Wireless NIC: PCI vs. PCIe vs. USB

[ATimson]

I'm going to be buying an i7 next week--probably P55, maybe X58 if there's not a huge price difference.

Anyways, as part of this system I need a wireless 802.11n NIC. Only problem is, I need to figure out how I want to connect it.

Is there any significant advantage to a PCIe 1x card over a normal PCI card? Or any significant disadvantage to USB? (I haven't ever actually used a USB wireless NIC, but while it sounds like there should be performance issues, I've never actually tried it.)

Looking at the motherboard layouts of upcoming P55 boards, it seems like PCI is probably the best bet in terms of board layout--generally any 1x slots will get knocked out of the running if I get a double-width video card, and it seems like a waste of an x4 slot--but I'm willing to listen to experience.

 

[MustISO]

I'd suggest a PCI NIC. Don't bother with USB.

 

[xSauronx]

yeah, go with PCI, preferably one with a wired antenna that you can put where you like.

 

[JackMDS]

I do not know any thing about N and why you need one.

Otherwise, this is an excellent choice, Edimax - PCI http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833315041

Driver/Utility for Windows 98SE/Me/2K/XP/XP 64/Vista/Vista 64

http://www.edimax.us/html/english/frames/b-download.htm

Vista Drivers work with Win 7 too.

 

[ATimson]

Thanks for your advice--PCI it is.

 

[her209]

I use D-Link WDA-1320 cards. They work great and use Atheros chips.

EDIT: Plus they come with a low profile bracket.

 

[Emulex]

if you want 64bit stable; don't use pci or pcie

can't speak for win7 but win2008/vista x64 not cool.

crashes all the time. various cards.

usb = no problem.

matter of fact other than the ATI hdmi out; i had similar problems with SOME (there's only a couple of chipsets around these days) sound cards too.

usb = no problemo.

Worth keeping in mind since 64 bit will be all thats left soon (2008 R2 is 64 bit only)

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Emulex
if you want 64bit stable; don't use pci or pcie

can't speak for win7 but win2008/vista x64 not cool.

crashes all the time. various cards.

Never heard, and never experienced some thing like this. I have few systems x64 with PCI and it works well.

 

[coldmeat]

I have that Edimax one, and I'm not sure if it's the card, the software or my router but almost every time I restart/turn on my computer I have to go downstairs to restart the router because I can't renew my IP.

 

[Emulex]

Originally posted by: JackMDS

Originally posted by: Emulex
if you want 64bit stable; don't use pci or pcie

can't speak for win7 but win2008/vista x64 not cool.

crashes all the time. various cards.

Never heard, and never experienced some thing like this. I have few systems x64 with PCI and it works well.

which model are you suggesting for win2k8 R2? I'd love to find one that is stable hyper-v; dual-band simultaneous preferred. atheros?

 

[chuck2002]

I second USB. You aren't going to outrun USB bandwidth with a wireless connection, it gives you ease of install, a movable item that you can put where signal is good, and will work on any computer form factor.