Looking for a bunch (probably 4) of the fastest (reasonably priced) mPCIe Wifi cards

[Mnky313]

We recently got an internet speed upgrade (from 50/50 to 960/860mbps), we have to routers (one working as just an AP) that are both dual band AC, certain devices (like phones can get 400+mbps but none of our laptops or desktops (my and my mother's laptop + my brothers desktops) have AC wifi, all are N... meaning that we get max 50mbps.  I found the intel AC 7260 for ~$20 but I was curious if anyone knew of a better deal or better cards, I do have to AC 7260 M.2 cards so I might use those with adapters in the desktops, but the laptops don't have M.2 or full length mPCIe (so I can't use an adapter) and NO, ethernet for the desktops is not an option, they are set up across the house from the router and a floor above the AP.

[WereCatf]

6 minutes ago, Mnky313 said:

We recently got an internet speed upgrade (from 50/50 to 960/860mbps), we have to routers (one working as just an AP) that are both dual band AC, certain devices (like phones can get 400+mbps but none of our laptops or desktops (my and my mother's laptop + my brothers desktops) have AC wifi, all are N... meaning that we get max 50mbps.  I found the intel AC 7620 for ~$20 but I was curious if anyone knew of a better deal or better cards, I do have to AC 7620 M.2 cards so I might use those with adapters in the desktops, but the laptops don't have M.2 or full length mPCIe (so I can't use an adapter) and NO, ethernet for the desktops is not an option, they are set up across the house from the router and a floor above the AP.

Usually in laptops the thing that most hinders WiFi-performance are... the built-in antennas, actually. Have you checked that the antennas are even capable of doing/suitable for 5GHz? And that there are at least two antennas there? Many laptops even in this day and age only have one, which limits speeds quite a bit.

[Mnky313]

1 minute ago, WereCatf said:

Usually in laptops the thing that most hinders WiFi-performance are... the built-in antennas, actually. Have you checked that the antennas are even capable of doing/suitable for 5GHz? And that there are at least two antennas there? Many laptops even in this day and age only have one, which limits speeds quite a bit.

I haven't, neither device's built in cards support 5Ghz but both support Cellular connections (3G/WiMax) and there are 2 antenna cables on the WLAN and WWAN card ports.

[unsungheroist]

5 minutes ago, Mnky313 said:

I haven't, neither device's built in cards support 5Ghz but both support Cellular connections (3G/WiMax) and there are 2 antenna cables on the WLAN and WWAN card ports.

for the sake of clarification did you mean intel AC 7260? if so i just want to confirm that's the slot type needed vs NGFF 

[Mnky313]

4 minutes ago, unsungheroist said:

for the sake of clarification did you mean intel AC 7260? if so i just want to confirm that's the slot type needed vs NGFF 

Yes, I meant 7260 not 7620, oops.  And no I have M.2 (NGFF) cards but both laptops use mPCIe not M.2/NGFF.

[unsungheroist]

4 minutes ago, Mnky313 said:

Yes, I meant 7260 not 7620, oops.  And no I have M.2 (NGFF) cards but both laptops use mPCIe not M.2/NGFF.

in that case the 7260 is highly reviewed product. While it works with most laptops, its compatibility with AMD motherboards, Lenovo and HP laptop is questionable. The brand clearly states that the card may not work with them. the same for AR9462 AR5B22.. however  AzureWave Broadcom BCM94352HMB 802.11/ac Card is another good chose

 

basically HP and Lenovo use propriety stuff for there hardwere

[Mnky313]

3 minutes ago, unsungheroist said:

in that case the 7260 is highly reviewed product. While it works with most laptops, its compatibility with AMD motherboards, Lenovo and HP laptop is questionable. The brand clearly states that the card may not work with them. the same for AR9462 AR5B22.. however  AzureWave Broadcom BCM94352HMB 802.11/ac Card is another good chose

 

basically HP and Lenovo use propriety stuff for there hardwere

Ok, neither of the laptops are lenovo or HP, one is a Dell (Precision M6700) and one is a Toshiba (Satellite P775D)
I did however get the M.2 cards out of 2 Lenovo Ideapad 100S, would the cards work in other computers? (I plan to use PCIe to M.2 WiFi card adapters)

[unsungheroist]

15 minutes ago, Mnky313 said:

Ok, neither of the laptops are lenovo or HP, one is a Dell (Precision M6700) and one is a Toshiba (Satellite P775D)
I did however get the M.2 cards out of 2 Lenovo Ideapad 100S, would the cards work in other computers? (I plan to use PCIe to M.2 WiFi card adapters)

yes. so long as they fit and can find drivers. i will advise not to use adapters and to only use direct fit

[Alex Atkin UK]

7 hours ago, unsungheroist said:

yes. so long as they fit and can find drivers. i will advise not to use adapters and to only use direct fit

Another catch with adapters is that M.2 cards use a smaller antenna connector than mPCIe, so odds are the laptops antennas wont connect to an M.2 card.

[Mnky313]

Just now, Alex Atkin UK said:

Another catch with adapters is that M.2 cards use a smaller antenna connector than mPCIe, so odds are the laptops antennas wont connect to an M.2 card.

Yeah, that's another reason why we can't use mPCIe to M.2 adapters in the laptops, but my plan was to use them in desktops, something like this:https://www.amazon.com/Desktop-Wireless-Network-Converter-Including/dp/B01MFGYAX6/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=m.2%2Bwifi%2Bcard%2Bto%2Bpcie&qid=1564096104&s=gateway&sr=8-1&th=1

[Alex Atkin UK]

24 minutes ago, Mnky313 said:

Yeah, that's another reason why we can't use mPCIe to M.2 adapters in the laptops, but my plan was to use them in desktops, something like this:https://www.amazon.com/Desktop-Wireless-Network-Converter-Including/dp/B01MFGYAX6/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=m.2%2Bwifi%2Bcard%2Bto%2Bpcie&qid=1564096104&s=gateway&sr=8-1&th=1

Yes that should be fine.

Do also bear in mind if looking for new M.2 cards, the latest Intel AX200 is about the same price as most of the older cards if you are willing the risk straight from China.