PCIE Network card replacement

I have an Alienware M17x R3... In it I have the Intel 1000 wireless network adapter. Unfortunately I also have about 30 2.4GHz wireless networks visible from my house... The spectrum is way too overcrowded.

So, I was thinking about switching to a 5GHz 802.11n network. My router already supports 5GHz and I have a couple other devices on 5GHz already. The spectrum is much (much, much) less crowded. The devices on 5GHz have much lower latency and fewer network quirks. Unfortunately the intel NIC doesn't support 5GHz so I was looking for something else. (And yes, before anyone asks, I do go wired when it really matters... But the wireless is just way too handy for day-to-day, non twitch gaming needs.)

I was looking at the "Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 Network adapter - PCI Express Half Mini Card" ... Anyone ever swap the PCIE wireless NIC in their AW and run into an incompatibility? Anything I should watch out for? Anyone have a better recommendation of something that's readily available to buy? (Surprisingly Newegg has almost nothing in stock for mini PCIE wireless NICs, but other places like Amazon have a better selections this time 'round... I digress.)

 

The 6300 will work fine. Can find a lot of them at ebay. You could also buy one from Dell if you know the partnumber.

 

Many people like the Bigfoot networks Killer Wireless-N 1103. The 6300 is fine as well. I have the 1103, no problems. I suspect the same can be said of the 6300.

 

Just installed the 6300 myself. Straight forward as can be. Removed old card, installed new, booted and downloaded new driver from Dell's "drivers and downloads" page.

 

Joe85: very cool! Thanks for the note. I think the 6300 is the way I'm headed. I looked at the Killer NIC's, but really didn't see anything that made them seem worth the extra money... At least not to me.

....Yeah, right, like now's the time to be cheap after buying a M17x!

 

The Killer 1103 is faster than the 6300: Bigfoot 1103 vs. Intel 6300 Speedtest.net Results
However my internet connection speed is about 16 Mbps and I reach those speeds on the 6300 so I didn't see a point in upgrading.

 

LOL, indeed.

 

Its so negligible. I mean, internet speed is affected by many outside factors like amount of wireless devices and distance from router to positioning of the router etc etc. How many other people where using the same channel on those tests? Its 12 of one half a dozen of the other. The biggest advantages of these cards is 5ghz range. I bought mine to operate of a 5ghz range as 2.4 is clogged like a building site toilet.

Im on the 100Mb broadband from Virgin Media, when hardwired i get 12MBps, when i go wireless (with the 6300) i get around 7-8 MBps and a ping of about 15. Im more then happy with the 6300.