Wireless option for PC

[Boror]

With a new self build pc comes the need for a wireless option.
I have looked at a few options and i have a question.
Is there a difference for m.2 wifi cards and PCIE?
How much does the antenna quality matter?
Currently i am deciding between a few options. (router is wifi-6 capable)
the TP-link archer TX 3000E, the Intel ax200 and the gigabyte GC-WBAX210.
Other suggestions are also welcome
 

[Alex Atkin UK]

4 minutes ago, Boror said:

With a new self build pc comes the need for a wireless option.
I have looked at a few options and i have a question.
Is there a difference for m.2 wifi cards and PCIE?
How much does the antenna quality matter?
Currently i am deciding between a few options. (router is wifi-6 capable)
the TP-link archer TX 3000E, the Intel ax200 and the gigabyte GC-WBAX210.
Other suggestions are also welcome
 

Between the same chipset (AX200/210) then no, there isn't really a difference between a PCIe and M.2 card.  In fact, many PCIe adapters are just PCIe to M.2 adapters hidden under the shielding or heatsink.

 

The AX210 supports 6Ghz should you upgrade to WiFi 6e or WiFi 7 later, so its more future proof.  I also found it slightly faster even on WiFi 5.

[mariushm]

AX200 is a CNVi network card, if the chipset doesn't have it it probably won't work. The cards listed here use CNVi :  https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000026155/wireless.html

 

 

AX210 will work, it just uses pci-e lanes and usb for bluetooth, so GC-WBAX210 would probably work. 

 

eBay is also full of AX210 cards and M.2 to pci-e adapters if you want to keep your M.2 slots for SSDs, and they're relatively cheap at 20-30$

Example links

us seller, 214 cards sold, 18.25$ plus shipping : https://www.ebay.com/itm/334059641004

supposedly german seller, 330 cards sold, 25 euro + shipping : https://www.ebay.com/itm/114670277182

 

M.2 to pci-e x1 adapter card with antennas : https://www.ebay.com/itm/284034904274

You'd probably want to buy higher gain antennas separately and put them on the computer case or wherever. I think the antennas can be unscrewed from brackets of such adapter cards.

 

You can also get bundles with bracket + SMA connectors and wires to card + antennas + Ax210 card like this one for example : https://www.ebay.com/itm/384900095331

 

 

[Alex Atkin UK]

7 minutes ago, mariushm said:

AX200 is a CNVi network card, if the chipset doesn't have it it probably won't work. The cards listed here use CNVi :  https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000026155/wireless.html

 

You misread the page, the AX201 and AX211 are CNVi, the cards ending in 0 are PCIe.

[mariushm]

Just now, Alex Atkin UK said:

That's not accurate, the AX201 and AX211 are CNVi, the cards ending in 0 are PCIe.

You're right, my bad. Sorry. It's also not in the link I posted, so I should have seen it.

Somehow I had it in my had that 200 was also in the problem cards... probably I remembered 200 as problem card for some other reason, I think it had lots of bugs and disconnect/reset issues when it came up but I think drivers were improved since them.

 

[Alex Atkin UK]

1 hour ago, mariushm said:

You're right, my bad. Sorry. It's also not in the link I posted, so I should have seen it.

Somehow I had it in my had that 200 was also in the problem cards... probably I remembered 200 as problem card for some other reason, I think it had lots of bugs and disconnect/reset issues when it came up but I think drivers were improved since them.

 

I have a long thread trying the AX200 in CNVi slots (as they often are undocumented supporting PCIe too), maybe you were getting confused with that?