This model employs Wireless-N rather than AC connectivity.
This model employs Wireless-N rather than AC connectivity.
You observed the Wi-Fi card only switching to Wireless-N while your laptop connects via 5 GHz AC. Since both use Windows 10 and you have outdated drivers from 2014, start by checking the network settings on your laptop and router. Ensure the correct wireless adapter is selected and try restarting both devices. If needed, update or reinstall the drivers for better compatibility.
Is it really a 5GHz network active? Many access points and routers maintain their own separate channels.
I faced an issue before. I switched the 5GHz band to channel 44 and set the bandwidth to 80MHz on my router. Now I'm achieving around 877.5MBps with my card. However, I believe the channel support varies by country. I suggest looking at this article for the correct settings for your device. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels Then verify your Wi-Fi performance in the Network and Sharing Center to confirm wireless AC speeds.
I initially attempted to switch the 5 GHz network to channel 44, but it didn’t make a difference. Then I set the router’s 5 GHz mode to just AC, which resolved the issue—only an older laptop could connect to the 5GHz band with AC, not fully. It seems Windows 10 might be misinterpreting the settings as N instead of AC. There could also be a faulty driver installation. I previously used an older ASUS PCI card that supported only 2.4 GHz, and after upgrading, I don’t remember removing the driver, which might be the problem.
Yes, the 5 GHz network operates in a combined mode. I didn't notice a distinct settings option for AC.
When another device uses 802.11g/n, the antenna can't operate on AC simultaneously. Generally, wireless devices should use the latest protocol that supports every device on the network. Keeping only your laptop connected might work, but if no other connections exist, a wired connection would be more reliable.