Can those who have R4 kindly clarify the WIFI card confusion!

I sense there is much confusion with regards to Bluetooth functionality in R4 especially in reference to those who have ordered and received the system with Intel 2230 wifi card.

As most of us know this card combines wifi and bluetooth 4.0 in one card.

Now, some of those who have this card had it removed and replaced it with a Killer 1103 N card. They ended up losing Bluetooth function since the Killer Card as we know is Wifi only card.

It appears that a discrete backup internal Bluetooth Module is absent if one orders with Intel 2230 wifi/Bluetooth card.

But recently we do have come across users who claim they continue to have Bluetooth functionality despite removing the Intel 2230 Wifi/Bluetooth card and replacing it with a Killer 1103 N which is wifi only card.

On the other hand, those who ordered and received the system with Killer Card 1103 N are definitely having a discrete internal Bluetooth Module present in the system.

From the technical point of view, is it possible to have to Bluetooth components on the same machine? I am wondering how some Intel 2230 wifi/bluetooth owners received their machine with discrete Bluetooth Module as well.

I hope more of you post you experience on this matter or rather the components present for Bluetooth functionality, especially those who continue to have this function despite removing the Intel 2230 Wifi card.

In short I dont think Dell should have shortchanged people in terms of the discrete Internal Bluetooth Module.

 

Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

I got the Intel(R) Centrino(R) Wireless-N 2230 configured in my M17xR4 and can confirm that no other bluetooth card is present after tearing into my notebook. Looks like that non-Intel shipped R4s more than likely got the Broadcom Dell Wireless 380 module linked above installed instead...

 

I called up Dell India Tech team to query as well. They mentioned that should I face any problem after changing the card, I should just call them up and they will help me out.

I wonder if that means they will send over a Bluetooth Module?

 

Just wondering what is the major benefit of having bluetooth fitted?

 

I have an R4 w/the Killer-N Wireless 1103 card.

There is a Bluetooth module you can install, it's underneath the touchpad and to the right a bit. You have to dismantle almost the entire laptop including removing the display to get at it.

Since I have the Killer-N card, I do not have Bluetooth.

I ordered it *WITH* the Killer-N 1103 pre-installed before it came to me, I did not put in the Killer-N 1103 card in myself.

 

this topic has been talked about few times and the awser is on the forum.

 

The answer WAS clear until some Intel 2230 owners mentioned they have a separately installed Bluetooth module too!

Are there 2 types of Intel 2230?

From the driver's web page it looks like there is one with Bluetooth inbuilt in the card and another version of the card without it.

I am flummoxed.

 

You can get a WiFi card w/Bluetooth included in it.

You can get a Bluetooth module installed separately, minus the WiFi.

 

What the OP is saying is, of all the released R4 with Intel 2230, some of the owners claimed that there is a discrete BT module aside from the Intel Wifi Card after changing their card to Killer. Some are claiming that they lost BT functionality after changing to Killer in which is the expected thing to happen.

He is not just asking whether it comes with the BT or not. He wants to know if there are 2 types of setup for R4, one with discrete BT and one with BT that comes with the Intel Wireless.

 

I ordered mine with the 6250. I swapped to the killer.. I still have blue tooth. It's running on the Dell 380 module or something.

 

only dell can awnser that, it's random.
mine came with 2230 intel and no seperate bluetooth. had to ad a dell 375 module next to my killer.

 

Maybe the early ones have it in preparation for the killer card upgrade since it wasnt out yet? I have had 2 m17x r4s both ordered with the intel 6250 and under device manager after switching over both say dell wireless 380 bluetooth 4.0 module. They also both worked with bluetooth, i tested it with my phone. Interesting... whats the deal here i assumed they all came with the dell module anyways just like it comes with 3 antennas regardless of the card. Is the bluetooth module really random....?

 

Dan, Intel 6250 is a wifi only card, so naturally they would have had to install a separate Dell wireless 380 Bluetooth 4.0 during manufacture.

Intel 2230 on the other hand has bluetooth 4.0 integrated on the same wifi card. Some owners claim Dell wireless 380 Bluetooth 4.0 is present in addition to Intel 2230 wifi/Bluetooth card.

Some owners with Intel 2230 claim they dont have the additional Dell wireless 380 Bluetooth 4.0 installed.

This issue has come to the surface because some owners with Intel 2230 installed Killer card in place of Intel 2230. The Killer card only has wifi functionality ( no bluetooth )

After replacing the Intel 2230 wifi/bluetooth with Killer 1103 ( only wifi ) some have lost bluetooth functionality. This sounded logical. ----> MEANS THERE WAS NO OTHER BLUETOOTH MODULE PRESENT IN THE SYSTEM OTHER THAN THE INTEL 2230 WIFI/BLUETOOTH CARD.

However some have continued to retain the bluetooth function despite swapping the Intel 2230 Wifi/Bluetooth with Killer 1103 ( only wifi ).------> MEANS IN ADDITION TO INTEL 2230 WIFI/BLUETOOTH CARD, DELL HAD INSTALLED DELL WIRELESS 380 BLUETOOTH 4.0

I cant be more clearer than this, can I? Haaahahaa

 

Oh i see. sorry i misunderstood

 

sorry but i miss the part why dell even would install 2 bluetooth modules in one laptop? the 2230 always comes with intergrated bluetooth, or did dell disable that?
to me that is not logical at all..

 

Yep I agree too...That doesnt make sense. But i dont wish to doubt our esteemed users.

But I think tying the Wifi card to Bluetooth was by itself an illogical move as one is required to pretty much open the whole laptop in order to install the separate module in case a dedicated wifi only card is fitted later.

 

My question is this, how come it says in my signature below, which was copied right from my order form through Dell that it has bluetooth. According to most members in here it appears that those of us who have chosen the killer wireless card is now without bluetooth capability, that is until we crack it open and install a compatible bluetooth module. Question is what bluetooth module is compatible and where can we get one if indeed it does not come with bluetooth? I think Dell should provide it if its in the description of the laptop we ordered.

 

If you ordered it with the Killer N and it did not come with a Bluetooth module, you should get on the phone and demand they ship it to you for free.

 

Dell wireless 380 Bluetooth 4.0 is the standalone module meant for configurations that do not have Wifi and Bluetooth integrated in pne single card.

If your ordered with Killer Card then you must have the Dell wireless 380 Bluetooth 4.0. If its absent it means there was production oversight or they conned you or you do not have a Killer Card.

 

I have confirmed that I do have the 380 bluethooth 4.0 installed. I ran the 3d benchmark to stress the system. All turned out good, installed the Crucial M4 SSD 256g and installed all drivers and updates, everything worked out great. Installing D3 now gonna see how that works with the issues that seems to be a Blizzard issue.

 

i just replaced the intel 2230 with the intel 6250 and i lost all bluetooth support, i called alienware and they want to sell me the part for $50, its the 830 bluetooth module, i have found the dell 375 bluetooth module on ebay for around $17, but its only bluetooth 2.0 i think, i wish dell would send me the bluetooth module for free, i just spent $2750 on this laptop