PCI wifi card for optiplex 5050

If you have an unused USB port, a USB connected Wi-Fi adapter is the easiest.

Check the Service Manual, but it's likely miniPCIe.

I would just get one of the models currently being offered with it. That should insure that the included antennas are compatible. Which brings-up another point ... are the wire-like antennas even pre-installed if it doesn't ship with a card installed? I would look inside first.

If they are missing, then @fireberd suggestion is likely the easiest. Another benefit of that solution is that the "antenna" in the USB WiFi dongle ends-up outside the machine's metal-case (where it works better).

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@Chasscoswrote:

Hello, just got a optiplex 5050, but it has no built in wireless. I am just wanting to get one myself. Any recommendations, please? Just want to make sure it fits and works!

Thanks!

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Just re-read your post.

If you really want a full-sized PCIe Add-in card (that goes in a normal slot) ... yes, those are nice because they have large antennas that go outside the machine. Can't really recommend one ... just get a name-brand one with good reviews. They are a bit old-school but should work fine.

Hello,

I consulted some dell sales persons after the posting here and they advised me to get an intel 3125/7260/8260/9260 etc and they are all compatible. Then I ordered a 9260 as it is the latest release and I thought I could use the PCI4 to fit it in, but unfortunately I found it cannot be placed in as it is a so called 'M.2'(maybe, I googled). So can anybody advise if I can really use it or have to return and find another option? Thanks.

I told you what cards to select from ...

What form-factor is this OptiPlex 5050 ... Mini-Tower, SFF, or a Micro ?

The cards ... call them what they are ... the normal-sized ones are PCIe . The small-ones (like used to only go in laptops) are mini-PCIe .

Hello @Tesla1856, sorry I thought this community would have a notification for new replies and I missed yours because of that.

My machine is small form factor. So you are saying intel 9260 has a mini PCIe and won't work on my machine? And I need to find one with normal sized PCI interface? Am I understanding it right?

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@Chasscoswrote:

Hello @Tesla1856, sorry I thought this community would have a notification for new replies and I missed yours because of that.

My machine is small form factor. So you are saying intel 9260 has a mini PCIe and won't work on my machine? And I need to find one with normal sized PCI interface? Am I understanding it right?

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I can see why there is confusion.

I don't see a Service Manual for the OptiPlex 5050 SFF. Looks like they rolled it all into just the Owners Manual. Both it and the sales-page describe it accepting up to two half-height PCIe cards.

1 half height PCIe x16
1 half height PCIe x4 (open ended)
... So, that's an option for a WiFi card right there. The large antenna would stick out the back and should work pretty good.

The sales-page and the Owners Manual (specs section) says it can use a :
Intel Dual Band Wireless AC 8265 (802.11ac) 2x2 + Bluetooth

But the Owners manual doesn't show what it looks like, what kind of slot it uses, or where it goes.

That about all I got. Well, other than to remind you that a real Ethernet CAT-6 wire would be much better, faster, and more reliable ... even if you have to get one installed.

Hello @Tesla1856, I found a layout of this motherboard (see http://www.dell.com/support/manuals/us/en/19/optiplex-5050-desktop/optiplex-5050-desktop-small-form-factor-owners-manual/system-board-layout?guid=guid-8fe1ea7f-428e-4c10-a496-7cdb4ab74b65&lang=en-us)

I did not see any mini PCIe slot. Can you also take a look for me, please?

Hi, I also checked the owner's manual and did find the 8265 part you pointed. So now the thing is to figure out how and where to install the 8265 chip. Hope somebody from this community can help.

BTW, I  wish I could hook up a RJ45, but my office is in the upstairs where has no wall jack pre-installed and it is far from my modem at downstairs. The reason I prefer PCI is also that in order to get a better performance than usual USBs. Thanks anyway.

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@Chasscoswrote:

Hello @Tesla1856, I found a layout of this motherboard (see http://www.dell.com/support/manuals/us/en/19/optiplex-5050-desktop/optiplex-5050-desktop-small-form-factor-owners-manual/system-board-layout?guid=guid-8fe1ea7f-428e-4c10-a496-7cdb4ab74b65&lang=en-us)

I did not see any mini PCIe slot. Can you also take a look for me, please?

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No, I don't see a mini-PCIe slot on the motherboard. The only small horizontal slot is: M.2 Slot 3 Connector (M.2_SSD) and that's for a NVMe SSD.

This "Intel Dual Band Wireless AC 8265 (802.11ac) 2x2 + Bluetooth" they are talking about must just be a
half-height PCIe Addin card. Which is what you want anyway, so I guess just go ahead and get one.

There is no reason why it would not work.

Or, maybe they are using something like this (with a laptop-like mini-pcie wifi card installed on it)?

Half Size Mini PCI-e Wireless Card To PCI Express X1 Converter Desktop

But if they are, it's one matched-to and tested-with the Intel-8265 or mini-pcie-card they are selling/pre-installing.

HI 

But anybody has pinout description of connector WIFI_BT_USB ? I want use PCIe card with wifi and BT and it must be connected to motheboard.... I need pinout....

Dell 5050. you can put a wifi card in the m.2 slot, but i would not, use that for nvme ssd, i have samsung 970 evo plus nvme ssd in mine, getting 3500 read and write speed, also this pc runs windows 11 2h22 very well,  i run gt 1030 gpu,  internal gpu ok. 

better than usb is a pcie wifi card with 2 antennas,  about 40 bucks . put in the 1x pcie slot and leave the 16x slot for a gpu,