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    Wireless card importance

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by dk89, Aug 2, 2007.

  1. dk89

    dk89 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm a novice when it comes to WiFi and I was wondering how important it is to get a good wireless card. I am about to buy a thinkpad, but certain models offer the Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG card and other lesser models offer the ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wi-Fi wireless LAN Mini-PCIe US/EMEA/LA/ANZ card. Is there a big difference between the two cards? Is it worth spending the extra money?
     
    dk89, Aug 2, 2007
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  2. Mr.Brightside

    Mr.Brightside Notebook Evangelist

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    well a draft-N card really don´t worth it, you´ll be fine with any G standard card ;)
     
    Mr.Brightside, Aug 2, 2007
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  3. usapatriot

    usapatriot Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Personally I would really go with the Intel offering, they usually have the best support/software for their products.
     
    usapatriot, Aug 2, 2007
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  4. tebore

    tebore Notebook Evangelist

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    The IBM ABG is an Atheros based card. While the Intel might have more driver support the IBM ABG will work better most of the time getting better reception and doesn't really need as many updates, as the drivers and applications are kept simpler.

    Intel Drivers and apps are also more bloated. With I had the Intel 3945 my pagefile was nearly 800megs and free ram was 1.15gigs. After I removed it and installed the Atheros card. My pagefile is down to 550megs and 1.3gigs free.

    Getting the IBM Card is like getting a 256 Stick of Ram and a better wireless card.
     
    tebore, Aug 2, 2007
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  5. panteedropper

    panteedropper Notebook Deity

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    the atheros card gets amazing reception and draws less power. its cheaper and better. its also fully supported by linux
     
    panteedropper, Aug 2, 2007
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  6. usapatriot

    usapatriot Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    True, the Intel software uses quite a bit of system resources.

    Of course you could always just use it with the default Windows wireless client.
     
    usapatriot, Aug 2, 2007
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  7. tebore

    tebore Notebook Evangelist

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    I found even the driver runs about 3 un-needed services that couldn't be shut down without killing the connection. Each of the services suck about 20 megs each. Why would Intel need so much RAM, it's a just a damn network card.
     
    tebore, Aug 2, 2007
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