15 Posts
0
3462
Can A Intel Centrino Wireless-n 1030 (b/g/n), Be Upgraded and Changed To Duel Band on a DELL XPS Win7 Core i7
Dear Dell Community It is my first time here and I hope my question will be valid concerning a discontinued device. I am at this moment writing to you on a DELL XPS Win7 Core i7 which I upgraded to a MS InsidersWin10 and I am using my mobile phone to get an internet connection, so the connection is via a hotspot wifi. I found out that the wireless adaptor is a single band type and firstly, I would like to know if it is possible to change it to a compatible dual band adaptor? I would also like to know if I could or rather should change/download or both a newer adaptor or in the event of just a download, use the latest? I want this to be able to run, as this device I am using to study with. I hope I haven't made any of you bored with my questions, I hope that I can be on some standing with you all soon. I look forward to your replies Jeff
jphughan
14K Posts
1
July 22nd, 2019 13:00
Hey Jeff, welcome to the Dell Community. Yes, upgrading your WiFi card is indeed possible and is actually quite common. Fyi though when asking technical questions like this, it's always a good idea to identify your specific system model. You just said you're using a Dell XPS running Windows 7 with a Core i7 processors. Dell has offered many XPS system models that fit that description, and sometimes getting a correct answer to your question will require knowing which exact system model you're running. However, in this case I was able to look up the specs of the Wireless-N 1030 and I found that it was only ever offered in a half-height PCIe mini-card version and that it supports two antennas. In that case, your best option for upgrading would be the Intel Wireless-AC 7260. It's a dual band 802.11ac WiFi card that also uses 2 antennas (but can use both for send and receive, unlike the 1030), and it's the highest-end WiFi card Intel made in half-height mini-card design before they moved over to the M.2 card format that you can't use. You'll just need to make sure you get the right version. First, get the Wireless-AC 7260 rather than Wireless-N 7260, since the latter only supports 802.11n. I have no idea why Intel used the same model number for two cards with very different capabilities, but they did. Second, make sure you get the 7260HMW, not the 7260NGW, since the latter is the M.2 version of the card, which won't fit in your system. Other than that, make sure you use the latest Intel WiFi drivers and you should be good to go. If you need help replacing the card, check support.dell.com, where you should be able to find an Owner's or Service Manual for your system that will contain full instructions including diagrams for removing and reinstalling every part of the system. Good luck!
JTValerie
15 Posts
0
July 22nd, 2019 17:00
Dear jphughan
Thank you for the info and the guidance was magnificent and thank you for your in-depth search for me, which has lead me in the direction I should be heading.
I wish I could give you the Kudos now. Because I am not ready to make any changes yet, but I am presuming that I will get another laptop so I can work on this one in the near future.
I will not forget you.
JTValerie
15 Posts
0
December 26th, 2022 06:00
I eventually did this upgrade just 3 weeks ago and now have back WiFi on this particular laptop.
I was surprised that when I purchased the standard NIC that it would not work, but I now realise that it was no longer supported.
Thank you for your help
realestateeinstein
1 Message
0
February 10th, 2024 19:33
I have the same question for the same wifi adapter Device IdPCI\VEN_8086&DEV_008A&SUBSYS_53258086&REV_34\4&429A686&0&00E0, but I have a Vostro 3750 Intel® Core™ i5-2410M CPU @ 2.30GHz laptop.