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    Differences in Wireless Cards?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 14 and M14x' started by cylarian, Apr 23, 2011.

  1. cylarian

    cylarian Newbie

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    Are there performance differences among the wireless cards that you can pick for the Alienware M14x?

    1. Intel® Wireless-N WiFi Link 1000 a/g/n 1x2 (Default)
    2. Intel® Advanced-N WiFi Link 6205 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO Technology (+$25)
    3. Intel® Advanced-N WiFi Link 6250 a/g/n 2x2 MIMO Technology with WiMax (+$50)

    What are the benefits of getting WirelessHD? I only know that it supposedly gives you better quality in streaming videos online.
    1. Internal 60GHz WirelessHD Transmitter [Add $99.00]
    2. Internal 60GHz WirelessHD Transmitter and VIZIO XWH200 Universal Wireless HD Video and Audio Kit Product Details [Add $288.99]

    Thanks!
     
    cylarian, Apr 23, 2011
    #1
  2. TostitoBandito

    TostitoBandito Notebook Evangelist

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    The middle (6205) wifi card should in theory be a bit faster than the 1000. The 6250 adds wimax, which you don't care about unless you live an an area covered by it and use it currently.


    WirelessHD is a technology for transmitting video and audio to a TV without an HDMI cable. Think of it as wireless HDMI. It has nothing to do with streaming online video or anything like that.

    The first option is the internal card which enables your laptop to use it with a compatible TV or any HDMI TV plus a WirelessHD receiver (purchased seperately).

    The second option gives you the internal transmitter card, plus the receiver that you'll likely need to plug into your TV in order to use it. You can also buy these receivers seperately; you can find a few models online.

    If/when I buy this laptop I will get the 6205 wifi card and the $99 internal WirelessHD transmitter options.
     
    TostitoBandito, Apr 23, 2011
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  3. marky808

    marky808 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Man i wish i knew this before i ordered mine. oh well
     
    marky808, Apr 23, 2011
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  4. Voodooi

    Voodooi AFK for a while...

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    I was reading that the upgraded wireless card (6205) can increase your range up to x2 and your speed up to x5 which was located on the Intel website. Keep in mind, factors such as your router and ISP come into play in determining these increases, but even if it's a slight increase for 25$, why not? :)

    I'll be definitely upgrading.
     
    Voodooi, Apr 23, 2011
    #4
  5. marky808

    marky808 Notebook Enthusiast

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    awesome. once i get my own internet service i'll go get a router that can put it to good use
     
    marky808, Apr 23, 2011
    #5
  6. Slim Jim 0333

    Slim Jim 0333 Newbie

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    If you look at the information supplied by Intel, you will see that the speed and range increases are compared to a/b/g connections.
     
    Slim Jim 0333, Jul 20, 2011
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  7. mojorific

    mojorific Notebook Consultant

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    As long as you don't do any serious online gaming, go ahead and get the 6205.

    I'm biased, because my 6205 intel card turned out to be trash. Frequent dropped packets and problems with hosting wifi lan games and playing online.

    The Bigfoot Network 1103 card would be the one I recommend - that card has been great for me.
     
    mojorific, Jul 20, 2011
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  8. /Drakk_

    /Drakk_ Notebook Consultant

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    Actually, the m14x doesn't offer the 6205 any more. It now comes with the Killer Wireless 1103 card as an upgrade.

    mojo - was your experience isolated, or did you hear about other people having problems with the 6205?
     
    /Drakk_, Jul 20, 2011
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  9. mojorific

    mojorific Notebook Consultant

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    There were reports of others having similar issues, but I was not able to reach anyone directly to see what their resolution was. I assume they probably replaced their cards, or just lived with it, or didn't notice it too much.

    I guess this isn't a widespread problem because the only way you would notice is under specific circumstances (online gaming that requires constant connection with no room for error). If you have the card, you could blame your internet and say you have 'lag'. You could say that its caused by wireless interference. Blame your router, or your brother who downloads stuff at the same time.. etc. Normal downloads would maybe take a couple extra seconds, but who would notice that? Finding someone experiencing this issue has been difficult.

    I also use portable phones at home, but they are DECT 6.0 (which should not interfere).

    I was running quake live, using the lagometer to watch for the behaviour - it looks like this:
    [​IMG]

    When it spikes you will see a large bar of green across the meter. That's how I knew something weird was happening. So after I had exhausted all my other 'software' troubleshooting, I had to conclude that the issue was the hardware. I then swapped with an older Atheros card I had in another laptop, and the problem stopped entirely. I could game for as long as I wanted with no interruptions.

    I guess others with the 6205 will have to find out for themselves - but, you have to be really looking for this problem to find it.
     
    mojorific, Jul 20, 2011
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  10. clienterror

    clienterror Notebook Consultant

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    Yea I upgraded from the 1000 (horrible) to the 6205 and I'm having no lag issues or dropped connections in bfbc2. Maybe dell had a bad batch of cards? I bought mine from excaliber pc so that might make a difference.
     
    clienterror, Jul 20, 2011
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  11. CGSDR

    CGSDR Alien Master Race

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    This is what happen to me, I still use my good oldy Wireless G router, so it just stay at the bottleneck of 54Mbps, but the signal to the router is always 5 bars, lol, so I think this is why.
     
    CGSDR, Jul 20, 2011
    #11
  12. tommyxv

    tommyxv Notebook Evangelist

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    tommyxv, Aug 7, 2011
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