dell wireless lan card or intel?

The dell I'm plannin on buying comes with a 1495 802.11 a/g WLAN card, the optional intel one is 3945 802.11 a/g WLAN card. Does 802.11b not matter? It doesnt seem to come with either card.

Also, will I lose much signal strength by going with the Dell verision instead of the Intel?

 

i'm currently looking at the latitude d820 and there are two choices for wireless cards

1. Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps) Dual Core
2. Dell Wireless 1490 802.11a/g Mini Card (54Mbps) Dual Core

can someone tell me if there is a difference between the two cards?

thanks

 

There really isn't much of a difference besides the brand name and software/drivers. They are both compatible with the same networks. Intel is supposedly alot better than the dell card, and most users prefer to have the Intel card. With Intel, you don't have as many dropped connections and you'll get a longer range.

 

This is what it says on the dell website

Note: 802.11g cards are compatible with and can connect to 802.11b and 802.11g networks.

Don't know if its much help though

 

as the1 stated, if the card is compatible with g networks then it will usually be compatible with b type networks.

I'm combining these two threads since they both are about the same thing.

SG

 

Go with the Intel, I've got it and I get perfect reception from the router in my room (802.11b) and the one in the next room (802.11g) I got the b router for my room because it was only $5 on black friday at staples, and at the time I only had 802.11b in my laptop, but since I got the intel 802.11g card in my new D820, i use it

 

I have the Dell WiFi Card and it works just fine for me - I get the same range as my friends' notebooks do, and they all have Intel's WiFi card. I also like the Dell Wireless utility much more the Windows/Intel one.

 

The Intel cards will give better battery life.

 

I agree with Chaz. I have the intel and with the E1505 I can achieve around 3-4 hours on normal usage. Also my sister has the same thing but the dell and only gives her around 2 hours.

 

My 6400 has an Intel card and my lady's 1300 has a Dell card and there are no problems or noticeable differences in wireless or internet performance between either of them. I haven't compared battery life as both notebooks have different components, chipsets and batteries.

 

I have the dell Dell Wireless 1490 802.11a/g Mini Card and
get good reception and long battery life . Same as my Intel on another notebook.

 

I just went with the dell wifi. Hopefully it doesn't mess up on me

 

I had horrible luck with the Dell wireless card on my old Latitude D610. Swore never to buy another Dell wireless product ever again. Been very happy with my Intel 4965a/g/draft-n.

If the Dell card doesn't work to your satisfaction -- you can buy the Intel cards off of eBay for $30-$50 and install yourself. Cheaper than paying for the upgrade.

 

I loved the performance of the Intel 4965 AGN cards for the short period of time I had each of my M1330's...

 

I want to put my 2 cents in. First of all, from what I hear, the Dell card that everybody mentions, is really a card made by Broadcom or some name like that.
2) One reason why you should lean towards Intel, is the Centrino factor. The 3 combined components that used to make Centrino setups supposedly better is the fact that they were all Intel, CPU, LAN/Wireless and Video, and that combination was designed to keep battery life to the maximum, or plainly, to save power. Now many of us go with other video cards, but its still good to have the other 2 still Intel.
Lastly, I won't take any gain in battery life seriously. Why? because Ive seen people mention in examples, "I got 4 hours of battery life in my test with wireless on, and slightly better with wireless off". So if its only slightly better with wireless off, it cant be too much better when just comparing between 2 wireless cards.
Thats the way I look at it. But I have the 3945 in my laptop. But for another project Im working on, I ordered a refurb 1490.

 

I went with the 1395 802.11g instead of the intel 3495 because it was $40 less. Most wireless routers these days are either g or b anyways. Go onto the futureshop website or dell website or any website and look at the routers. They're all g; the a routers are mainly for apple computers and they cost around $200

 

What do you have now or getting?

 

New Penryn M1330 coming tomorrow. I tried to pick up at DHL today.. they wouldn't let me because I was shipping to my work address and did not match my DL...

:S

 

From my personal experience. Dell Wireless 1490 had a noticeably inferior reception compared to the Intel 4965AGN. This is in a M1330 w/ 2 antennas connected for a g network.

Depending on how handy you are with a screwdriver, I would get the cheapest wireless card available and then buy either the Intel 4965AGN or the Atheros Wireless - N minicard. Both are significantly cheaper from an online retailer than upgrading from Dell.

 

I got the upgrade to the Intel through Dell for $30. So if I had to buy one on eBay for $30-$50, and then install it myself, it wouldn't be worth it. I thought it was always just $30 to upgrade from Dell. Am I wrong?

 

It used to be a $50 upgrade. I think its now a $30 upgrade.