Just added an Intel N 6300 Ultimate Wireless mini PCIe to my 7811fx

I got the idea for this because I have upgraded just about every piece of hardware on this machine, and I figured there had to be a newer and faster wifi card available. After a lot of digging around, I found this Intel 6300 Ultimate mini PCIe card. Same form factor and pins, just a "mini". Figured it was worth a shot on our laptops.
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/wireless-products/centrino-ultimate-n-6300.html

This was a cheap and easy upgrade over the existing wireless card. Bought it for 29.99 shipped. Mine is a genuine Intel. From what I have read do not buy the lenovo version of this. They are cheaper, but I heard they don't work for all laptops. Something having to do with whitelisting.

Install:
0. Take battery out and remove power cord. Use an anti static strap.
1. Take off bottom plate that covers cpu/wifi.On my laptop there are 5 screws.
If using slot 1, remove old wifi card and install bracket adapter on mini pcie. The correct way to install the bracket onto the mini wifi is to have the metal screw tabs beneath the pcie card. There is also a slight occlusion of metal, this should but up against the card to provide a bit of stability. It's not rocket science, but figured I'd throw that in.
2. Install mini pcie onto 2nd pcie slot, which is made for mini-pcie.
3. Replace cover, boot windows. Done. (Windows 7 automatically found drivers for it.)

Card tested and works in both slots on my 7811FX running W7. I think my Bios is 9.17c.
I did not test the machine with both cards installed. Didn't see the point.

You may notice, the new mini Wifi card has three antenna slots. I ordered a third antenna off ebay or maybe it was amazon. Whatever. I am going to test my range with the third antenna. Right now I'm getting full signal just with 2.

The first photo shows the old wifi card, the new mini wifi package and the mini wifi adapter bracket (from left to right.)


I cannot say if the card will be detected properly or not with an operating system other than W7. You may need drivers if you use a different OS.


I am not sure if other FX laptops have 2 pcie slots, one being mini,but if you want to use slot 1, you need to buy a "mini pcie adapter bracket". These can be found cheap online. I bought two off ebay just in case, but I'm thinking I'm not going to use them and I may just sell them.

I did some simple speed tests on speedtest.net, ran them 10 times for each card.

My ping on the old wifi: 100-120
My ping on the new wifi: 40-60

Download on old wifi: 14-15.5mbps
Download on new wifi: 18-20mbps

I don't remember the upload speeds, but the new card was 30-40% faster. It was something like 1.5mbps vs. 2mbps.

**I thought I paid 24.99 but I actually paid 29.99 shipped.** I updated the price up top.

 

Very good jonatbaylor. That should also fit my Gateway 7805u. Did you happen to take any photos of your installation? Could you post the store URL?

 

I'd ask if you at least tried the first slot. Most other cards do not work in the P78xx or P79xx first slot even with the adapter. If it truly works in the first slot could you link to the specific card you purchased?

 

I do have some photos, actually. I'll dig them off my cell and post them up here.

 

I just edited the OP to include pics and more detail on everything.

I bought the mini wifi card from this seller. You may find a better price or store somewhere, I don't know.

Intel® Centrino® Ultimate N 6300 450MPBS Dualband Mini PCI Express WiFi Adapter | eBay

Let me know if you guys need some help or have more questions.

 

That's good to hear I was thinking of upgrading my wifi in my gateway P-6860FX and P-7811FX to something newer and it's good to hear you got yours to work I have to do some looking and possible upgrading here in the future.

 

The Intel N 6300 Ultimate is the fastest PCIe for laptops that I can find. If there is something better, I haven't seen it. But would be interested of course.

Not only do speed tests show a good speed increase, but regular browsing/downloading as well. There are obviously a lot of factors that go into your browsing experience, but I can tell you that when I am straight downloading using a couple different programs, its noticeably faster. So this would be independent of the browser type and would negate my ISP since I'm using the same ISP for both cards.

 

Good job jonatbaylor.

Quick tip block out your Windows COA sticker in your pics.

I recently upgraded the wifes Gateway NV5927 from an Atheros AR5B93 to an Intel 6205 and I also notice a difference in speeds. Although somewhat dead tech I also wanted to try WIDI as the boxes are pretty cheap now, approx 30 bucks for the netgear 2000 push to TV.

Even though the gateways do not use a whitelisted BIOS it can still be tough finding a correct/real Intel card.

 

So you didn't need the 3rd connections correct and still works...hmm....my P-6860FX has 3 wires and the P-7811FX has 2 wires...

 

With the 2 wire I believe it goes to 1t 2r mode. The reason I ask is others have put a card in the first full slot and drivers installed but the card would not work. So long as it does work there that is great as the firswt slot is also controlled by the switch and software on/of as well.

 

With 2 antennas it's 2T2R and works exactly like Intel 6200 would. With a third one attached you get an additional spatial stream which allows you 3T3R (450mbps connection by using three bonded 20MHz channels).

Three antennas don improve reception, range or anything else except for speed- if you have a 450mbps router.

 

Very well possible and would explain the system being faster than the 5100 as that usually goes to 1t2r even at 300mbs. A card that can go to 2t2r and hold there would be great. Also in looking at a few sites it seems with 3 antenna and 300 mbs router the 2t2r held ever so slightly better.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/networking-wireless/539029-intel-6300-2-vs-3-antenna-test.html

 

I purchased the centrino 6300 to try and get wireless n working.

Would this antenna work as a third antenna? New Laptop WIFI Wireless Mini PCI PCI-E Internal Antenna

And where would I run the third antenna? Can you run it through the lcd like the other two or would it affect the performance of the two existing antennas?

I have a gateway P-7805u FX laptop

 

My understanding is it needs to be run in the LCD panel, I haven't done it so someone else with first hand knowledge should answer about proper procedure..........