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    FASTEST m18r2 compatible WIFI-AC card? 3x3 5ghz

    Discussion in 'Alienware 18 and M18x' started by anarky321, Oct 9, 2015.

  1. anarky321

    anarky321 Notebook Deity

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    finally upgraded my router to an AC and would really like to upgrade the wifi card in the my gf's room because i can't run wire that far, i just switched her from a craptastic intel 2200(or 2230?) to a pretty nice intel 6300 but would like more speed....

    from crawling around on Intel's site i found the 8260 2x2 AC to be the fastest newest thing...but wouldn't mind 3x3 since i have 3 antennas
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2015
    anarky321, Oct 9, 2015
    #1
  2. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

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    I think the only 3x3 half mini pci e cards are the Intel 5300, Intel 6300, and the Atheros 9380 / Killer 1103

    There are no more half height mini pci e cards being made, everything has moved on to the NGFF so unfortunately, I don' think we have many options.
     
    Raidriar, Oct 11, 2015
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  3. anarky321

    anarky321 Notebook Deity

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    the cards you mentioned are not AC, so is the intel 7260 the best ill get in an m18x?
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2015
    anarky321, Oct 12, 2015
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  4. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

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    Looks like the 8260 only works in Windows 10. Might not be a problem for you though.
     
    deadsmiley, Oct 12, 2015
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  5. Mr. Fox

    Mr. Fox BGA Filth-Hating Elitist®

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    Just don't get a Broadcom AC card. I had one in my Clevo and the thing never worked well. I moved it to my M18xR2 hoping it might work better there and moved my Killer 1202 to the Clevo. It was equally horrible and it's now sitting in a box and I replaced it with another 1202. So, hopefully the Intel 7260 AC card is decent because I doubt anything else is worth having. I won't use any WiFi mini-PCI cards any more except for Intel 6300 and 1202. I have flawless results from both of them. Having an AC doesn't mean squat if it constantly drops connections, cannot connect, randomly slows to a crawl, etc.

    If you buy the 7260 AC, please let us know how it goes and post some speed test results. It would be nice to have at least one decent AC option to choose from.
     
    Mr. Fox, Oct 12, 2015
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  6. anarky321

    anarky321 Notebook Deity

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    7260.HMWWB.R is the model i am getting im assuming that's the most recent 7260 revision, as far as the 8260 according to intel documents it only comes in M.2
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2015
    anarky321, Oct 12, 2015
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  7. Raidriar

    Raidriar ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

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    Yes. You will have to choose between having 3 antennas being used, or using two antennas to get Wireless AC. 7260 is your best bet. Intel cards are rock solid.
     
    Raidriar, Oct 12, 2015
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  8. anarky321

    anarky321 Notebook Deity

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    there are actually a lot of bad reviews for the 7260 online but i did go ahead and grab one, i just got an AC router so i need something to test it with anyway
     
    anarky321, Oct 13, 2015
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  9. noric

    noric Notebook Consultant

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    noric, Feb 14, 2016
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  10. anarky321

    anarky321 Notebook Deity

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    i ended up having to sell both my AC routers they were obnoxiously unreliable and crashed on a daily basis (brand new...tried both stock firmware and OpenWRT)...Linksys WRT1900AC if anyone cares.....went back to Apple Airport Extreme and haven't had a single problem since...rock solid for years now

    after my 'failure' with AC wifi i discovered this:
    ZyXEL PLA5456KIT HomePlug AV2 MIMO AV2000 Powerline Pass-Thru 2-Port Gigabit NEW
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833181534
    i didn't even know this type of gear existed and it has more than solved my "LAN to other room" problem...highly recommended...it also has dual ethernet outputs so you can connect a router AND a computer on the other end, extending your WIFI coverage without having to run any wires between rooms
    btw the 7260 AC wifi card works just fine..haven't had any issues...i do wish they'd make a 3x3 version of it with BT
     
    anarky321, Feb 14, 2016
    #10