Which Dell wireless network card?

Im planning on buying a Dell Inspiron 1520, and im pretty shure i've chosen good computer specs.

The only thing i'm not sure about is the network card. The price between them isn't much, but i would still like to know which one would be best.

These are the specs im planning to buy, followed by the different network cards i'm able to choose from.

PROCESSOR Intel® Core™2 Duo T7100 Processor (1,80 GHz, 800 MHz, 2 MB L2-cache)
OPERATING SYSTEM Legitimate Windows Vista™ Home Basic - Dutch
SYSTEM COLOUR Ruby Red & camera with 2.0 megapixel
DISPLAY 15.4" W Screen XGA TFT Display resolution: 1280x800
MEMORY 2.048 MB 667 MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2 x 1.024]
HARD DRIVE 120 GB SATA hard drive (5.400 rpm)
VIDEO CARD nVidia® GeForce™ Go 8600M GT with 256 MB DDR2 dedicated grafical memory
OPTICAL DRIVE Vast intern 8x DVD+/-RW-combinatiestation with software
MAIN BATTERY 9-cell lithium-ion battery (85 W/h)

These are the network cards available:

Dell™ Wireless 1390 802.11b/g Minicard - Europe (STOCK)
Dell™ Wireless 1490 802.11a/b/g Minicard - Europe
Dell™ Wireless 1505 Wireless-N-minicard - Europe
Intel® Pro Wireless 3945 802.11a/b/g Minicard - Europe
Intel® Wireless-N-minikaart of the next generation- Europe

I would appreciate it greatly if anyone could tell me which one would be best to buy. The top one is the stock part.

Yours,

 

I'd opt for one of the Intel cards.

 

well, when I bought my notebook i was hesitating on that too. I was wondering if really needed 'pre-N' and I came to the conclusion of: no, i don't.
Pre-N is still being tested... even if some routers are out. Most of the wireless networks around are 'wireless G' and it will remain that way for at least the next 2 to 3 years. If EVER I felt the need for 'wireless N' I can just go buy a wireless N pc card, and pop into my notebook.

There is no major difference between the broadcom cards (dell) and the intel cards. They both have great stability and the same average range and strength of signal. So i would suggest the 1490 (dell).

If EVER you plan on using LINUX, then go with intel, to my knowledge there are no linux drivers for the broadcom (dell) cards, to date.

hope this helps

 

Thanks allot, then will buy the 1490.

 

Just to verify,
what is the exact difference between the stock part, (Dell™ Wireless 1390 802.11b/g Minicard), and the one you would choose Askarii? the Dell™ Wireless 1490 802.11a/b/g Minicard?

You see I know a bit about computers, but network cards I really lack some knowlage.

Robbie

 

The 1390 supports only b/g networks, the 1490 supports b/g as well as the wireless "a" standard which is not very common place nowadays.

 

So really, you dont need the "a" standard, as it is not very common. So you might aswell go for the stock part then, the 1390... right?

 

correct, the 'a' standard is found in small buisness and companies mostly. If you plan on just using home wireless, school wireless network and internet cafe's, then the 1390 is fine.

I personally chose the 1490 because my school jobs are in small governement companies, which I know tend to run on wireless 'a'.

 

thanks allot for helping me out guys, admin may close the topic

 

I got an Intel 3945 for $11.47 shipped off eBay. I see no reason to pay extra for a Dell 1490 when you can just get an Intel card for almost the same cost.

 

iam currently running a intel 3945 abg card,iam also using my linkysy router .it never looses a signal or drops packets,if iam within the normal range of the router,stays at 54.0 mbps,when i was using my dell 1390 was not stable,also i tryed a dell 1500 n card,it was stable on a /g router.but when i decided to go up my street to see if i could get a connection,i did see a connection but my dell 1500 n card would not let me log in to the router,and the router was not passworded,so shut down the laptop poped out the 1500 dell n card,and installed the 3945 abg card,then i was able to connect to another router,of course the drivers were already on my laptop,now dell no longer sells the 1500 n card and they came out with a new 1505 n wireless n card so mabe the fixed some bugs ,and one more thing my dell e1705 has a dual boot xp and vista windows,well when i use my 3945 card in xp i get excelent single,and when i log into vista i loose 1 bar ,the router is in the same room where i use my laptop,has any one tryed the new 1505 wireless n dell card i was thinking about buying one of them,also someone recomended a d-link DIR-655 ,this is a wireless n router,also i was curios if i put a wireless n card in my laptop and bought a n router ,would i still able to use my printer that is wireless g,,,thanks ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,jake