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    Installing a wireless card

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Chango99, Apr 25, 2009.

  1. Chango99

    Chango99 Derp

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    How difficult is it? I'm looking at the dell outlet and one of the things that turns me away is the network cards. I want to just buy a seperate intel 5300 and install it myself so i can broaden my options on the outlet.
     
    Chango99, Apr 25, 2009
    #1
  2. goofball

    goofball Notebook Deity

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    depends on your notebook but generally speaking, they are pretty easy. Remove antennas, remove card, connect antennas, install card (order of the steps can vary depending on access to it).
    What notebook exactly? Not all include the 3 antennas but you can still use the 5300 with 2 only.
     
    goofball, Apr 25, 2009
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  3. Chango99

    Chango99 Derp

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    The dell E6400. The card looks like just plug in, but I'm not sure what to do with the antennas.
     
    Chango99, Apr 26, 2009
    #3
  4. Slaughterhouse

    Slaughterhouse Knock 'em out!

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    It's extremely easy. I upgraded from the Intel 5100 to the Intel 5300 and even added an extra antenna - all under 20 minutes.
     
    Slaughterhouse, Apr 26, 2009
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  5. goofball

    goofball Notebook Deity

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    goofball, Apr 26, 2009
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  6. Chango99

    Chango99 Derp

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    Thanks for link... i'm still a bit unsure about the antennas though lol. Are there antennas already in the laptop and set up in there?

    I was looking at this on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Intel-WiFi-Link-5300-AGN-Wireless-Mini-PCIe-Card_W0QQitemZ400040302475QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item400040302475&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1308|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

    1) is it safe to buy from there, is it a working card or might it be fake?
    2) it comes w/ 3 antennas, am I supposed to use those or not?
     
    Chango99, Apr 26, 2009
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  7. goofball

    goofball Notebook Deity

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    Yes, they are there already, seeing as how the E6400 already has it set up. Why are you looking to upgrade? I believe it comes with the 4965AGN, which is a very good card already.
     
    goofball, Apr 26, 2009
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  8. Mastershroom

    Mastershroom wat

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    I upgraded my Studio 1535 from the standard Dell 1397 wireless-G card to the Intel WiFi Link 5300. It was pretty easy. My Studio actually has all three antennae, but if yours doesn't, it's pretty easy to install another one. Just route the cable along the same way that the existing two cables are routed.

    The 5300 does work with only 2 cables, but performance will be limited. You'll be using 2x1 mode instead of 3x3.
     
    Mastershroom, Apr 26, 2009
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  9. Chango99

    Chango99 Derp

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    The E6400 has choices of Dell's 1510 and 1397 and intels 5100 AGN and 5300 AGN, from what I've seen in the outlet.
     
    Chango99, Apr 27, 2009
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  10. jboy41

    jboy41 Notebook Enthusiast

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    yea it should be pretty easy to do. search on google "e6400 manual" and you'll find very easy to follow pictures from dell on how to take it apart and do your specific upgrade.
     
    jboy41, Apr 30, 2009
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  11. aidil

    aidil Notebook Evangelist

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    That link is for the full-height version of Intel WiFi Link 5300. From the online documentation, you'll see that E6400 uses half-height.

    These days half-height ones are easy to find on eBay. And they are not Engineering Samples like the one from your link above. Half-height 5300 cards sold by Hong Kong eBay sellers mostly come from Dell parts, so you don't have to worry that it won't work. At least I have bought my self one and it's working nicely in my Studio 17.

    You can get it also from that same seller on your link.
     
    aidil, May 1, 2009
    #11