9 Legend
•
13.9K Posts
0
27
January 20th, 2025 19:25
XPS 8700, different size of antenna sockets for WLAN card?
I was trying to connect XPS 8700 case built in antenna to a WLAN card on a non-Dell motherboard. The antenna would not click or snap on the board. I inspected the socket of 8700 antenna and in my imagination the socket of antenna might be a touch bigger than the original antenna for the WLAN? Is that possible? I have never heard there are different diameter of wireless antenna sockets.
Chino de Oro
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
•
7.3K Posts
0
January 21st, 2025 01:17
Understandable reason. Just remember U.FL (IPX) connectors for mini-PCIe cards and MHF4 (IPEX4) connectors for M.2 NGFF cards.
redxps630
9 Legend
9 Legend
•
13.9K Posts
0
January 21st, 2025 01:53
thx
Chino de Oro
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
•
7.3K Posts
0
January 20th, 2025 22:23
There are different sizes of antenna connectors. Here are the key points about antenna connectors for PC wireless cards:
You may find the these connector types in for sale description of antenna listings from vendors.
Chino de Oro
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
•
7.3K Posts
0
January 20th, 2025 22:31
On the pigtails ends, wireless antenna uses I-PEX with different sizes and cables diameter sizes as well. More info can be viewed here https://www.i-pex.com/product/rf
redxps630
9 Legend
9 Legend
•
13.9K Posts
0
January 20th, 2025 23:26
thanks a lot Chino. now I know I opened a can of worms so to speak. I need to figure out XPS 8700 case built in antenna socket from the oem 8700 WLAN so I can know how adaptable the case is for non-Dell board. at same time I need to find out the WLAN I am using on a HP omen board. the board came without WLAN and I just took out a spare not knowing there might be different socket sizes of WLAN antenna. currently the WLAN I have fits the original HP 500 series case antenna.
Chino de Oro
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
•
7.3K Posts
0
January 20th, 2025 23:30
If I remember correctly, the XPS 8700 uses half height mini-card while the HP Omen uses M.2 for wireless. They are resulting to different types of antenna connectors.
redxps630
9 Legend
9 Legend
•
13.9K Posts
0
January 20th, 2025 23:43
Yes I think you are correct. 8700 has no M.2 slot so uses mini PCIe socket (also has one for mSATA ssd).
so this pretty much means the 8700 case built in antenna is not suitable for modern board.
that is a bit disappointing. I suppose one has to get new antenna or use USB dongle.
(edited)
Chino de Oro
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
•
7.3K Posts
0
January 21st, 2025 00:25
If the Omen case is to be dismantled, move the HP antenna cables to the XPS case?
Just curious, why use the XPS 8700 case over the HP Omen case (beside your passion for XPSes)? Am looking at an 817-213w and the Omen has RGB lighting (4 colors, programmable with peripherals) and brushed dark steel appearance. Performance wise, it supports up to 7th gen CPU, although limited for components upgrade.
redxps630
9 Legend
9 Legend
•
13.9K Posts
0
January 21st, 2025 00:42
my HP board is Omen but the case is older HP envy. they seems to use same front IO. the envy case has only WLAN led. I guess I can get some LED to add to Omen board.
what is strange is this particular Envy case has a crooked back IO shield fenestration. I bought a IO shield because I could not recall whether I ever had the original shield and misplaced it or never had it. It has been a while because the Envy came w a nonworking board and I just put it aside.
so the crooked window would not fit the IO shield. it is very strange
even the last extension card slot is crooked. not sure if it is a manufacture defect. the case does not seem abused to cause this.
so because the IO shield would not fit I tried the 8700 case which does fit the shield, but has other problems later discovered. so much ado about learning lessons. board is now back in Envy case
redxps630
9 Legend
9 Legend
•
13.9K Posts
0
January 21st, 2025 00:52
not trivial project to extract WLAN antenna from these case. involves opening up top panel. I prefer not too much effort in that direction.
I guess the next and last good XPS case (8900) has a newer design antenna compared to 8700, and perhaps everything else is the same between two cases. I do not have 8900 but currently has a few 8700 and one 8500. I am losing "passion" for them but they are still better than the 8910/20/30 cases. 8940/50/60 is proprietary and out of question
(edited)