Upgrading to Intel 6200..Help doing it.

So my network card arrive today. Is there a guide on how to do this? Is it straight forward?

I've got some ICD 7 on the way that'll prob be here tomorrow should I wait for that to arrive and repaste at the same time?

Thanks.

Anyone that's done this before care to share how it is to be done?

 

Open up the bottom panel. Disconnect the 2 antennae wires, and release the wifi mini-card. If you ever changed a RAM slot in a laptop, it's the same thing here. When released, it pops up to about 45 degrees, take it out and put the new one in at the same angle. Press down gently and it will lock into place. Reconnect the 2 antennae wires by pressing down gently.

 

Oh wow so I dont even have to open her right the way up? Just the access panel?

Thanks Chas you've helped me a lot on here

 

Yes as above, the antenna plugs can be a bit tricky to put in. Try not to put too much force

 

Ok will do. Will try this once I'm home.

Cheers for the help

 

on antenna, open the back..remove antenna then unscrew it... on repaste.. watch the BTOtech vid on youtube for disassembly and search for the couple of threads here that will help you a lot on doing the repaste.. repasting is hard thing to do at the beginning but it's pretty easy actually after you've done it... you'll just get hard time to remove keyboard so don't worry with that.. anything else is removing cable and unscrewing screws.. and that's it... I recommend 5mm pea of ICD7 at the center of gpu and let the heatsink spread it.. that's what I did and I got a good result.. and other people who did repasting too... goodluck..

 

The wifi card upgrade is super easy, beginner level tech knowledge. Which just requires removing of the back access panel. You will also need to go to the Intel website to download the proper drivers for the 6200 to work.

Repasting is expert level tech knowledge. If you watch the BTOtech video as stated above and take your time you can do it. It is not that hard. I would wait to check to see if you actually have temp problems before doing this.

 

Ok no worries. Still not home yet, shouldnt be a drama with the wifi card.

Still iffy about repasting. My temps have gone up but so has the temp out side. (Australian summer coming on). So I'll wait off just a bit and see if my temps rise real bad.

I've turned air con on in the lounge and temps seem to be alright. Only in my room where I get afternoon sun/heat is where she starts to stress a bit.

Thanks people for the help.

 

Alright so I got the card in no worries. Installed the drivers and everything is working good. My speeds dont seem to be any better that on the standard card. How do I enable true 802.11n speeds? Is device manager when I select the intel card, theres a whole lot of settings in there. Wha should I turn on and what should I not??

Any help with making this network card perform at it's best will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers.

 

In device manager make sure N mode is enabled, transmit power is to highest, channel width for 2.4 and 5.2 is set to auto

What router do you have? Unlocking the performance will usually be on the router side:

-Use WPA2/AES security
-40mhz wide band ONLY
-N Clients ONLY
-2.4ghz only
-Use inSSIDer to check for least congested channel.

If you dont use these settings your throughput can get knocked down severely. Have a read at this thread:

5 Ways To Fix Slow 802.11n Speed - SmallNetBuilder

 

All the settings in device manager are set to the ones you say. Security type is correct. 40mhz wide band cannot be selected on my modem, only 20/40mhz...

N clients only is set.

Can the 6200 connect to 5ghz connection, if so how do I do that.

I live in an apartment and there seems to be ALOT of activity on inssider.

Im stumped on how to get this in optimal condition.

Also the modem is a belkin F7D2401au.

 

This might need to be confirmed but according to the Belkin F7D2401au spec-sheet I found, this modem/router is 2.4Ghz only and doesn't operate on the 5Ghz band.

 

Hmmm ok then. I only just purchased this, do you think I should return it for one that does use 5Ghz?? What is the difference?

 

I really would. The 5GHz band is usually WAY less occupied and thus you have more bandwidth. Additionally to that, the 5GHz band also offers way more channels for 802.11n!
Only downside is the shorter signal range with 5GHz. But if you have now a perfect one with 2,4GHz, then there shouldn't be any issues with 5GHz.
As a Router can I recommend the Netgear WNDR3700.

pato

 

Ok cool. Will my internet speeds increase by getting one of these??

 

Your router must have 5 Ghz capabilities to take full advantage of the 300 mb/sec bandwitdth. This bandwidth only increases file transfer speeds for your local network, it does absolutely nothing for increasing your internet speed. Your internet speed is limited by your provider (the bandwidth you have contracted) which is WAY less than even b/g speeds.

 

I have a 100mbit ISP connection at home. My WiFi speeds are now the limiter

 

Good info here-
Quick question-

I have a WRT160N router
I have a G73 obviously with the stock n card
My fiance has a g card in her laptop
We are both on this WRT1260N at the same time

I have it setup for WPA2 (I believe) security

Does this mean that when she is on the internet (sending/recieving) that the N router is throughputting and slowing down to her g speeds thus Im cruising at her g speeds? The when shes off, I am back to crusing at the normal n speeds (given my ISP's speeds are constant)

 

If you gave a G and an N on the same wireless band, all traffic will operate on the slowest speed, aka G. This is why they made Dual Band routers, so you can put N traffic on 5GHz, and G on 2.4GHz.

 

Got it. Thanks! So when we are both on. Im limited to her 2.4Ghz G...and when she gets off..my N goes back to 5Ghz correct?

 

So on my G73 I have the options in Device manager/Advanced tab

802.11b/g preamble ??? Long and Short (I assume this means 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz)???
AdHoc n ???? Enabled
blah
blah
blah
Something "n" Enabled (I assume this is optimal and "n" is enabled?

On my WRT160n router, the settings are:

WPA2
AES or TKIP
channel 11
20Mgz ONLY (theres no option to change this to 40?)
SSID - enabled

Any help on optimizing my wifi card and/or router settings? Or is this current config ideal?

 

Is there an "Auto" option?

AFAIK, that wireless router is only capable of 150Mbps (so there may not be a 40MHz channel width option). If your settings are optimal, you should show a 150Mbps connection when your PC is close/next to the wireless access point.

 

Thanks Mark. I dont see an option to change the 20Mgz? I show a 65Mb connection with the laptop right next to the router. This being without my fiances g wifi laptop online (on router). I just feel like Im not optimized and cant figure it out

Edit: I dont need to hit that refresh button on the middle of the router do I..never knew what that did?

Also, see this link below...we have this wifi adapter correct (Atheros 4965? or is it 4985?)...anyway I dont have the options in my router settings that the author states to change (e.g radio band and wide channel (40Mhz) etc...)

http://seoroot.com/blog/wireless-in...-and-intel-4965agn-wlan-card-n-speed-fix.html

 

I'm looking over the user guide for the WRT160N ( found here in downloads section)...even version 1 of that router should have the radio band option.

I would try this on the router:

First, make sure the router firmware is up to date ( see downloads tab here) and update if necessary.

Next, reset to factory default settings: Press and hold reset button for 5 seconds or use Administration>Factory Defaults option in the web-based configuration utility.

Then use these wireless settings...

Wireless>Basic Wireless Settings
Wireless Configuration: Manual
Network Mode: Mixed
Radio Band: Wide - 40MHz Channel
Wide Channel: Auto
Standard Channel: Auto

Wireless>Wireless Security
Security Mode: WPA2 Personal
Encryption: AES ( NO TKIP!!)

If you don't see some of these options, then do you really have a WRT160N?

 

I'm guessing it's an AzureWave AR5895 if it came stock on your G73JH....is it?

Can you post the exact available settings and corresponding options (instead of "blah blah blah" )?

 

MarkS-

-If that radio band is indeed an option on the 160N then what tab is it under? Wheres its location?

-I will post back tonight with the firmware version although I am 99% sure its the latest 3.00

-Under wireless security I do have it WPA2 Personal and the setting is set to "AES OR TKIP" so I assume it chooses (or should I just set it to AES?)

I am at work so I didnt mean to be vague with my blah blah description. I will post back here tonight with the exact settings! Thanks I appreciate all your help!

Edit: 196% sure I have a WRT160N...unless the box is a fake

 

JUST AES!

I linked to where you can look at the user guide (PDF) to find the setting locations. They're under Wireless..."Basic Wireless Settings" and "Wireless Security".

 

SOunds good I'll set it to AES only and check all my setings tonight and post back!!! Its funny, I SWEAR I scoured that damn config and couldnt find the settings (wide channel-radio band etc..) anywhere...I was in BWS and WS thouroughly!

 

I just received my intel 6200 today and I'll install it later this evening. Do I have on uninstall any Atheros drivers before installing the latest intel ones from their website?

 

Wow im a muppet. I didnt see the checkmark for "manual" under Basic wireless settings ; ( I'm all good now..its showing 150Mb. Wow what a difference! Thanks Mark

 

Kowell-let us know if the 6200 makes a difference...from what I've been reading, it doesn't

 

Awesome!

 

You don't have to but you can if you want to. I personally leave them there so they'll be there if I swap adapters.

 

Makes a difference from what?

It won't make a difference if you don't have a wireless-N router or if you have an N router that isn't dual band (2.4GHz & 5GHz).

300Mbps vs 150Mbps is a decent difference to me

 

I have to agree, my wireless transfers are much faster using my Intel 6200

 

From what I understood, shouldn't the Intel6200 be incapable of 300Mbps since it only has 2 antenna port and not 3 ?

I didn't bought it for the speed difference as much as the 5Ghz capacity. The 2.4Ghz band is pretty clogged in my area with phones and baby monitors and wathnot. My old router crashed daily.

 

450mbit is impossible without the 3 antennae. 300mbit can be done on 2, tho with 3 you'll get more stability.

 

I read somewhere that you can increase your speed by changing your channel to say 3...or any other channel other than the most common ones (e.g 6,11 etc..) as EVERYBODY is on those channels! Is this true?

I only mention it bc kowell you said you have a lot of traffic on your band

 

Nah From where I am relative to my access point (a WRT610N router) I'm typically connected at around 270Mbps. Occasionally (or if I'm closer to the access point) 300Mbps and occasionally lower - ~160Mbps-ish.

 

Lucky for you. I'm only connected at 72MBPS and I cant seem to get higher than that. Changed all the settings like everyone has said, but still cant manage to get over 72. Even if I' right next the the router.

Does this speed effect my internet speed at all?

 

Well... I forgot to check my speed before removing the Atheros wifi card which I guess is... dumb of me...

But, I am now stable around 243Mbps with spikes at 270Mbps which I'm pretty sure the old Atheros 2.4GHz could not do so.... I guess it worked.

EDIT: It even reached 300Mpbs a few times.. SUCCESS
I didn't even had to configure anything

 

Depends on your internet, but for the majority of those people using even broadband a 54Mbps wireless is about 14 Mbps faster than the average connection still.

There are some lucky souls out there running 70+ Mbps internet and then you might notice some slow down if it peaked over your 72 Mbps.

Consider though that 72 Mbps is 9 MBps (notice the big B). So the average MP3 is about 3 MB it would take you (in a perfect world) about 1/3rd of a second to receive that entire file. The average HD video is @ 720P is about 3.5 GB, it would take you 399 seconds (6.65 minutes) to download that in a perfect world @ 72 Mbps.

That is fast enough in my book to stream 720 and most likely 1080 as well. Again this is not accounting for latency and a few other things, just in a perfect world.