WiFI - USB versus PCI-e

[pzkpfw]

Need to get a PC onto the home WiFi network.

My preference (based on not much, really) is to install a card.

But, the PC has tons of USB ports (including two 3.0) so I wonder if I should just get a USB WiFi adaptor.


Anyone got comments one way or the other?


(Reception isn't "great" in the PCs location.)

Thanks,

[jim.cox]

USB is slow - you will get better througput with the internal card.

Also the internal cards have better aerials...

[The Lone Rider]

Most likely what jimi.cox said.


Personally, I'm using USB as all my computers bar one tend to move around and it's handy to swap a USB dongle to whichever computer needs it. Not to mention any visitors can just plug it in and away they go; they can log on without me handing over passwords and usernames or assigning such to the network for them.

[imdying]

Assuming 802.11g, even USB2 is fast enough. Not that it would matter, you're unlikely to ever get or even require that bandwidth across your WiFi connection.

My preference would be for an internal card, as Jim says, the antenna is usually better.

[bogan]

I think you mean PCI, PCI-e is for graphics cards. And go with PCI, better reception, less latency issues, and less risk of overloading the USB capability with too many devices.

[jim.cox]

Assuming 802.11g, even USB2 is fast enough. .

Maybe theoretically - but all the USB wireless adaptors I've tried have been really really really slow

[pzkpfw]

I think you mean PCI, PCI-e is for graphics cards.

Not quite.

A lot of the cards are going PCI-e now. e.g. http://www.pbwellington.co.nz/p.aspx?9880

Here's WiFI: http://www.pbwellington.co.nz/p.aspx?9995

Having said that, I was looking at it just now and see it does have two old PCI slots, so if I can find Win 7 drivers for the old DSE WiFi card in the boys old PC, I'll be away...

[pzkpfw]

Ah, just found the CD. It has Vista drivers. They work with Win 7? No biggie?

[jim.cox]

Ah, just found the CD. It has Vista drivers. They work with Win 7? No biggie?

The chipset on the card is probably bog standard

Plug the card in

The hardware should be recognised

Your machine should automagically find a suitable driver.

I would only use the drivers on the CD if you have to.

[Gremlin]

Cards have proven more reliable than USB from my experience...

For Win7, the hardware detection is pretty good...

[jonbuoy]

Only good thing about a USB adaptor is being able to move it around on an extension cable to position it for a better signal.

[Akzle]

pci-e card??

in theory USB 3 will get 5g/bit throughput.
if it's an old one it'll be usb 2 which is in theory 500 m/bit

wifi is <108 m/bits if you've got a flass router.

depends how much porn you want to stream....

USB dongleh should be ok. if you want to be gangsta then go card and get a yagi 20db gain antenna...

[Akzle]

Ah, just found the CD. It has Vista drivers. They work with Win 7? No biggie?

lmfao. why would two versions of windows use the same drivers. that would be easy and sensible....

I think you mean PCI, PCI-e is for graphics cards. And go with PCI, better reception, less latency issues, and less risk of overloading the USB capability with too many devices.

i've never seen wireless pci-e... but the x4-x16 pci-e is oft used for g/bit LAN....
it has high thoughput, being northbridge and all...

[pzkpfw]

I've never seen wireless pci-e...

See post #7. Link to PCI-e WiFi adaptor.

[Akzle]

See post #7. Link to PCI-e WiFi adaptor.

yeah i figuired that. i still aint ne'er seen one.