desktop I use an Asus PCE-AC68 with a big external antenna. I doubt any of those built-in wireless solutions would provide good performance. However for a HTPC just streaming video for example, it would probably still be enough.

 

[piasabird]

I have tried it different ways. I found that a motherboard with a $15 ac wireless USB device works just as well as a motherboard with it built in. For gaming you want to concentrate on gaming features and for low-end HTPC uses you might get a better deal on a budget oriented motherboard without WIFI.

For instance I have one gigabyte MB with wireless and it had just 2 video options both of which were HDMI 1.4. However, the Gigabyte H110N MB without the wireless card had VGA, DVI, and HDMI. So if I wanted to hook up an older monitor, I could do so. I stream video over ac wireless to 4 computers at my house. My house is kind of small but the router is in the basement.

 

[bigboxes]

That's why I use a AC1200 Wifi bridge. To connect my two Gigabit ethernet LAN segments. I did run a cable, before, but it runs across a doorway, and that's a violation of my lease.

(Although, if I get a cable concealer thingy, I think that it would be acceptable. Would be nice, but that's not high on my list of priorities.)

I run my cables along the baseboards, around the door frames and under the carpet. If I had my own home I'd run drops to every room. My printer is near my main rig and file server, connecting to the main rig via USB. It's accessible to anyone on the network as I leave my main rig on 24/7. I could do ethernet, but it works as it is. I just prefer wired as it's so much more reliable. I hate unnecessary troubleshooting. I love it when I get paid for it and for when I'm experimenting on my equipment. However, sometimes it's nice to just have things work. Wireless AC is for the tablets, smartphones and guests when they come over.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I'm not really concerned about reliability, my AC wireless has been supremely reliable, for the most part. (Ok, maybe some minor hiccups.)

 

[rchunter]

My whole home is wired with ample cat6 jacks so I use very little wireless unless i'm on a phone or ipad.
I don't really want the motherboard manufactures to start building wifi into boards. I think an add-on option is best because most people won't use it anyway. I'd rather have a couple good intel nics built in to the boards than wifi anyday.

 

[Valantar]

My whole home is wired with ample cat6 jacks so I use very little wireless unless i'm on a phone or ipad.
I don't really want the motherboard manufactures to start building wifi into boards. I think an add-on option is best because most people won't use it anyway. I'd rather have a couple good intel nics built in to the boards than wifi anyday.

Built in (as in soldered onto the board) is a bad idea. Integrated through m.2 or mPCIe is a good idea - superior form factor and reliability to USB, less clutter, more flexibility for antennas (internal in the case, external through standard connectors, and external can either be case-mounted or routed with wires to a better location). Not to mention m.2 and mPCIe cards are cheaper than USB, equally replaceable and upgradeable, and not encased in cheap plastic housings that cause them to overheat. And it's reasonably easy and cost-effective for manufacturers to make a SKU that doesn't include the wireless card (like the ASrock X370 Killer SLI and -SLI/AC).

 

[Ichinisan]

Built in (as in soldered onto the board) is a bad idea. Integrated through m.2 or mPCIe is a good idea - superior form factor and reliability to USB, less clutter, more flexibility for antennas (internal in the case, external through standard connectors, and external can either be case-mounted or routed with wires to a better location). Not to mention m.2 and mPCIe cards are cheaper than USB, equally replaceable and upgradeable, and not encased in cheap plastic housings that cause them to overheat. And it's reasonably easy and cost-effective for manufacturers to make a SKU that doesn't include the wireless card (like the ASrock X370 Killer SLI and -SLI/AC).

I'm trying to figure out if the people in this thread are talking about something soldered-in permanently. If that exists with desktop boards, I was not aware. Last I checked, even mini-ITX boards that included WiFi had a module that can be easily removed or upgraded. I have no issue with that.

 

[Valantar]

I'm trying to figure out if the people in this thread are talking about something soldered-in permanently. If that exists with desktop boards, I was not aware. Last I checked, even min-ITX boards that included WiFi had a module that can be easily removed or upgraded. I have no issue with that.

Yeah, I got the same impression, hence the above post. There seems to be some confusion, or at least lack of clarity in what people are for/against.

 

[rchunter]

Yeah, I got the same impression, hence the above post. There seems to be some confusion, or at least lack of clarity in what people are for/against.

permanently affixed = bad
2 different SKU's with drop in m.2 wifi module = good

If you re-read OP's initial post that's why I commented....

 

[Ichinisan]

permanently affixed = bad
2 different SKU's with drop in m.2 wifi module = good

If you re-read OP's initial post that's why I commented....

Is there an example of a desktop board with permanently affixed WiFi?

Even if it's modular and they only offer 1 SKU, I'm fine with that.

 

[rchunter]

Is there an example of a desktop board with permanently affixed WiFi?

Even if it's modular and they only offer 1 SKU, I'm fine with that.

I don't know of any..... Did you read OP's initial post?? Maybe you should ask him.

I am seeing more motherboards shipping with wifi permanently affixed to the motherboard. Is this something people are asking for?

#1 Hugo Drax, Jan 18, 2016

 

[Ichinisan]

Maybe you should ask him.

Well I asked more than once in his thread.

I just did a Google search for "H170 mini itx" -- since the OP mentioned that chipset in a subsequent post. The first couple I came across appear to be modular, with a vertical-oriented M.2 slot.

H170N-WIFI
https://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-LGA1151-Mini-ITX-Motherboard-GA-H170N-WIFI/dp/B015CQ8D9Q
http://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-H170N-WIFI-rev-10#ov
Scroll down on Gigabyte's page and you'll see this is a vertically-mounted M.2 module that can be removed or upgraded.


H170I-PLUS D3
https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/H170I-PLUS-D3/
Though the picture doesn't make it obvious that this is modular, page 1-2 of the manual (PDF pg 12), that spot on the board is labeled "M.2(WIFI)"
http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb..._WEB.pdf?_ga=1.243873089.575213499.1489756538
In case Asus breaks direct links, it's the last one on this page:
https://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/H170I-PLUS-D3/HelpDesk_Manual/

 

[Ichinisan]

So there you go, OP. I still have never seen an example of a desktop board with built-in WiFi that wasn't a removable/upgradable module.

If you've seen a specific one, please let me know.