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Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > NICs > [Solved] PCI vs USB WLAN device

[Solved] PCI vs USB WLAN device

Forum CPU & Components : NICs [Solved] PCI vs USB WLAN device

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fattymole123   10-24-2011 at 05:41:54 PM

Hey guys,

I have been researching for a while now and I can't seem to find a solid and up-to-date answer.

My question is, which has better performance dollar for dollar: a USB WLAN device or a PCI WLAN device? (I.e. a $40 usb device or a $40 pci device?)

Im not going to be shifting it, it is staying in the one place and the router is approximately 10m away through a 10cm brick wall. I do believe they have installed a repeater though. My laptop gets full reception anyway.

Any help is much appreciated!

Thanks in advance,
Dom

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inerax   10-24-2011 at 06:59:54 PM

I dont know of a sold source. But I have used both.

I have had much better luck with the PCI WLAN device. Faster speeds and reception.

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mcnumpty23   10-24-2011 at 07:23:56 PM

one advantage of the usb adapter is you can move it about to gain a better reception

i have my wireless router about 10m away--though my walls are thick victorian brick--and with the pci connector i cannot get a decent signal--though the front of the pc is facing the router so the case blocks the aerial as well

with a usb adaptor i can move it to get a much stronger signal as its on a 2m cable

so in my case pci = 1 bar most of the time and 2 bars now and then

usb= 4 bars most times and 5 bars now and then

Reply to mcnumpty23
fattymole123   10-25-2011 at 04:09:47 AM

How many antennas, does your PCI card have?

Reply to fattymole123
fattymole123   10-25-2011 at 04:10:27 AM

inerax wrote :

I dont know of a sold source. But I have used both.

I have had much better luck with the PCI WLAN device. Faster speeds and reception.



Thank you ver much inerax :)

Reply to fattymole123
alyoshka   10-25-2011 at 09:22:12 AM
Best answer

The PCI WLAN card is a lot better than the USB thing. Features, connectivity, power etc etc can all be rightly configured with it.
It's a lot more reliable since you're going to be working from a stationary place and aren't planning on moving around.
If you do encounter problems, it is very simple to just add a pigtail or change the direction of the antenna/s.
Hells!! Even a patch of copper cutout stuck to the side panel of the case will give you amazing reception.
The USB Wlan adapter is pretty unreliable when it comes to removing and putting it back in 10 times a day. Drivers, USB recognizing factors, loose contacts, port speeds , port current etc etc add too many complications to having it on a stationary rig. It's ok for guys who are mobile all the time, since they accept a level of wear and tear over a period of time.

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fattymole123   10-26-2011 at 09:48:15 AM

Thanks very much everyone, you were all very helpful.

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Mousemonkey   10-26-2011 at 06:09:16 PM

This topic has been closed by Mousemonkey

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