AX200 Issue with MSI B550 Mortar lacking Wi-Fi
AX200 Issue with MSI B550 Mortar lacking Wi-Fi
Starting from two months ago, I owned a 2014 Macbook and didn’t really engage with tech. My last desktop was from 2007. Due to boredom during the pandemic and a lot of YouTube suggestions about laptops, I decided to upgrade. When the B550 Mortar model hit the market, I noticed it was available without Wi-Fi. I was eager to assemble everything and considered using the AX200 desktop kit since it supported that version. I opted for a compact design and skipped the PCIe card initially. Unfortunately, there’s no M.2 key E slot left for me. I explored an adapter link but found mixed information—some say it works with Intel boards, others claim not. The Wi-Fi version included one, so maybe adding the right driver would help. Alternatively, I might have to give up and buy a PCIe Wi-Fi adapter instead. Any advice or support would be greatly appreciated.
The ax201 is exclusive to Intel, while the ax200 is compatible with all boards. I’ll just need a PCIe adapter—something similar to the ax200—and bring back the Wi-Fi card you have.
It's conceivable the M.2 port remains available on the board, similar to the IO panel found in the WiFi model. However, security could be compromised since the mounting bracket likely isn't secure. I experienced a SATA miniPCIe card moving freely in my NAS when it was a SATA device, which worked because the PC remained stationary. You don't have to replace the adapter entirely if you prefer the standard slot; a budget M.2 to PCIe adapter exists, though pre-installed options with antennas might be more convenient than having protruding components that affect reception.