What's the latest WiFi/BT Mini PCIe Card for My Laptop?

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ParatoOptimal

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Jan 27, 2004
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I have a Dell Latitude E6410 circa 2011. What's the latest WiFi only and and BT only cards and what's the latest WiFi/BT combo card I can get for it? I'd prefer a combo card but I know Dell has used two cards in the past for the E6420.

My E6410 has a Mini PCIe slot for a half height card. Many of the latest cards I see have a different connector. I've read of people NOT able to use a card made more than two or three years after their laptop was made. It wasn't due to the slot type. It just didn't work for them.

I need the the same advice for a Dell Latitude E6420. I know they were made with two cards. Mine has a WiFi only card and no BT card. I'd prefer a combo card. The only BT only cards I've found are old ones compliant with old BT standards.

I could get just a WiFi card and use a BT USB dongle if that's what you recommend. I've found BT 3.0 and 4.0 dongles on ebay. Once I saw a BT 4.1 dongle. I've never seen a BT 5.0 dongle.

I think the latest Mini PCIe WiFi/BT card I saw was a 9260. I've seen later gens but they used the NWG or whatever it's called interface (slot).

Thank you
 
VirtualLarry

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
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I was looking for mini PCIe wifi cards too. I took my laptop apart (took the back panel off), of my Lenovo B50-45, and they appear to be using an M.2 NGFF A+E card. Factory one is a Realtek 2.4Ghz only + BT 4.0 or 4.1, not sure what model. I ended up ordering a pair of similar RealTek 2.4Ghz + BT M.2 A+E cards off of ebay, really cheaply. (Under $4 ea.)

(Reason being, I had a laptop where the wifi went out completely, and I had a dead laptop, of which I thought that the problem was the PCI-e wifi, but it turned out not to be, and I rescuscitated that laptop last night.)

Was also looking at the 9260, but those need an Intel CPU (illegal product tying?). The listing said "NOT for AMD CPU!".
 
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ParatoOptimal

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Jan 27, 2004
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I need the Mini PCIe. Intel lists many models as being available in PCIe, M.2 and USB but I only ever find PCIe or M.2 for any given model on ebay.

A Dell forum thread, I forget for which laptop/WiFi card had people with the same laptop having success and others with failures to get the same later model WiFi card to work. It was a 60 or 70 model card.

The Dell techs who respond in those forums are useless. Endusers' personal experience is always good to hear but I find there's rarely a solution in Dell's forums. I've never seen anything a Dell employee posted help anyone. It's usually drivel everyone knows, doesn't help or tells you to pay for service or a warranty.
 
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ParatoOptimal

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Jan 27, 2004
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Is there any reason why the 7265 or 8260 wouldn't work? I think I read the 7265 didn't work for someone but no one could ascertain why.

What's the diff between the 7260, 7265 and 8260? They're all 867, AC, BT 4.0 with two antennae.

I thought all "N" cards used three physical antennae connected to them in the laptop ... wires that go around the laptop's screen. But I've seen "N" cards that take two wires and some that take three wires.
 
razel

razel

Platinum Member
May 14, 2002
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The 8260's aren't official for PCIe. So I would skip those suspect 8260s on ebay. Even if you could make it work, would Intel's drivers actually work or better yet are there official approved drivers for it? I'd avoid that headache altogether. Unless you want to take one for the Anand team. Then you'll be a hero.
 
VirtualLarry

VirtualLarry

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Aug 25, 2001
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Good find, Jack! Those are AC433 1x1 b/g/n/ac, looks like. At least, dual-band.

These 2.4Ghz-only ones, that are under $4 ea., I've used before, bought a small qty. to include with system builds.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA6706X97560

They basically suck, and QC isn't great either, some of the adapters can hit 1-3Mbit/sec to the router, and some can hit 25Mbit/sec. Kind of luck of the draw how well they work.

Hopefully, that $13 one from Amazon works a bit better, and has a bit better QC.

But, unless you are travelling a lot, why not go whole hog, for $20, and get one of these:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/802-11ac-A...less-USB-3-0-LAN-Adapter-866Mbps/161695920562

PremierTek AC / dual-band 2x2 dongle, suitable for 24x7 usage, pretty-much.

A bit larger, and if you're going to use it in a laptop, consider a 1' USB3.0 extension cable, or a 6' extension cable for a desktop PC.

Edit: Or the Aukey 1750 dongle:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AUKEY-WF-R...and-USB-3-0-Wireless-Adapter-Win/192425513679
 
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ParatoOptimal

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Jan 27, 2004
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Does it matter if Lenovo put their FRU # on it? Is the hardware altered or are special drivers required?

Thanks
 
mcveigh

mcveigh

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2000
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I've got a 7260 in an adapter card in my PC. I'm not happy with it. freezes frequently. I'm looking for a replacement.
 
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KompuKare

Golden Member
Jul 28, 2009
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A few points:
1. Antenna cables might a problem, although a quick search shows that the E6410 seem to have a third cable. Have a look at
http://www.legitreviews.com/upgradi...intel-7260-hmw-802-11ac-wireless-card_135084/
But then not not many cards require 3 stream connections.

2. Most business and a lot of consumer laptops usually have only the acceptable WiFi card whitelisted (allegedly to be CE and FFC compliant). Luckily it seems Dell don't.

3. The Intel 7260-AC has serious Windows 10 issues with constant disconnects and Intel have stated that they can't be bothered to fix it. Actually looking at around it seems the 7260-AC was flaky with Windows 8.1 as well.

Point 3. is quite serious. I have this card in a ThinkPad T540p and the only way in Win10 to get it to re-connect is to turn the card on and back on all the time.
According to this
https://communities.intel.com/thread/114502
This affects the 7260 and the 8260 and 8265 too. Aside from booting in Linux more and more often, I am seriously considering 'downgrading' to the Realtek option on my T540p.
 
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ParatoOptimal

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Jan 27, 2004
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Thanks for the great info KompKare. Which Realtek card is comparable? What was Inte's card prior to the 7260-AC?
 
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KompuKare

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Jul 28, 2009
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ParatoOptimal said:
Thanks for the great info KompKare. Which Realtek card is comparable? What was Inte's card prior to the 7260-AC?
Click to expand...
Remember that I was talking about my Lenovo ThinkPad T540p which is limited by Lenovo's BIOS whitelist.
The Realtek which would work on my T540p is the RTL8192EE, but that's 'only' A/B/G/N (that is not AC).
 
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ParatoOptimal

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Jan 27, 2004
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Can anyone recommend a good "N" card that is 300MB not 150MB preferably with BT and an "AC" card preferably with BT. I think AC is 836MB. If there's a great non-BT card, I can get a cheap USB BT dongle if anyone could recommend a good one of those. Ebay has BT4.0 dongles for $4.
 
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ParatoOptimal

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Jan 27, 2004
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Thank you. I currently have Intel 6250 a/b/g/n/wimax with BT circa 2010/2011. I'm thinking there must be something better now. My BT constantly drops. I don't know what is in the other laptop. It's one year newer.
 
mxnerd

mxnerd

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Jul 6, 2007
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If you don't have problem with WiFi then just buy a mini USB bluetooth dongle.

PC / electronics components always degrade over time.

Don't buy anything that's extremely cheap. You get what you pay for.

==

There are definitely something better now, but vendors seem moving to M.2 / NGFF interface.
 
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ParatoOptimal

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Jan 27, 2004
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I thought of that. I thought since a used ebay cards go for $4, $7 and $13 that instead of buying a $4 dongle I'd buy a card. What would be a better dongle to look for? I'm hoping to find something on ebay? They're $4. I saw a 4.1 dongle once. I'd rather it be a small flush one rather than one that sticks out.
 
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