Latitude D630: Will Intel WiFi Link 5300 work?

I've got a Dell ABG wireless card in the notebook right now. I'm looking for an N card for increased speed (on an N router) and increased range when using G routers.

I know the Intel 4965AGN was offered in the D630 at one time. Also I checked and I do have all three antennas, although only two are currently in use.

Can I use an Intel WiFi Link 5300, as long as I download the drivers straight from Intel, on a D630? Or should I get an Intel 4965AGN, which is only 3x2 as opposed to 3x3. Router I'm using I believe is only 3x2 but that might change down the road.

The price is roughly the same, about a dollar more for the 4965AGN.

 

Get the 5300. It will work fine.

 

The D630 is based on the Intel GM965 or PM965 chipset, which supports the Intel 4965AGN wireless card. The newer Intel 5100AGN/5300AGN are compatible with the newer GM45/PM45 chipset (in the Latitude E-series, for example). I am almost certain that the 5100/5300 won't be compatible with the older 965 chipset.

Another option you might want to consider is the Dell 1505-N wireless card. In at least one test that I recall, the Dell wireless-N card performed better than the Intel 4965AGN.

Both of those cards are available from Dell, both New and usually Refurbished versions. Their prices are pretty high, though. Check out eBay for better prices on both the 1505-N and the 4965AGN. They have the Dell 1505-N starting under $40 and the 4965AGN under $30.

 

AFAIK 5300 needs 3 built-in antennas to work efficiently and most of the laptops have only 2. Make sure that D630 has 3 built-in antennas...


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It does have three antennas.

I'd rather prefer not buy it off eBay at this time. I have a time constraint and don't already trust eBay sellers to ship on time. So that would leave Dell as the seller for the Dell 1505-N, which is overpriced through them.

I think I've seen some posts here saying some people have gotten them to work on D830s but I haven't seen anything that says D630 anywhere I've looked.

 

alot of people have used the 5300 with netbooks, which use 945GSE chipset, i'm sure it isn't a requirement that they use the PM/GM45 series of chipsets

 

The 5300 will work with the D630. I am using one in my D630 currently while typing this message. When purchasing your 5300 choose wisely, there are two different form factors of the 5300. There is a half height mini pci-e and a full heights mini pci-e. You want the full height, the half height is used in some newer notebooks like the e6400. I purchased my 5300 from buy.com. You can consult intel.com to verify you have the correct part number for the full height card. Also I use the drivers from intel.com with mine.