Onboard WiFi vs dedicated WiFi card
Onboard WiFi vs dedicated WiFi card
Consider the two choices carefully. The first option includes built-in WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0, while the second relies on a separate $30-40 card. With a $30 price gap, the decision hinges on your needs and future plans. Since your Ryzen CPU should work until 2020, you likely won’t need a full upgrade soon. Focus on value and compatibility rather than extra features.
You already have a CPU, but adding onboard WiFi offers extra convenience and connectivity options without needing external devices.
You received a CPU without a board because it was shipped separately. You can return it to get a Zen 2 in two weeks. Onboard options are just as quick and dependable but use less space and don’t add extra slots to your PC. If possible, always choose the wired setup.
Secure the onboard Wi-Fi connection. I don’t see any reliable PCIE option I know of. The Asus models I’ve tried all have failed. Other brands like TP-Link and off-the-shelf options are unreliable. It might be possible to get a card from a Chinese manufacturer using local hardware and firmware.
I personally use a Gigabyte GC-WB1733D-I PCIE Wi-Fi card and it has worked well from the start. It handles up to 1733Mbps and includes Bluetooth 5.0. I think this model stands out because it features an Intel 9260 chip inside an M.SATA port on the card. I also tried an Asus PCE-N15, which only supported 300Mbps and struggled with latency for online games—definitely not worth recommending.
Options are flexible. Cards usually fit M.2 Laptop WiFi modules. You might also find a PCIe card that offers higher speeds. In reality, laptop cards usually suffice. Consider it this way: with built-in WiFi, you avoid using a separate PCIE slot for a card, and the antennas won’t interfere with video cables or other connections. To add, most Intel-based Wi-Fi adapters perform better than others according to what I’ve learned. I haven’t encountered any problems with my TP Link PCIe card, especially with Windows 7 and Windows 10.