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    Intel 7260 in an m11x R3 - Bluetooth conflict with the other bluetooth module?

    Discussion in 'Alienware M11x' started by gthirst, Apr 12, 2020.

  1. gthirst

    gthirst Notebook Evangelist

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    I'm modernizing a friends m11xR3 this week - adding an SSD, new battery, going from 4gb ram to 8gb, and putting in an Intel 7260 since the old Killer card is terrible.

    The Intel 7260 still has modern driver support and I've read that it works in the R3. It certainly will plug in and such, since it is the same form factor and interface as the current card.

    My question is regarding the 7260 and the other bluetooth module. I realized the m11xR3 had a wifi card AND a separate little chip for bluetooth. If I install the 7260, will there be any conflict? I figure they will both show up in device manager and I can simply disable the other bluetooth module, but I figure I would ask and see if anyone has input on this.

    While the m11xR3 can't exactly do much for games these days, I think it is still more than capable of handling average user tasks. Seems like these upgrades will keep it going for a while.

    EDIT:
    Update! I installed the new battery, WD Blue 3D NAND SSD, Intel 7260 WiFi/Bluetooth, and 4gb of Samsung RAM.

    Battery advertised as 62Wh, battery report shows just under 60Wh. Pretty good!
    WD Blue put in and Windows installed! Been a while since I worked with an older computer like this and the i3's age was showing. Longest part of everything was by far the updates and driver installs.
    Intel 7260, as I thought, required disabling the "Generic Bluetooth Adapter", then disabling and enabling the Intel 7260 Bluetooth. Works perfectly now.
    The RAM gave me 4 system beeps. I tried reseating and swaping multiple ways. Seems the ram was DOA so I returned it and ordered another.

    As for the speed and experience of using an M11x R3 (i3) in 2020... It is OK. Boot up went from 1:45 to :30, which was a great turn around. The processor consistently hits 90-100% usage when basically doing anything and the 540m's most recent driver is the 391 version, which is quite dated. Overall it works good enough for youtube, chrome, etc., but I wouldn't do much with it nor use it as a daily driver. If it is your only option, slapping and SSD in it is a nice upgrade. Otherwise, save for a faster and more recent computer.

    The friend is pleased though as it has given new life to the laptop he ordered in 2010 or 11.
     
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2020
    Rengsey R. H. Jr. likes this.
  2. Rengsey R. H. Jr.

    Rengsey R. H. Jr. I Never Slept

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    They are still worth a pretty pennies.
     
  3. gthirst

    gthirst Notebook Evangelist

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    I realized I may have made a small error. The Intel 7260 is WiFi 5 (ac). I should have just went ahead and bought a mpcie to m2 adapter and stuck an Intel AX200 inside. I wonder if other old Alienware models support it.

    edit: upon further research, an mpcie to m2 adapter would not have fit inside the m11x.
     
    Last edited: Apr 28, 2020
  4. ssj92

    ssj92 Neutron Star

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    I bought three of these. Tested to work in nearly every AW I own:

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/AX3000H-Mini-PCI-E-WiFi-6-Wireless-Card-2-4-5G-802-11ac-ax-MU-MIMO-Bluetooth-5-0/264665605063?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

    It's AX200 in Mini PCIe format.
     
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