USB vs PCIe wifi

[Killervolt]

Hey guys, I'm wondering at the difference between PCIe and USB adapters for 802.11ac WiFi. For a new build, ethernet is not an option and the price difference between these two adapters is huge. So I'm thinking of this USB adapter

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=200_328&products_id=30878

vs this PCIe one

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=200_328&products_id=31294

So is there a speed difference? And if so, is the extra money worth it? Thanks.

[thekeemo]

The pci-e one has a bigger antenna so it will have better reception

[dragoon20005]

if you are using a desktop

 

it best to pick the PCI-E card

 

the card version have a way better antenna for signal receiving

 

and notice that the PCI-E version supports a higher data transfer throughput

[ForsakenLive]

The PCIe one should get more range and quality. They don't only have different controllers, but pretty much the interface makes the difference. USB is unidirectional, while PCIe is bidirectional. These are different standards, USB can't talked and be talked to simultaneously, it has to rapidly change between one and the other (which is why PCIe has almost always double the max throughput).

[Killervolt]

if you are using a desktop

 

it best to pick the PCI-E card

 

the card version have a way better antenna for signal receiving

 

and notice that the PCI-E version supports a higher data transfer throughput

Ok thanks. That particular card is a bit out of budget, so what about this?

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=200_328&products_id=25277

[Exploded117]

Ok thanks. That particular card is a bit out of budget, so what about this?

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=200_328&products_id=25277

 

This should work as well. However it won't work as well as the more expensive one.

 

A part like this is found very commonly in laptops.

[vanished]

The fact that the PCIe will have a much higher data speed potential is of no real consequence here since your internet and wifi speed will both be much lower than PCIe or USB 3.  That said, the PCIe one won't waste a USB port and probably has a better antenna on it

[Killervolt]

The fact that the PCIe will have a much higher data speed potential is of no real consequence here since your internet and wifi speed will both be much lower than PCIe or USB 3.  That said, the PCIe one won't waste a USB port and probably has a better antenna on it

Ok. I will probably get the USB one for now, and then upgrade it later when the cash is available.

[braneopbru]

Don't waste your money on that. It'll have essentially no range. The performance WILL be terrible and you'll have much higher CPU usage as it'll be relying on it to do all the processing. 

 

You'll be much better served by something like this.

 

I have this exact card in one of my computers. My internet service is 250 Mb down, 20 Mb up and over this card, I can hit about 210 Mb on speedtest.

[vanished]

Don't waste your money on that. It'll have essentially no range. The performance WILL be terrible and you'll have much higher CPU usage as it'll be relying on it to do all the processing. 

 

You'll be much better served by something like this.

 

I have this exact card in one of my computers. My internet service is 250 Mb down, 20 Mb up and over this card, I can hit about 210 Mb on speedtest.

That's only N though and OP is looking for ac

[Killervolt]

Don't waste your money on that. It'll have essentially no range. The performance WILL be terrible and you'll have much higher CPU usage as it'll be relying on it to do all the processing. 

 

You'll be much better served by something like this.

 

I have this exact card in one of my computers. My internet service is 250 Mb down, 20 Mb up and over this card, I can hit about 210 Mb on speedtest.

That's 802.11N though . . . Will there be a huge difference?

[braneopbru]

That's only N though and OP is looking for ac

I realize that's only N. 

 

Why bother getting a piece of shit ac adapter that's not going to work when he can get a N adapter that will work?

[vanished]

I realize that's only N. 

 

Why bother getting a piece of shit ac adapter that's not going to work when he can get a N adapter that will work?

Well I wouldn't get a poor ac adapter, I'd get a good one

[vanished]

That's 802.11N though . . . Will there be a huge difference?

If you can believe the marketing, just check your second link and there's your answer

[Killervolt]

I realize that's only N. 

 

Why bother getting a piece of shit ac adapter that's not going to work when he can get a N adapter that will work?

Well I wouldn't get a poor ac adapter, I'd get a good one

If you can believe the marketing, just check your second link and there's your answer

Thanks. Will consider.

[braneopbru]

That's 802.11N though . . . Will there be a huge difference?

There would be a difference if you were planning on getting a decent PCIe ac adapter with real antennas. 

 

It also depends on what you are going to be doing with it. If you're going to transferring a lot of stuff internally in your network, you MIGHT see a difference. But if most of your traffic is going to be to the internet, you'll never notice a difference in speed, since your internet connection is probably going to be MUCH lower than the speed your network card. 

 

That USB ac adapter is only 433 Mb/s anyway, the PCIe n adapter is 300 Mb/s. Not a HUGE difference. I'm sure you'll appreciate the use-able range of the PCIe card over the theoretical speed advantage of the ac dongle.

[braneopbru]

Well I wouldn't get a poor ac adapter, I'd get a good one

Bingo!

[Killervolt]

There would be a difference if you were planning on getting a decent PCIe ac adapter with real antennas. 

 

It also depends on what you are going to be doing with it. If you're going to transferring a lot of stuff internally in your network, you MIGHT see a difference. But if most of your traffic is going to be to the internet, you'll never notice a difference in speed, since your internet connection is probably going to be MUCH lower than the speed your network card. 

 

That USB ac adapter is only 433 Mb/s anyway, the PCIe n adapter is 300 Mb/s. Not a HUGE difference. I'm sure you'll appreciate the use-able range of the PCIe card over the theoretical speed advantage of the ac dongle.

Alright thanks. Will start with this then.