Installing wireless network adapter

Question

Hi, have just ordered a dimension 5150c and was wondering if i will be able to install wireless adapter once it arrives. Will there be ports available to install card and will i be breaking any warranty agreements doing so. Will i need any tools to open pc, looking at back to pc its compact, please advise

volcano11 · Answer

Since that machine has no PCI slots (only PCI Express) there is no place inside the computer to install a PCI wireless network adapter.  Your only option is to get a USB wireless network adapter which will plug into one of the USB ports on the outside of your computer.  The user's guide for this system can be found at:   http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim5150C/en/sm/index.htm   Note that opening the case does not void the warranty on any Dell system, but with a USB wireless adapter, you will not have to open the case.   Steve

Vikas2k5 · Answer

I've had a look around and have found 2.0 USB wireless adapters with speeds of 56K or 108MBPS should i pay for the faster card, i've got a 2Mb broadband connection

volcano11 · Answer

Since the speed will be limited by your broadband modem (2 Mbps) there is no need to get the 108 Mbps adapter. Note also that high speed wireless (108 Mbps) only works if the router and the network adapter are from the same manufacturer and is really only necessary if you are planning on requenctly transferring lots of very large files between computers on your local network.

Steve

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Installing wireless network adapter

Was this post helpful?