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    Replace M1340 network card ?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by neyz, Jan 23, 2009.

  1. neyz

    neyz Newbie

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    Hello everyone :)

    I was wondering if any of you knew if it was possible to change the stock dell 1515 wireless card with a real card like intel's 5300 ? (the same one you can find in the 1640)

    I'm asking because i want to install linux on my lappy and besides having crappy performance, those dell cards are not really compatible with linux..

    If it is possible, should i be aware of anything in particular or can i just happily buy the laptop and order a 5300 without having to worry about different sizes of the card and just exchange them once i get the laptop ?

    Thanks !
     
    neyz, Jan 23, 2009
    #1
  2. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

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    If Dell hasn't started locking down their BIOS, you can probably use any half-height mini-PCIe card. That includes half-height 5100 and 5300 cards.
     
    Commander Wolf, Jan 24, 2009
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  3. tmoney777

    tmoney777 Newbie

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    I think the dell 1515 has 2 connections and the 5300 half height has 3 when I was looking at pics on the dell website. I don't really know for sure though. Hopefully somebody else can shed some more light.
     
    tmoney777, Jan 24, 2009
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  4. neyz

    neyz Newbie

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    I know the 5300 is a 3 antenna card. I don't understand why they propose it for the 1640 but not the 1340? Dell told me the card wasn't compatible but i'm pretty sure that's BS just to sell their cards..
     
    neyz, Jan 24, 2009
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  5. Gambit642

    Gambit642 Newbie

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    The 1505 is half-height, but there are two unused full length PCI-e slots in the 1340. Well...unused if you don't get a broad-band card or the UWB antenna options. PCI-e is a standard, so any card that can physically fit and you have drivers for should work. As for the signal cables, the 3rd is just a ground...it won't affect your signal strength.

    You could remove the half-hight and get something a little more main stream such as the full-length 1505. There are Linux, Unix and even OS X drivers for that one and its Wifi-N.
     
    Gambit642, Apr 1, 2009
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  6. aidil

    aidil Notebook Evangelist

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    The 3rd one is for another antenna, not just ground.
     
    aidil, Apr 1, 2009
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  7. slpro

    slpro Notebook Geek

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    Installed the half height Intel 5300 on mine and no problem at all. The third wire is only for the full duplex in the 450 Mbps Routers.
    If you do this, remember to uninstall the 1515 drivers before you remove the card! ;)
    Cheers!
     
    slpro, Apr 1, 2009
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