Can you replace MBP 13 2010 Wireless Card

I was thinking about changing the MBP Wireless card it is a Broadcom and it isn't very good I do a lot of streaming and downloading of HD and often get lag my router is 6 inches in front of my computer most of the time. I wanted to replace it with Intel Centrino Advanced-n 6200 or 6300.

Is this possible?

 

Why don't you just use ethernet?

It would probably be the fastest option.

 

no... you could get some USB connected one or something, otherwise everything is soldered onto the logic board in there, you cant swap stuff out... the only thing that can come on and off the board is the ram.

 

Thats what i was afraid of. Do all MBP use the same Wireless Cards even the higher end ones 15 i5 i7 or 17 i5?

 

I will probably end up doing that when i'm downloading. I just find it kind of annoying having to plug and unplug.

 

Maybe it's not the macbook, maybe it's your router, or some of the settings on the router. If it's 6-inches away from the router, there shouldn't be a problem. I remember reading that mbp's like some routers less than others, maybe that's the case.

 

Im using a D-Link DIR 655 I would highly doubt its the router. When I log onto the admin settings it says i'm running at 130 Mbps. I have even setup my other router thats a Airport Extreme N and it is roughly the same.

Model A1143 MB053LL/A

 

I think it would be worth mentioning that I do not think OS X supports Intel Wireless Cards.

 

Wrong, It is not soldered in. That would just be stupid for servicing. They can be replaced but Apple uses a custom card, so you can only replace it with another of the same.

MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Mid 2010 Teardown - iFixit

 

I also have a D-Link DIR-655. You do know 130Mbps is the max b/c it is 2.4GHz only. You need a dual-band or 5.0 GHz capable 802.11n router to get the max 300Mbps throughput. The Airport Extreme N should be able to do this however. If you're not getting it with the Airport Extreme N, I'd check it's settings first to make sure the 5.0GHz channel is enabled.

Also, have you tried any network connectivity tests to see what bandwidth you're actually getting? 130Mbps should be more than sufficient to stream HD video. I stream 1080p HD video to my Xbox from my MBP13 and from Synology NAS to my MBP13 without issue. Another item to check is to make sure the antenna leads are properly connected to the logic board.

Finally, AFAIK...the Intel Centrino based wifi "boards" are all chipset based built into the southbridge. So even if you could pull out the Broadcom board like in the 15" MBPs or in a PC for that matter, you can't get a "Centrino" replacement regardless.

 

The OP has a 13" MBP, not 15"

 

What's Intel centrino based wifi "boards"? Intel Centrino just means a laptop use intel processor, intel chipset, and intel wifi (mini pci or mini pci express slot).

 

I know, but I couldn't find a 13inch 2010 tear down, but it's most likely the same. Apple moved the wifi cards from the screens to the body in the 2010 models to help improve signal. Soldering a wifi card into a board is stupid, if the card dies you have to replace the whole board for a $2 card.

Here is a plastic unibody tear down with the wifi card seperate, so if Apple soldered on the card just for the MBP 13 inch, that would be weird. http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook-Polycarbonate-Unibody/1239/1

 

It isn't soldered in the 15. Though you don't want to replace it unless you can do without WiFi in OSX as OSX does not support the Intel cards.

 

Yep, you are correct...they do have cards now

Intel® Centrino® Ultimate-N 6300 and Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N 6200 Overview

 

And Anandtech's 2010 13" MBP review has some nice interior pics which is still basically the same layout as the 2009 models, so the wifi is still on the logic board.

Apple's 13-inch MacBook Pro (Early 2010) Reviewed: Shaking the CPU/GPU Balance - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News

 

Well, if it's the same as the 2009 model, the airport card is still built into the display and is not on the logic board.

 

yes the 13" airport is built in the display hinge area.. I didn't mean to start some argument, I just typed faster than I thought it out... would have to be made exactly right... not just some standard part.