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April 1st, 2019 04:00
Upgrading Wifi Card
Hi everyone,
I am currently using dell inspiron 14 3443 (a few years old already). The current wifi card is 1705 802.11b|g|n (2.4GHZ).
I wonder what wifi cards are compatible to my laptops or what range of products I can purchase? I am based in Australia so Australia Amazon or local online stores would be grateful.
Many thanks!
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jphughan
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April 1st, 2019 07:00
According to the diagram in the Service Manual for that system, it uses an half-height mPCIe card for WiFi, also known as a half mini card. The best WiFi card that Intel made in that form factor, and in my opinion the best WiFi card made in that form factor, was the Intel Wireless-AC 7260HMW. Just make sure you get the Wireless-AC 7260 since there's also a Wireless-N 7260 (no idea why Intel used the same model number for two very different cards) and also make sure you get the 7260HMW rather than the 7260NGW, because the latter is the version of the card that uses the newer M.2/NGFF slot, which your system doesn't have. If you search local online sites for Intel 7260HMW you shouldn't have trouble finding one. :)
jphughan
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April 1st, 2019 08:00
@Mary Gyou're talking about saving money by avoiding an AC card if you don't have an AC router, and then in the very next sentence you suggest a USB adapter instead of an internal card. USB adapters are typically significantly more expensive than equivalent internal cards AND they typically perform WORSE because in order to be compact, they have to use tiny antennas that fit into a small USB adapter, compared to an internal card that uses the long antennas that run into the laptop's display assembly. And then of course you also have to permanently give up one of your USB ports for WiFi. Not a great value proposition on any front.
It's also not unreasonable to buy an AC card even if the OP doesn't have an AC router. For one, 802.11ac cards have been found to have better range even when operating on N networks. And for another, the Wireless-AC 7260 is only about $5-10 more than a Wireless-N 7260.
Mary G
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April 1st, 2019 08:00
Don't forget to match any card to your router. Not worth the money to buy an AC card if you don't have an AC router. IMO it is not worth replacing what you have now if it is working OK. Try a usb adapter to see if it makes a difference.
Check to make sure you have the latest windows 10 driver for your exact model card--
https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/product/inspiron-14-3443-laptop/drivers
jphughan
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April 1st, 2019 08:00
@duynguyen1109if you decide to replace the internal card, then just in case you've never replaced a WiFi card before, as a general tip I'd recommend attaching the antennas to the new WiFi card before you insert the card into the slot. The reason is that a firm connection between the antenna and the card's connectors is essential to proper performance, but it takes a fair amount of force to press them on, which is difficult to achieve when the card is already inserted. So instead, attach the antennas first by "pinching" each of them onto the card's connectors, using your thumb over the antenna and your index finger on the underside of the card directly below the antenna connector. Then just insert the card into the slot at a 45-degree angle, and after it's in, press it down so that it lies flat and fasten it down using the screw(s) for that purpose. Good luck!