Are PCIe WiFi cards physically all the same?

Are PCIe WiFi cards physically all the same? - Printable Version

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Are PCIe WiFi cards physically all the same? - deckeda - 06-18-2011

Tracked down one for the Asus Z84J I rescued, but there's no way I'd spend the 55€ or whatever for one. And it's not even 802.11n. http://asusalkatresz.hu/product/Z8/Z84JV/WB-Z84JV-3E/04G033052000

I also searched for the part #, INTEL/WM3945AGM2GEN/872659 but only found vague references and more offshore sites.

Maybe everything after INTEL/WM3945AG isn't relevant; I see similar references to an Intel card for Dell, and this reminds me of (I think) the one for the Mini9. http://www.intel.com/products/wireless/prowireless_mobile.htm

Now I see this, http://www.amazon.com/Intel-wireless-3945ABG-Network-Connection/dp/B000EDQOK8/ref=sr_1_14?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1308411966&sr=1-14 <
And then there's the n-version for a little more, http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Wireless-WiFi-Link-4965AGN/dp/B000RFPBQQ/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1308412246&sr=1-7 and another one, the 5300 ...

Re: Are PCIe WiFi cards physically all the same? - deckeda - 06-18-2011

And FWIW there's an interesting write-up on one of the 5300 pages about using that one in a Mini9, along with the Tyco antenna mod. http://www.amazon.com/Intel-533ANMMWW-Wifi-Link-5300/dp/B001CXT6NQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1308412834&sr=1-1

Re: Are PCIe WiFi cards physically all the same? - deckeda - 06-18-2011

Correction: the laptop only has a 2-wire connection.

Re: Are PCIe WiFi cards physically all the same? - deckeda - 06-18-2011

Popped for a used 5300, $15 shipped. We'll see what happens.

Re: Are PCIe WiFi cards physically all the same? - modelamac - 06-18-2011

Sure glad someone can follow this.:wink:

Re: Are PCIe WiFi cards physically all the same? - deckeda - 06-18-2011

You think that's something, I started by looking for one of its two fans. The one that cools the GPU has a floppy bearing and sounds like an old Whirlpool on spin cycle (trying my best to provide some reference for you.)

About $32 but I'm not in the habit of tossing Core 2 Duo laptops aquired for free that otherwise mostly work. Not gonna buy a new battery it needs however. "A man's GOT to know his limitations." (name the movie without looking it up.) <

Re: Are PCIe WiFi cards physically all the same? - deckeda - 06-18-2011

eBay FTW. Plenty of fans there, identical to OEM and half the price of anywhere else.

Re: Are PCIe WiFi cards physically all the same? - Jimmypoo - 06-18-2011

What speed did the first MacBooks and Mac minis have for wifi?

If they were N (I'm sure they had to be --- the last PowerBooks were N's -- were they not?) then that
will answer your chipset question about whether the 945 supports 100mbit wireless.

Re: Are PCIe WiFi cards physically all the same? - Jimmypoo - 06-18-2011

deckeda wrote:
"A man's GOT to know his limitations." (name the movie without looking it up.) <

Magnum Force - 1973.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VrFV5r8cs0

Re: Are PCIe WiFi cards physically all the same? - deckeda - 06-18-2011

Jimmypoo wrote:
What speed did the first MacBooks and Mac minis have for wifi?

If they were N (I'm sure they had to be --- the last PowerBooks were N's -- were they not?) then that
will answer your chipset question about whether the 945 supports 100mbit wireless.

My 1.83GHz C2D mini has 802.11n and its got architecture not too far off this laptop (except of course for the laptop's additional nVidia 7700, which I can't seem to disable without physically removing it---which I could do, but Windows doesn't come with a driver for the 945? It works with the generic VGA driver but doesn't offer the correct resolution.)

I may pursue that later, as I don't need whatever extra performance the 7700 offers, and it would be nice to not have to have the extra heat and dedicated fan.