Difference between usb and pci-e wireless cards

[Marvzl1357]

Hullo,

Is there any performance and/or reliability differences between a usb wireless dongle and a pci-e card? 

I'm asking because I'm want to know if it's worth it to go out and buy a pci-e card since my usb dongle works pretty well already. (desktop)

[Anthrax]

I have an ASUS USB wireless adapter that crashes if my download speed exceeds 5MB/S. It's really annoying when downloading a game off steam and it crashes, I have to unplug it and plug it back in. I've never tried a PCI-E wireless card so I can't judge how they perform. I just know that my USB Adapter sucks.

[Clyne]

you have antennas on a pci card that would give you better performance for wifi. 

http://www.pcworld.com/article/243226/the_desktop_wireless_adapter_difference_usb_vs_pci.html

here's a page about the difference.

[DigitalHermit]

Hullo,

Is there any performance and/or reliability differences between a usb wireless dongle and a pci-e card? 

I'm asking because I'm want to know if it's worth it to go out and buy a pci-e card since my usb dongle works pretty well already. (desktop)

 

Not much... I'd opt for a pci-e card personally since there's less chances of it getting unplugged...

[Marvzl1357]

 less chances of it getting unplugged...

yeah true, but it's on my desktop. And it never moves.

[Marvzl1357]

you have antennas on a pci card that would give you better performance for wifi. 

http://www.pcworld.com/article/243226/the_desktop_wireless_adapter_difference_usb_vs_pci.html

here's a page about the difference.

Thanks,

So from the article what I got is that a usb dongle has less range than a pci-e network card, and the rest of it is down to convenience.

[dragoon20005]

Thanks,

So from the article what I got is that a usb dongle has less range than a pci-e network card, and the rest of it is down to convenience.

for a cheap option get USB extenders so that you can place your dongle further away from your PC and near to your router POV

 

[Anthrax]

Im pretty sure my speed will never reach 5MB/s, so no issues for me. The new connection im buying is 4mb/s which is merely 512/KB/s.

Yeah, It sucks when you have a 100 mbit download... First World Problems I guess haha.

[skywake]

It's also worth noting that with a wireless network card you'll be usually forced to place the antennae behind your PC which is mostly made of metal and is usually on the floor. With a USB dongle you can fairly easily place it ontop of the desk into a USB hub or stick it up on the wall with an USB extension cord. The ability to do that will more often than not get you better performance than the better antennae on a card. Plus with a USB dongle you can unplug it and use it in another machine if you need to. Like if you were fixing up someone else's machine and they don't have a wireless network card. It's a pretty handy thing to have.