Wireless chip upgrade to AC assistance. Thanks

I currently have a NP5160 that I purchased from you back in 2011.
I have Windows 7, 64 bit system and would like to know if I can upgrade to the Intel Wireless 7260 chip for AC wifi capability.
I currently have the intel 6300n ultimate AGN.

 

Unless Sager blocks certain mPCIe cards (like HP and other manufacturers do), yes you can upgrade. MiniPCI-Express cards use PCI-Express x1, which even in the first revision could do 250 MB/s, way more than Wifi AC needs.

 

Unless your router supports AC there is very little benefit to upgrading to AC wifi.

Chances are, your poor internet performance (if any) is caused by bad drivers.

 

My internet performance is very good. I have a linksys/cisco e3000 with comcast . But i am getting ready to upgrade to an AC router. Wanted to ensire laptop can get maximum performance from new router.

 

Sager IIRC don't have BIOS restrictions on WLAN cards as HP and Lenovo does. But as stated, without a very fast 50+ MBPS fiber connection, and supporting router, AC doesn't make sense for most people.

 

Well Fiber isnt happening anytime too soon here in SC. I get 30Mbps here on speedtest. So, if I need fiber to truly see a gain, is my E3000 router satisfactory or would an AC be the way to go for future proofing things? With the WiFi chip too?

 

IMO with a 30 Mbps connection, going AC vs N, you aren't going to see a massive difference, especially over wireless. I wouldn't say really future-proofing, because everyone's needs are different. If everyone in your family streams HD video or does massive downloading, then you might want to look at it, but if everyone just surfs the net, AC router won't be noticed vs N router or even a G router TBH.

 

Thanks. I will put moneys elsewhere..

 

While an AC class router/client setup cannot improve internet speeds (especially when your ISP is pushing 30 Mbps max...), that doesn't mean that it is not a worthwhile upgrade.

If you are regularly transferring large files on the (wireless) lan; then upgrading the wireless hardware (both sides) will give you benefits in terms of throughput and range vs. the router you have now.

While I might wait for a few weeks/months at this point to ensure that the AC router I get is not a 'draft' model - there are many reports on the web that even without replacing/upgrading the client side - the new/current draft AC routers offer increases from even a very good/excellent router like the Asus RT-N66U or even the 'original' AC class router like the Asus RT-AC66U. Specifically; the 'new/current' routers I'm talking about are the Asus RT-AC68U or the Netgear RT-7000 (with my preference (long term) going to the Asus models).


See:
Real Help For Your Small Network - SmallNetBuilder


Check out the Charts on the link above (even though benchmarks should be only part of the basis for any decisions here), check out the Forums on the above link (and if you're considering the Asus models - then definitely check out the Merlin firmware options; highly recommended).


For a good review (for a solid comparative basis of your upgrade decision) of your current router:

See:
Cisco Linksys E3000 High Performance Wireless-N Router Reviewed - SmallNetBuilder


Note that even at it's introduction: it was not the highest performing router then (it has been far surpassed at this point).


A tip for using the 'Charts' section of smallnetbuilder:

Select the Company (example: Asus, Cisco and Netgear (hold down the CTRL button before selecting each one)),
Select the Class (example: to have your E3000 included: select N600)
Now, click the Filter button
AND click to show Archived Products (to ensure your E3000 shows up in the charts.

Now; you can select the benchmarks you want to compare for the products selected.

Also remember that you can 'compare' N600 class products to AC1750 (min I recommend) products too (this will let you see how far AC routers have come vs. your 3yr old platform.


As has been mentioned before: your current router is probably not limiting your ISP's connection if you're only connecting with one or two clients (wired and/or wireless) simultaneously. But if you want improvements in throughput, range and/or need your wireless lan speeds to come up to 2013 standards: an AC router (even the original Asus RT-AC66U) would more than likely bring your network to current standards.

If you could live with having to wait for one or two more firmware upgrades for the best performance possible: the Asus RT-AC68U is the one I would be recommending (if you 'had' to buy 'now').


Hope this helps.

Good luck.

 

Tiller, I wasn't saying there wasn't ANY difference between AC and N, but for the money you have to invest getting an AC router [if he already has a high end N router], the performance difference for some people may be worth investing, others not so much, all depends on everybody's situation.]\

 

There actually won't be any difference (or close to that)- that is for "normal" usage. You might get better range for example but that would be due to the new router having better (more expensive) amps.
802.11ac is really helpful is when you use a NAS on your network - 802.11n is good enough for streaming most of the time but not for backups or installing software from ISO images stored on a NAS.

So unless you do that or plan on doing it you might as well stick to 802.11n especially that you have a good router as it is.
Seeing as your current setup is really good I wouldn't spend a dime on it in the name of future-proofing.

 

I wasn't contradicting what anyone said before me: just wanted to add that depending on the specific use case: it may make a difference.

The latest router is like the latest computer platform, if your use case depends on the highest performance: the cost is always worth it.

 

Comcast just "upgraded " the service to boosts of 30-50Mbps. Well, sitting laptop next to it I got 45mbps. Not bad, and with ethernet cable plugged in about the same. Went down stairs about 20 feet with direct line of sight to router, and I get 24Mbps.
Not bad. So, this seems to be a router/antenna gain issue? Thoughts?

 

20 feet direct line of sight... (no walls? no floors? no obstacles?) and almost half the throughput?

Your router is the issue here (as I have mentioned before). Don't get caught up in 'future-proofing' - simply get a product that performs at today's levels - not ones from 3 years ago.


See:
Router Charts - WAN to LAN Throughput - SmallNetBuilder

See:
Router Charts - Total Simultaneous Throughput - SmallNetBuilder

See:
Router Charts - 2.4 GHz Downlink - SmallNetBuilder

See:
Router Charts - 2.4 GHz Uplink - SmallNetBuilder

See:
Router Charts - 5 GHz Downlink - SmallNetBuilder

See:
Router Charts - 5 GHz Uplink - SmallNetBuilder



The links above show you how 'old' the tech is in your current router. Antennae won't help, better N or AC clients won't help - what you need is a router upgrade if you want to see the performance of your wireless network increase substantially. And while you might be tempted to think that the above tests 'are not that bad' for the e3000 - try to switch the 'Average' to 'Minimum' in the appropriate tests - that is where your real limits of your current router are.


Good luck.

 

Wow, Thanks. Can you recommend a router from Cisco, as I am partial to them, that wont break the bank?
Will read threads later, off to hospital for daughter.

 

No recommendations for Cisco routers - but the Asus RT-N66U, the RT-AC66U and the RT-AC68U with RMerlin's Firmware would be my only choices for a router today.

See:
Asuswrt-Merlin - custom firmware for Asus routers - SmallNetBuilder Forums


Fast, stable and long term support of the products they offer is what sets Asus apart for me right now. The RMerlin tweaks are an added (and very welcome) bonus too.


Hope the best for your daughter!


Glad to have helped a little.

 

Thanks. The AC68U is too much now. SO, it is between the other two. One has AC, the other is N basically. The Merlin tweaks, nice.