The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    The difference between T400 WiFi recievers?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by ozymandias, Sep 11, 2008.

  1. ozymandias

    ozymandias Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    44
    Messages:
    210
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Whats the difference between ThinkPad 11b/g Wireless LAN Mini PCI Express Adapter III, Intel WiFi Link 5100 (AGN), and Intel WiFi Link 5300 (AGN)? Aside from price :confused:
     
    ozymandias, Sep 11, 2008
    #1
  2. X2P

    X2P COOLING | NBR Super Mod

    Reputations:
    3,179
    Messages:
    5,361
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    206
    The second card supports the newer "next gen" wireless N which reaches far higher speeds and can run on the 5Ghz channel.
     
    X2P, Sep 11, 2008
    #2
  3. ozymandias

    ozymandias Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    44
    Messages:
    210
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    What about the third? Whats the difference between the 3rd and 2nd?
     
    ozymandias, Sep 11, 2008
    #3
  4. snclawson

    snclawson Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    55
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    The difference between the 5100 and 5300 is the number of antennas that they use for 802.11n (afaik, there is no difference for abg).

    The 5100 is a 1x2 MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output), but the 5300 is a 3x3 MIMO (where the first is receive and the second is transmit streams/antennas). I've seen varying reports of how many antennas are installed in the T400 chassis if you get the Thinkpad or 5100 cards. Some people have reported having all three antennas installed, other people have said that they only got two. The only way to make absolutely sure that your T400 has three WiFi antennas is to get the 5300.

    But then again, all of this really only matters if you're using 802.11n, and you've also got a MIMO capable Wireless Access Point.
     
    snclawson, Sep 11, 2008
    #4
  5. afty

    afty Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    125
    Messages:
    64
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Here is a post about the differences between the 5100 and 5300 cards:
    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=3864147&postcount=8

     
    afty, Sep 11, 2008
    #5
  6. plancy

    plancy Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    56
    Messages:
    550
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    These "antennas" don't stick out of the laptop do they? lol
     
    plancy, Oct 2, 2008
    #6
  7. AznRacerNSX

    AznRacerNSX Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    12
    Messages:
    359
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    if you're not being sarcastic (from your lol), no they do not stick out lol =P
     
    AznRacerNSX, Oct 2, 2008
    #7
  8. jonlumpkin

    jonlumpkin NBR Transmogrifier

    Reputations:
    826
    Messages:
    3,240
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    How do you tell if you have two or three antennas installed in the chasis. I assumed all Thinkpads with the 5100 card, only have the two antennas. Can you look in device manager and find out how many antennas your system has? Also in my experience the 5100 card is quite good. I get respectable range, and the improved theoretical speed of the 5300 (450 mbps vs. 300 mbps) don't matter because no N router has gone much above 110 mbps in real world usage.
     
    jonlumpkin, Oct 2, 2008
    #8
  9. tony487

    tony487 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    17
    Messages:
    249
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    ***?? I don't remember choosing the 'Rabbit Ears' option! :eek:
     
    tony487, Oct 7, 2008
    #9
  10. tony487

    tony487 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    17
    Messages:
    249
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    You're kidding! an acronym is censored?? W?T?F?
     
    tony487, Oct 7, 2008
    #10