Wireless Cards on Inspiron 530

TK314

Unless you want to restore your Inspiron 530 to its OEM hardware, you may want to upgrade wireless card to PCIe x1 WiFi 5 (AC) or WiFi 6 (AX) wireless desktop kit.

When I upgraded Inspiron 530 in the past, I just added a PCI Gigabit ethernet card to the bottom PCI slot.  Then, turned an old AC router into bridge mode, functioning as a wireless access point.  Just one upgrade but it can be use with either wire or wireless.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/174811791128 

I bought this card. It does not work. I also have the antenna attachment.

I know there are probably many aftermarket wireless cards, but I am wanting to make this an OEM project. When my system reaches is maximum upgrade, that's what I am sticking with. Recall that this is a hobby project I am doing.

@Chino de Oro​  I could buy an older router from eBay too and use it as a bridge, and then just Ethernet cable to the port on the PC

OP are you running Windows XP or Vista?

XP wireless driver

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=d7hgj&oscode=ww1&productcode=inspiron-530

Dell Wireless 1370/1470/1390/1490/1505/1395 WLAN Mini-Card

Vista

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=cr6yy&oscode=wv64&productcode=inspiron-530

Dell Wireless 1370 WLAN MiniPCI Card, Wireless 1470 Dual-Band WLAN miniPCI Card, Wireless 1390 WLAN MiniCard, Wireless 1490 Dual-Band WLAN MiniCard, Wireless 1505 Draft 802.11n WLAN Mini-Card, Wireless 1505 Draft 802.11n WLAN Mini-Card Desktops, Wireless 1395 WLAN MiniCard, v.4.170.25.17 / 4.170.25.12, A17

@redxps630​ I'm pretty sure that the card I bought isn't compatible with my system. I am currently running Windows XP

you bought

530 oem PCIe wireless

Network adapter

Wireless LAN card, Network, DW1505, FH Tarjeta WLAN Dell Wireless 1505 PCIe, alturacompleta, Dell OptiPlex 380, Mini Tower

TK208

 

530 PCI oem wireless

Card, Wireless, Wireless Local Area Network Card, Pc Interface, Full Height, Asustek Computer Inc

CU690

I actually do not know the difference between PCI and PCIex1 wireless card.  how much download speed difference is there?

The suggestion of upgrading ethernet to gigabit because the onboard ethernet on the 530 is limited to only 10/100 Mbps.  And the PCIe slots are gen 1, the transfer speed per PCIe lane is 250 MB/s

Many modern wireless cards may require Windows 10 or Windows 11 with support drivers.  Therefore, an old PCI gigabit ethernet card was simple solution yet yielding the best value upgrade.