Network Card Help

[ahuckphin]

I want to upgrade a batch of HP laptops from WiFi 4 to WiFi 6. The WiFi card out of the HP is a Realtek RTL8723DE. I have tried swapping it for both a Intel 9462 (WiFi 5) and Intel AX200. These 2 Intel cards are known good, tested with another laptop without issue. However when either of these cards is installed in one of the HP, the laptop refuses to boot.

 

I've noticed that the Realtek card has the E key blank while both of the Intel cards have electrical traces on the E key. Could this be the issue? If yes, what's the best WiFi card with blank E key?

[mariushm]

9462NGW  uses CNVio which is an intel thing, something only a bunch of intel processor has  (like a part of the wireless chipset functionality is done in the intel cpu)

 

AX200 ... I don't know about that. 

 

This page lists the CNVio cards , ax200 is not among them : https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000026155/wireless.html

 

Maybe try something like this : https://www.amazon.com/CDW-C9852BE-Realtek-RTL8852BE-Bluetooth-WayPonDEV/dp/B0CLD75P4C/

 

But it may be the case the bios has a bunch of hardware IDs whitelisted, and only accept some HP IDs for wireless cards.

 

edit:  also look on ebay for the amd rebranded / mediatek wifi 6 cards.

[Alex Atkin UK]

3 hours ago, mariushm said:

9462NGW  uses CNVio which is an intel thing, something only a bunch of intel processor has  (like a part of the wireless chipset functionality is done in the intel cpu)

 

AX200 ... I don't know about that. 

 

This page lists the CNVio cards , ax200 is not among them : https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000026155/wireless.html

 

Maybe try something like this : https://www.amazon.com/CDW-C9852BE-Realtek-RTL8852BE-Bluetooth-WayPonDEV/dp/B0CLD75P4C/

 

But it may be the case the bios has a bunch of hardware IDs whitelisted, and only accept some HP IDs for wireless cards.

 

edit:  also look on ebay for the amd rebranded / mediatek wifi 6 cards.

AX200/210 are PCIe, AX201/211 are CNVIo.  But like you said, the problem is HP whitelist cards so its fairly likely nothing will work without a BIOS hack.

[ahuckphin]

4 hours ago, mariushm said:

9462NGW  uses CNVio which is an intel thing,

yup, whoops my bad. 

 

4 hours ago, mariushm said:

edit:  also look on ebay for the amd rebranded / mediatek wifi 6 cards.

Any reason for Mediatek specifically? 

 

[mariushm]

5 hours ago, ahuckphin said:

yup, whoops my bad. 

 

Any reason for Mediatek specifically? 

 

No, it's just another big manufacturer of wifi 6 cards ... you have intel, you have realtek and you have mediatek (and amd sells them under their brand)... figured they may be available if they were pulled from broken laptops or spare parts never installed in laptops.