Searching for four high-speed, reasonably priced MPCIe Wi-Fi cards.
Searching for four high-speed, reasonably priced MPCIe Wi-Fi cards.
We recently improved our internet connection to 960/860mbps. We have a single router acting as an access point, along with some dual-band AC routers. Certain devices like phones can reach speeds over 400mbps, but our laptops and desktops—both my own and my brothers’ machines—don’t support AC Wi-Fi or M.2 adapters. The laptops lack M.2 slots or full-length mPCIe ports, so we can’t use external adapters. Desktop setups are connected via Ethernet through the router and a floor above the AP.
Typically, the components that most affect WiFi performance in laptops are... the internal antennas. Have you verified they can handle 5GHz and support multiple antennas? Many modern laptops still feature just one antenna, which significantly restricts speeds.
Did you mean Intel AC 7260? Just to be sure, is that the correct slot type you're referring to compared to NGFF?
You're correct about the number—7260 instead of 7620. Also, you have M.2 (NGFF) cards, and both devices support mPCIe, not M.2/NGFF.
In this scenario, the 7260 stands out as a well-reviewed item. It functions with most laptops, though its fit with AMD motherboards, Lenovo, and HP models remains uncertain. The manufacturer explicitly warns that these devices might not support it. Similarly, the AR9462 and AR5B22 are also affected. On the positive side, the AzureWave Broadcom BCM94352HMB 802.11/ac card is another solid option, as HP and Lenovo typically rely on their own proprietary solutions.
Yes, as long as they match and there are drivers available, I recommend avoiding adapters and sticking to a direct fit.
Yeah, that's another reason why we can't use mPCIe to M.2 adapters in the laptops, but my plan was to use them in desktops, something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Desktop-Wireless-...1&th=1