Inquiries about PCI-e Wi-Fi cards
Inquiries about PCI-e Wi-Fi cards
Hello, welcome! I understand you're just starting out with networking topics. No worries about asking the right questions—feel free to ask anything.
Backstory: I recently discovered PCI-e Wi-Fi cards on YouTube and saw some speed tests showing impressive performance. I'm thinking about whether to purchase one, especially since I already have an Ethernet cable connected to my PC, a router, and a modem at my desk. My ISP plan is around 150 Mbps, but I'm getting closer to 160 Mbps.
Questions:
1. Should I buy these Wi-Fi cards if I already have an Ethernet connection?
2. Will the Wi-Fi card be limited by my ISP speed? For example, if my plan is 50 Mbps, will it cap performance at that rate?
3. How does the Wi-Fi card actually function?
I’d really appreciate any guidance on these points. Thanks a lot, Hamburger!
Being connected is always preferable. Your internet performance will never exceed what your ISP offers, and any internal machine traffic won’t affect it.
In any situation when talking about working remotely, the top choice is a wired setup using Wi-Fi or PCIe cards. Although USB dongles aren’t ideal, they still outperform wireless options. So to sum up: 1. You shouldn't rely on them unless you're relocating your device. 2. No, it won’t work well in most cases.
You're restricted by the capabilities of your internet service provider. Wired connections typically offer lower latency, making 1ms ping performance stand out. Wireless works well when mobility is important. It seems you already have a gigabit Ethernet port connected. Skip wireless unless you really value that flexibility. For top-speed Wi-Fi, you'd need to upgrade your ISP plan and possibly the equipment you're using (especially if the provider doesn't include it), plus purchase a compatible card.
1. Wired connections are usually the most reliable, making a Wi-Fi card unnecessary.
2. Local network performance will match the highest speeds the Wi-Fi card supports and the router can handle. Your internet connection will still be capped by your ISP limits and the Wi-Fi card’s capability if reception is poor.
3. Wireless signals typically operate on 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands most of the time. This is similar to how radio functions, with higher frequencies offering more data potential but also making it harder to penetrate walls.
The connection speed is constrained by the router's wireless capabilities provided by your ISP. An internet cable connects to a router equipped with an Ethernet switch, offering several gigabit ports. Your computer’s network card communicates with the router and other connected devices at up to 1 Gbps. However, the actual internet bandwidth remains capped at 150 Mbps or whatever your ISP specifies. The router supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, but performance varies—typically around 150 Mbps on 2.4 GHz and 300 Mbps on 5 GHz, depending on signal quality and distance. Your wireless card combines these frequencies, often achieving about 2.1 Gbps on 5 GHz and 0.3 Gbps on 2.4 GHz. The speed you see is the maximum both devices can negotiate. If your card is only 2.4 GHz capable, it might reach up to 300 Mbps. Distance, obstacles, or weak signals can further reduce speeds, possibly to around 72 Mbps or 100 Mbps. Even with a 5 GHz card offering 800 Mbps, the router’s limit of 667 Mbps will still apply. All data sent over the internet will also be restricted to 150 Mbps.