Difference between adapters with same model numbers, different manufacturers

[BriskPanda]

All three of these wireless network cards are all the same model number but different manufacturers. Does that mean they will all give you the same connection quality and the only difference appearance and how they deal with heat? Which adapter would you recommenced purchasing for gaming, streaming video, and heavy internet use?

 

Any and all help is appreciated

 

Asus Dual band PCI-E adapter (AC1300)

https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Wi-Fi-Express-Adapter-PCE-AC56/dp/B00JNA337K/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1474781064&sr=1-2&keywords=ac1300

 

TP-Link Archer Dual Band PCI-E adapter (AC1300)

https://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-450Mbps-Wireless-Express-TL-WDN4800/dp/B016K0896K/ref=zg_bsnr_tab_pd_mw_1?th=1

 

Asus Dual Band USB adapter

https://www.amazon.com/USB-AC55-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC1300-Wi-Fi-Adapter/dp/B00Q6KRLUU/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1474781064&sr=1-3&keywords=ac1300

 

If it helps with your decision, my current router is the stock one you get with Verizon FIos

 

Current router

https://www.amazon.com/Actiontec-Verizon-Fios-Wireless-Router/dp/B00PME4F1E

 

 

[zMeul]

the USB one should be avoided

between the ASUS and TP-Link, the ASUS one

 

now ... if your router is only n, why paying for expensive ac WiFi adapters?

[Rohime]

AC1300 is NOT a model number, is a "Class" of WiFi bandwidth.

 

Look at the "advertised" section: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11ac

[UndueHatred]

AC means which which protocol. AC1300

 

1300 probably represents maximum theoretical speed.

 

The model numbers are different than that denotation.

 

IE

 

Asus PCI Express -  PCE-AC56

 

TP - Link - Archer T6E

 

And ASUS USB - USB-AC55

[Rohime]

21 minutes ago, UndueHatred said:

1300 probably represents maximum theoretical speed.

Yes, it means 1300 Mbits/s in the 5Ghz Band or (more likely) 400Mbits/s in 2.4Ghz and additional 867Mbits/s in 5GHz.

[Rohime]

18 minutes ago, BriskPanda said:

Which adapter would you recommenced purchasing for gaming, streaming video, and heavy internet use?

 

Any and all help is appreciated

 

You need to keep in mind that WiFi connectivity is limited by BOTH the router / AccessPoint _AND_ the WiFi capability of the device that you are connecting to WiFi.

 

For example, there is no point in buying a good WiFi access point (AC1300) to speed up games on a Laptop that only has WirelessN on it.   The Laptop would also need to support WirelessAC.

 

The router you point to does NOT support 5Ghz connectivity, so AC1300 in 5Ghz band is not usable by devices connecting to that router.

 

 

[zMeul]

11 minutes ago, Rohime said:

The router you point to does NOT support 5Ghz connectivity, so AC1300 in 5Ghz band is not usable by devices connecting to that router.

not quite

802.11n works both in 2.4Ghz band and 5Ghz band - and from what I'm getting, that router of his might work in both 2.4 and 5 Ghz but only in n

 

can't find actual tech specs for the router, only thing I can find it's that it works in 802.11g 

Edited September 25, 2016 by zMeul

[BriskPanda]

48 minutes ago, Rohime said:

For example, there is no point in buying a good WiFi access point (AC1300) to speed up games on a Laptop that only has WirelessN on it.   The Laptop would also need to support WirelessAC.

Im on a desktop and im currently using this bad wireless card, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0079XWMEI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

My speed is about slow from where I keep my computer using this card

54 minutes ago, zMeul said:

not quite

802.11n works both in 2.4Ghz band and 5Ghz band - and from what I'm getting, that router of his might work in both 2.4 and 5 Ghz but only in n

 

can't find actual tech specs for the router, only thing I can find it's that it works in 802.11g 

The router is the Actiontec MI424WR Rev.I this is the datasheet I found with a quick google search

 

 

[zMeul]

22 minutes ago, BriskPanda said:

The router is the Actiontec MI424WR Rev.I this is the datasheet I found with a quick google search

 

 

you mean this: http://www.actiontec.com/products/datasheets/AEI MI424WR GigE datasheet.pdf

[BriskPanda]

54 minutes ago, zMeul said:

you mean this: http://www.actiontec.com/products/datasheets/AEI MI424WR GigE datasheet.pdf

Yea that should be the one but here is the official verizon one, sorry for not linking earlier 

 

https://www.actiontec.com/products/datasheets/VrznMI424WRrevI_dtsht_Verzn brnded.pdf

[Rohime]

2 hours ago, zMeul said:

not quite

802.11n works both in 2.4Ghz band and 5Ghz band - and from what I'm getting, that router of his might work in both 2.4 and 5 Ghz but only in n

 

can't find actual tech specs for the router, only thing I can find it's that it works in 802.11g 

 

I thought the link provided by the OP was clear (and I didnt mention N in this context).   It says "Dual Band Wireless both 2.4 GHz" hence my comment about 5Ghz not being available.

 

So ... 

The current card in PC is Wireless N in 2.4Ghz band at 300Mbits/s

The new  card for PC would be Wireless in 2.4 Ghz band at 400Mbit/s AND an UNUSED 867Mbits/s in the 5Ghz band.

 

Ie:  New card will get a 300 to 400 Mbit/s uplift.

If you then ALSO change the ROUTER to a new router that supports 5GHz, then you will get 867Mbit/s instead of 300/400.

 

ie: not much point changing the card, unless you also change the router.

•  

[Samfisher]

It's so confusing having 2 pandas talk to each other

[BriskPanda]

8 minutes ago, Rohime said:

 

I thought the link provided by the OP was clear (and I didnt mention N in this context).   It says "Dual Band Wireless both 2.4 GHz" hence my comment about 5Ghz not being available.

 

So ... 

The current card in PC is Wireless N in 2.4Ghz band at 300Mbits/s

The new  card for PC would be Wireless in 2.4 Ghz band at 400Mbit/s AND an UNUSED 867Mbits/s in the 5Ghz band.

 

Ie:  New card will get a 300 to 400 Mbit/s uplift.

If you then ALSO change the ROUTER to a new router that supports 5GHz, then you will get 867Mbit/s instead of 300/400.

 

ie: not much point changing the card, unless you also change the router.

•  

SO there will be no speed improvement if I go from this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0079XWMEI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 single band card to the Asus Dual band?

 

Do you have any recommendations of a new router and PCI-E networking card that I can purchase for around $90-$100 max total and will give me better speed?

[Rohime]

18 minutes ago, BriskPanda said:

SO there will be no speed improvement if I go from this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0079XWMEI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 single band card to the Asus Dual band?

No really, no.

 

19 minutes ago, BriskPanda said:

Do you have any recommendations of a new router and PCI-E networking card that I can purchase for around $90-$100 max total and will give me better speed?

Either of the two PCI cards is probably fine (i havent looked at one vs the other).

 

As for a router ... 

That one looks like it is cable, so a little trickier to recommend a replacement.

Instead i'd recommend and ADD ON Wireless Access Point (ie: turn off the WiFi on the Router, and plug in a new Wireless Access Point to provide WiFi.

 

Something like this would match the PCI Card:

http://www.netgear.com.au/business/products/wireless/soho-wireless/wac120.aspx

https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-802-11ac-Wireless-Access-WAC120-100NAS/dp/B00O4UJHCO/ref=sr_1_6 

[Rohime]

BTW -- If you don't want to end up with two devices, it is probably with ringing Verizon and asking them if they can provide a Wireless AC capable Router (AC1300 or higher).

[BriskPanda]

32 minutes ago, Rohime said:

As for a router ... 

That one looks like it is cable, so a little trickier to recommend a replacement.

Instead i'd recommend and ADD ON Wireless Access Point (ie: turn off the WiFi on the Router, and plug in a new Wireless Access Point to provide WiFi.

 

Something like this would match the PCI Card:

http://www.netgear.com.au/business/products/wireless/soho-wireless/wac120.aspx

https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-802-11ac-Wireless-Access-WAC120-100NAS/dp/B00O4UJHCO/ref=sr_1_6 

That's $100 for just the access point and I was thinking of spending $100 total on the pcie card and the router.

 

I was currently thinking about ordering this router

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16833704206

Or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704265

 

Would it be an improvement over the old Verizon one since its ac and 5ghz and 2.4ghz?

 

Also I was going to pair it with this pci-e card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166124

 

Is this a good solution to my slow internet problem?

 

[Rohime]

17 hours ago, BriskPanda said:

That's $100 for just the access point and I was thinking of spending $100 total on the pcie card and the router.

 

I was currently thinking about ordering this router

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16833704206

Or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704265

 

The first one: TP-LINK Archer C2 AC750

Not really a good solution, because it is only an increase to 433 Mhz (from 300Mhz at the moment).  ie: the router only supports about 1/2 the speed that the PCI card does.

Also - keep in mind that if your internet is cable (coax), then you cannot plug it in directly to this device, you'd still need to use this in Wireless Access Point mode, and your existing modem as well.

 

The second one: TP-LINK Archer C50 AC1200This matches your proposed PCI cards for bandwidth, but still needs to be used as an access point in addition to current router.

 

Is this a good solution to my slow internet problem?

CAUTION:  None of the above will address a "Slow internet problem".   All this talk has been about a "slow WIRELESS problem".   Slow internet is a completely different issue.

[dalekphalm]

On 2016-09-25 at 1:32 AM, BriskPanda said:

All three of these wireless network cards are all the same model number but different manufacturers. Does that mean they will all give you the same connection quality and the only difference appearance and how they deal with heat? Which adapter would you recommenced purchasing for gaming, streaming video, and heavy internet use?

 

Any and all help is appreciated

 

Asus Dual band PCI-E adapter (AC1300)

https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Wi-Fi-Express-Adapter-PCE-AC56/dp/B00JNA337K/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1474781064&sr=1-2&keywords=ac1300

 

TP-Link Archer Dual Band PCI-E adapter (AC1300)

https://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-450Mbps-Wireless-Express-TL-WDN4800/dp/B016K0896K/ref=zg_bsnr_tab_pd_mw_1?th=1

 

Asus Dual Band USB adapter

https://www.amazon.com/USB-AC55-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC1300-Wi-Fi-Adapter/dp/B00Q6KRLUU/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1474781064&sr=1-3&keywords=ac1300

 

If it helps with your decision, my current router is the stock one you get with Verizon FIos

 

Current router

https://www.amazon.com/Actiontec-Verizon-Fios-Wireless-Router/dp/B00PME4F1E

 

 

AC1300 simply refers to what Wireless 802.11ac spec that it adheres to:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11ac#Advertised

 

So for AC1300, it's giving you the 2.4GHz connection, and adding it to the 5GHz connection, so "1300" is your total bandwidth (Though you'll never get all that speed, since those are on different bands).

 

AC1300: 400Mbps 2.4 GHz + 867Mbps 5Ghz (Which equals 1267Mbps, but they just round up)