Studio 1555 HOW do I install a new mini wifi card?

I just got a wireless n router so I'd like a speed boost so I am going to order a 5100 or 5300 by Intel off of ebay. The diagram on dell doesn't seem to really help on how to install it, and with the cover off, looking at the existing card, I have no idea how to remove it without breaking it.

 

OK firstly make sure you buy a half height wifi card, I got an intel 5100 to replace the broadcom wifi

Take the bottom cover off, then locate the wifi card. Pop off the two wifi antena leads, then you will see one screw in the top corner of the card, undo the screw and remove the card from the mini slot.

Now insert your new card in the slot, replace the screw, pop on your antena leads (they are clearly marked) and put the cover back on.
Now boot up and install your new drivers.

 

ninja2000 explains it all. Keep in mind that if you opt for the Intel 5300 wireless module, it will have three antennae, not two. You'll have to plug in the black, grey, and white cables. For the 5100, you'll just need black and white.

 

Just for the record: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/studio1555/en/SM/minicard.htm#wp1183595. I don't know if this is Dell diagram you were originally referring to, but I think Dell's instructions are fairly clear. And yes, you do need a half-height card for WLAN.

 

Yeah clear enough, but I don't know how to pop off the leads without breaking them

 

Pinch the end of the cable, and pry it up. They do pop off the card pretty easily, it just takes some jiggling.

 

Will I get a speed increase?

 

If you go from 2 to 3 cables, it will give you a maximum speed of something like 425Mbps. For reference, Cat5 ethernet cables provide 100Mbps.

As for real world speed increase, odds are you will not notice a thing. Your internet speeds and downloads will be the same. The only way you might notice a difference is if you do lots of large file transfers within your wireless network.

 

Thanks guys I experimented and it seems very easy to replace

 

Wait....they do not have a White List of allowed hardware?

With my HP nc8230 it took me 5 tries to get a WiFi card that passed the White List....

 

I'm not sure. The Intel 5300 is offered as an option when you configure a Studio 1555, though, so obviously they wouldn't blacklist it.

I have a Studio 1535, and the highest option available was the Intel 5100. However, I installed a 5300 anyway, and it worked fine.

 

With my nc8230, they did include an Intel 2200BG WiFi card in the customization, but when 2 of em arrived off of eBay, non of them worked giving me error 149 or whatever telling me that Invaild Wireless Network device...

Waiting on Dell to send me my new systems specs....

 

any reason to get a 5300 over a 5100? Cuz looking at the inside of my laptop I only see two antennas and getting a third attached would seem difficult.

 

From what I understand, the 5300 is 802.11 abg(draft)n whereas the 5100 is bg(draft)n .

I would go for the 5100 as 802.11a is pretty much obsolete and very few people and businesses have it nowadays.

If it is cheaper go for it, either way you have 802.11n so you win in the end, even the bid if you go on eBay .

 

true

btw I actually found the third antenna so it would be a nonissue.

 

If your buying on ebay buy from this dealer pc_digi they sale original retail cards and not engineer samples as many do on ebay.