Upgrade sanity check

I have an HP Compaq 8510p and would like to upgrade the internal wireless card from Intel 4965AG to 4965AGN for two reasons:

1) Faster speeds on new wireless N router (DGL-4500).

2) 5Ghz shouldn't interfere with xbox controller and baby monitor

I have done some research and found that according to the user guide for the 8510p: "All display assemblies include 3 wireless local area network (WLAN) antennae".

Should I take this to mean that I have the antennas I will need for N on this card to work?

Also, on HP's website I found part RT081AA (Option Kit), and elsewhere I've found part 4965AGNMM1GN. Are these the same thing? Will both of them work? I ask because RT081AA is double the price of 4965AGNMM1GN.


Thanks, I appreciate your help.
Mike

 

If you currently have an Intel 4965 it is an AGN, no such thing as a 4965 AG. You might have a 3945ABG, but if I were you I'd confirm before upgrading to something you already have
Assuming the statement about the antennas is true, then yes, you will have everything you need.
Can't really help on the last part - some manufacturers only allow specific cards (meaning an HP Intel 4965 will work but one straight from Intel won't - I know Lenovo is one guilty of this, not sure of HP's stance.)

 

In the device manager it is listed as "Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AG". There is no N in the device name. Why do you think this card is an N card?

 

So I opened my memory cover to see the WLAN card and only saw two memory chips, no WLAN card. Now that it's powered on, I am wondering if maybe it was under one of the memory chips.

Edit: Well I figured out this one on my own.

Also, I found part 441086-001 listed in the service guide for intel 802.11ABGN with a few places selling the item but most of them looking to be used.

 

FYI I removed my battery/KB/Touchpad to see the card and even on the sticker it says 4965AG not 4965AGN, so I assume I need to upgrade it.

Now, the remaining question is can I use part 4965AGNMM1GN (~$43) or part RT081AA from HP (~$80).

I asked HP and they basically said "We don't recommend using the Intel card". I couldn't get them to say with confidence whether it is a requirement or not. They just don't recommend it. Even though Intel makes the part rebranded by HP. Who knows what they did to it if anything.

When looking at pictures of 4965AGNMM1GN there is no large silver piece mounted on it like there is in the picture of the RT081AA. I don't know what that is. But the card in my laptop has that same large silver piece on the 4965AG so I am inclined to buy the RT081AA. I hate spending $80 on a wireless NIC, but it is work the 5ghz range and speed I think.

One other question... am I limited to this Intel based N chip or are there other options?

 

_HP uses a whitelist in the BIOS to restrict the type of wireless NIC that can be installed, so unless _HP says the NIC is supported, an unsupported NIC most likely won't work; instead, you'll get a little nastygram when you boot up telling you basically to remove the offending NIC.

 

Hmm, okay... so this probably means no 5300 huh. Hope they enjoy their price premium

 

That's most likely what it means.