5300 only does max 150Mbps

I’m just going to throw this out there; Atheros AR50008X absolutely destroys Intel 5100 and 5300 wireless cards. Unless I’m doing something wrong, I am disappointed in Intel. When using any of those 3 mentioned cards, surfing the internet is no problem (I might get an occasional drop or two using the 5100). If you’re just using them for a road worrier, either card will work. The problem comes when you install them on a gaming system and you want to game wirelessly. The Intel 5100 can’t keep up, the 5300 is just ok. The Atheros on the other hand, allows me to even have stable but high ping playing on a European server. I can’t get the 5300 to connect at more than 150Mbps for the life of me. I bet if it could do at least the 300Mbps, it would be comparable to the Atheros card.

 

You have something wrong, the 5300 for me runs at 300 without problems and very fast.

There was at least one bad driver for the 5300 through Windows Update, go straight to Intel for the drivers (I stopped using it after that). If you can't find the driver, just use I.E. and their automatic driver detector/updater.

 

Did you enable WPA2-AES security settings? You will not go above 150 if you do not do this. Still, this won't matter for gaming...I'm going on out on a limb and thinking your internet speed can't hit those numbers.

In essence, you are really talking about two issues in your post. Internet/gaming/ping may be related to several different issues and could be on your end or the other end (or somewhere in between ) Not saying one card is better than the other, but as leslieann said, try to update/change drivers and start from there.

 

Hmmm....does it get any better than Cox cable? If I just mentioned I'm getting everything I want with the Atheros, what makes you think it's my internet connection or lack there of? The Atheros connects with which ever computer at 300Mbps, the 5300 on either computer 150Mbps. If I'm playing on the same servers using each card, then comparing them will be on equal basis. I am saying one is better than the others as far as I can tell, the Atheros pawns the Intel cards! Ping? They all ping the same and that depends on where I'm trying to ping to. I have no problem with ping on either card, it's just that with the Atheros is a steady stable ping as compared to the other two. Heck, even the 4965a/g/n does better!

If the 5300 is really all that, why would anyone upgrade from that card? Anyway...I will try other things. With that said, I just place the Atheros in without any special tweaking and it kicks butt! I know, just saying.

 

Which software are you using may I ask? I just use the default windows 7 applet, that should be enough for the task you would think.

 

Your wireless connection will NOT have any effect on ping times for Euro servers. That is entirely dependent on your WAN connection, AKA your ISP. Unless you have 150Mb/s internet connection you're not ever going to notice the difference between 150Mb/s and 300Mb/s, unless you want to transfer a large file over your local network, IE: between two computers connected to the same access point. The 5300 is a 3x3 card. Unless you have a router or access point that is optimized for 3x3 antenna designs the Intel card won't shine. 3x3 antenna designs provide 3 multiplexed spacial streams between the router and your notebook should your router have a 3x3 design. Atheros cards have their firmware optimized for 2x2 designs, which is what most consumers have. Put both of them head to head with a high-end 3x3 access point and the Intel will beat the Atheros every time. The Intel has better error correcting algorithms, provided it has it's full 3 spacial streams. As part of a lab for a class I did just recently, we did a radio study on the AR9285, AR5008, i5100, i5300, BCM4331, BCM4312, and the BCM4329FKUBG of the iPhone 4. In every test the 2x2 designs were better than 3x3 designs for most all consumer applications, as most people aren't going to have a $150-$200 dual-band 3x3 capable high performance router.

 

My Atheros AR5B is 3x3!

For some reason you all missing the point! If it had anything to do with the router, then the Atheros would not shine either! As also mentioned, the 3x3 4965 gives a better performance as well (5100 2x2 not nearly as good as the 4965). Maybe the connection speed has nothing to do with anything, lets just say that. Why does the Atheros outshine either of the cards in performance? Quakelive it a total different experience with the Atheros card, than with the 5100 or 5300 rather I'm at home or about. What is laggy for most users in the US playing quakelive on a Europe server, it is quite playable for me when using the Atheros.

Before you ask, I am currently working on getting another Atheros to match the one I have. Just trying to find the one that comes from a MacBook, they work best!


Oh, and if the Atheros is optimized for consumer base level wifi, then why not opt for the Atheros?

 

Thats weird? I play CoD Multi Player, on a G router all the time.

 

It seems our AR5008 reference chipset was an older design. We field pre-manufacturing references from most every vendor though. Also, I guess I'm completely missing the point. There should be NO notable difference between any of the cards you've referenced, unless you have the power saver settings enabled on the Intel's or afterburner enabled on the Atheros cards. The difference would HAVE to lie in the drivers. Different driver versions had noticeable effects on the Intel cards, while the BCM's hardly ever changed at all. Also, with the Intel cards, don't install the Intel connection software. Download the inf's and manually update the card drivers in the device manager and let Windows manage your wireless connections. The connection software is buggy.

The reason the Apple cards usually work better is because they're designed to be fully compatible with the Airport access point. The Apple Atheros/Broadcom cards use special firmware that's tweaked by Apple. The Apple Airport is a very high performance router, so the hardware on the client side must be competent as well. Though most all newer macs use Broadcom WiFi chipsets.

EDIT: For your last question there, it's just a brand preference. Atheros WiFi chipsets are just as good as anyone elses... it's just the drivers that can make or break a card. Atheros and Broadcom have rock solid drivers, while Intel's need to be updated often and certain driver versions work better with certain cards. Most people see Intel on something and they assume it's just going to be better, when often times that's not the case.

 

Thank you!!!!

I knew my suspicions were correct about this Atheros card. Now that you stated the above, I will certainly look for another one just like it. The card performs super well in my x200t, and it is outstanding in my gaming laptop.

Thank you so much for the reply, I will now take it for what it is, relax and move on.

 

joker, I really don't mean to imply the Intel cards are useless, it's just a different feeling when you have something that is better or appears to be better. I've been using my 4965 for the longest of time, so I know you can kick butt with Intel cards.

 

the 5300 has 40mhz (aka channel bonding) disabled by default to reduce interference with surrounding wireless networks. have you tried enabling it in the adapter properties?

goto Network and Sharing Center
click Change adapter settings
right click the wireless card and select properties
click configure
click advanced

under channel width options, make sure it's selected Auto or 40Mhz... chances are the intel card is selected to run at 20Mhz only by default, changing to auto will have it select depending on the router's settings.

i can't check right now, but i'm sure mine reaches 300mbps.

 

Hi xeroxide, thanks for the reply!

Yes, I have everything set to auto, and I do have wap2 security enable on our router. This is another reason I purchased another Apple 300 wireless card last night, there is no setting anything up to get the fastest speed available. Some routers you have no control over, so what then? Something I noticed last night that I didn’t mention earlier, is the fact I get 2 more additional names in my connect box using the Atheros, which means it must be getting further/better rang. Whatever the case may be, I’ve made the decision and can’t wait to receive my second Apple300AGN wireless card to go into my x200t!

If the Intel cards are all that and more, I have a few going for just about nothing in the FST Forum.

 

I use the Windows 7 applet, it works fine, however I use a driver direct from Intel. Getting the latest direct from Intel fixed all the issues I had with it.

The 4965 had it disabled by default, I'm pretty sure the 5300 has it enabled by default. I never had to enable it on my 5300, but did have to on my 4965.

The 5300 retains a stronger signal over a larger area with less variance from interference. I did have to move an antenna to stop some static though, which I suspect is probably due to a higher signal strength.

 

its enabled by default if you're using the 5ghz, for 2.4ghz its defaults at 20mhz.

here's a screenshot of my laptop sitting a few feet away from the router.



that's using 2.4ghz (my router doesn't do 5ghz to my knowledge) with 40mhz enabled on both the router and adapter. (not by default for either).

since 2.4ghz has so many fewer channels available, they disable it by default because it will interfere with other networks in the area... (un)fortunately for me, i live in a rather isolated area and there's only 1 other wireless network i can detect.

if i move to another part of the house however (lets say a down a short corridor and past a few closed doors) i usually get around 130mbps.

however without 40mhz, it pretty much halfs the bandwidth.

any clue on how well the Atheros chip does on linux? my last experiment with them ended up with me waving my hands in defeat and purchasing an intel card... this was a while back however so things may have changed.

oh i forgot to add, it's impossible to go past 150mbps with windows drivers, must use the ones from intel.

 

That's probably why, I use 5ghz on my 5300.