Studio 1535 with Intel WiFi Link 5100

Hello guys. I'm getting myself an Intel WiFi Link 5100 to replace the current Dell 1510N card in my Studio 1535. Is the Intel WiFi Link 5100 fully supported by my laptop? Are the number of wires same for both cards? Any specific steps that I need to do when replacing the card? This is my first time doing this so I'm a bit nervous. Thanks.

 

I think the 5100 and 5300 wireless cards are made for the centrino 2 or montevina processors; I'd go to intel.com for actual facts.

 

The 5100 and 5300 are part of the Centrino 2 platform, but that is irrelevant to compatibility. Both cards should work with the 1535, though the 5300 uses three antennas while the 5100 uses two. I think there should be three antennas in the 1535 by default, though. Even if there aren't, you can still use the 5300; it just won't work as well as it would with three antennas.

 

I can confirm that the 1535 has three antenna and works perfectly with the 5300. I had to get the driver from the 1537 download page though; the 1535 page doesn't have it.

 

Mastershroom is right, the Studio 1535 can handle the Intel 5100 or the Intel 5300.

Just make sure you get the half-mini card sized version of the 5100. I believe the slot in the Studio 15's won't fit the full sized mini card WiFi.

 

^Correct. The WLAN mini-PCI Express card slot in the Studio 15 can only accommodate half-height cards. Luckily, half-height versions of the Intel 5100 and 5300 exist alongside their full-size counterparts.

Ebay has plenty of listings for each. I got my 5300 from eBay.

 

I was just about to buy the full height one. Why doesn't it fit? You can't place a full size card in the WWAN/FCM slot? I didn't know that these PCI-E slots were proprietary. I thought the labeling was just for reference. Lol.

 

The WWAN (mobile broadband) and WPAN (Bluetooth) both hold full-height cards, but the WLAN (WiFi) only takes half-height.

Take off your bottom panel and take a look for yourself. Good thing you didn't order the full-height card yet.

 

Haha. I know. But, I can't place the full height card in the WWAN slot or WPAN slot? I thought it was like any other PCIe, you can place any card in it as long it fits. I am kind of confused lol. If I buy a full height card and place it in the WWAN slot and connect the cables it should work right?

 

I honestly couldn't tell you. I don't think there would really be a difference in performance between the full and half-height versions anyway. I'm not using my WWAN card slot either, but I figured I might as well play it safe and get the card Dell wants me to get.

Also, to install the 5300 in the WWAN slot, you'd have to re-route the black, white, and grey antenna cables, which would probably be a pain in the butt on its own, trying to channel them so as not to cause a keyboard bulge.

Who knows, perhaps the full height card needs different drivers or something.

 

I'll just get the half height card to avoid any issues. They're cheaper anyways.

 

I should hope so...the manufacturer only has to buy half the material!

 

Thanks guys for the replies. I just got it and installed it on my laptop. The signal strength is a lot better now. The download speed within a LAN network is faster than the Dell card. But the upload speed is slight worse.

 

I think you're right in that you can actually use the WWAN/WPAN slot for a full height WLAN card. I am not sure how many antenna wires are there for the WWAN/WPAN slot though. As far as I know, no one has actually used the WWAN/WPAN for anything other than an actual WWAN/WPAN card, but in theory, all three slots should have the same pins and the WWAN/WPAN should be no different from the other two slots.

Edit: my post is way too late but it's good for future reference I suppose.

 

The WWAN and WPAN each only have one antenna. You would have to route the others yourself from the WLAN slot.

 

Which isn't hard, I just wanted to make sure that any PCIe card that fits will work. I am pretty sure that's the case.