What are the basics of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth PCIe cards?
What are the basics of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth PCIe cards?
Hello everyone. I'm looking for a PCIe-only card that works with Bluetooth but doesn't include Wi-Fi. (I understand it's not feasible, so here are my main questions.) I want a device that lets me turn off Wi-Fi at the BIOS level while still supporting Bluetooth. From what I've read, some cards have dedicated chips for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. That seems possible? Can I disable Wi-Fi on a BIOS level without affecting Bluetooth? My motherboard is an X570 Aorus Elite. If not, how can I achieve this on a Windows 10 system without disrupting Bluetooth? I also need to keep my mesh network setup intact since it connects directly via LAN. Let me know if you have any ideas or alternatives. Thanks!
You can connect both Wi-Fi and BT cards and opt not to rely on Wi-Fi, especially since you prefer using an Ethernet connection.
You can turn off the wireless feature in the device manager. However, this might also turn off Bluetooth. If the card needs a different USB connection for Bluetooth, you might be able to restore its functionality by placing a small insulating material (like thin scotch tape or Kapton tape) over the data contacts in the PCIe connector of the card (the part after the notch). This allows the power connections from the left side of the notch to work while preventing the wireless chip from communicating via the PCIe lanes. Since Bluetooth connects through USB, it could still function. An example of such a card is available on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/234136028117 This method may help cover the connections after the notch and connect the card to a USB port on your motherboard. Bluetooth’s behavior will depend on that setup. You might need to install the card normally first so it’s recognized by the OS and drivers, then try covering the PCIe side and test it.