Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1030/Advanced-N 6230

I am about to buy a Dell XPS 15, but I have a question about the internal wireless adapter option. I really don't know much about networking, just how to set it up and switch bands.

Anyway, you can choose between the 1030 and 6230 for this system if you want bluetooth (and I do). I know the 6230 supports dual band whereas the 1030 does not...and my current router is just the solo 2.4ghz band, so I wouldn't be able to take advantage of the 6230's dual band feature right now. But the price difference between the two is $15. So I'll probably choose the 6230 just for the sake of being able to use the 5ghz band if I ever get an appropriate router for it. Futureproofing, I guess. But I really thought it was odd that they offered both of these choices with only a $15 price difference. So, my question is: Why wouldn't you choose the 6230? $15 is nothing considering you're already configuring a $1000+ system. Is there some advantage to the 1030?

Again, I am not nearly on the same level as most of you when it comes to this stuff, but hopefully this isn't too stupid a question...

 

No idea why the price difference is so low but you are right in choosing 6230- not only because of 5GHz band but also because as you know top shelf hardware perform better than budget hardware and 1030 is an entry level solution.
I'm too lazy to get though product specs to compare them since the choice is obvious anyway- maybe it's just Dell pricing scheme that makes the difference so low?

 

Aye, I don't know... On other systems, they don't even offer the 1030 (just 6230 or 6300). I did go ahead and order it with the 6230, seemed like the obvious choice. I was initially just worried that it was a little too obvious. :] Thanks for your reply!

 

I don't really understand one thing. I've ordered a replacement unit for the XPS 17 and it read N6230 on the invoice which I have received via e-mail. However, I've received another invoice through the post and it reads - N1030! What on earth is happening?

The more obvious reasons for chosing the N6230 over the n1030 is that on the N6230, you are looking at a configuration of 2x2 instead of 1x2 on the N1030 and the n6230 runs on dual band where the N1030 does not.