MS16F2 Bluetooth

Hey just joined and looking at doing my first gaming laptop build. Done quite a few desktops and many OEM laptops so not really that new to the game. Main question I have is the MS16F2 only has 1 mini pcie port correct? I know most the places where you can order these configured the only way is to get something like the intel 6230 wifi chip but after reading a lot of reviews on that I'd rather stay away.

I've seen a few members on here have different wifi chips and bluetooth such as Bigfoot Killer Wireless-N 102. Are they achieving this is with a usb dongle? or is there something else I'm missing?

Sorry if this is a noob question or has been asked 1000x times did a lot of research today and couldn't find any threads about this.

 

If your upgrading the wireless/bluetooth remove the OEM card under the power button panel and replace with your selected card. If you use a non-BT card (1102/1103) then yes you will need a BT dongle.

 

I understand how install the cards thats not the issue I'm ordering a barebone and doing the assembly myself not worried about any of that. Its after a ton of reading seeing Members like Meaker have this model I guess we just assume they use USB dongles? I was kinda hoping to find build threads or something to confirm but couldn't.

I see your a re-seller of these do you get a lot of complaints with the 6230 card? 5ghz and BT are a requirement of mine.

 

The Bluetooth in the stock unit comes from the stock Intel n 130 wireless card that has onboard Bluetooth 3.0.It'a a single 2.4ghz band 150Mbps half height mini pci-e card.

The Intel Advanced N 6230 also has oboard Bluetooth 3.0 but is a 2.4ghz and 5ghz duel band 300Mbps card.

The Advanced N 6205 is the same as the 6230 but without Bluetooth.

All of the above use 2 antennas.

The Intel Ultimate N 6300 is a 3 antenna card that is duel band and 450Mbps.

The Bigfoot 1102 is a 2 antenna duel band 300Mbps card without bluetooth.

The Bigfoot 1103 is a 3 antenna duel band 450Mbps card without Bluetooth.

To take full advantage of duel band cards a 300Mbps or 450Mbps simultanious duel band router should be used.

See my signature for my choice after testing 12 different cards and 5 different routers in my enviroment.

Setting up a wireless network has many many variables and conditions to good connection strength without dropoffs and disconnects.

Sometime starting in Q3 2012 802.11ac products will start to roll out and are 5ghz only and backward compatible on cards with the 5ghz band only.

http://www.netgear.com/landing/80211ac/

 

Don't really care about the 450mbps or the advanced tech of the bluetooth (a little maybe )

Main concern is functional wireless-N on 5-ghz and bluetooth that won't be choppy when listening A2DP on my bh-905 headset right now I have 2 laptops

Latitude E6400 - Intel 5300 Wifi (works great) and Dell 370 Bluetooth (also Great)

also have a Precision M4500 - newer dell 450 where the bluetooth is very choppy with my headphones

Now pretty sure dell rebrands intel bluetooth cards as their own so why I'm actually looking deep into this.

Not sure why looks like I'm limited at the 6230 card as the only option so guess that'll have to do

 

We have never had a complaint about the 6230 wireless, i have this in my personal notebook and have never had a problem. It would also depend on the router you are using, it is possible some routers may not be fully compatible with the 6230 card & band you are looking for.

 

I have a wndr3700 and using the 5ghz band currently so should theoretically be good there. Just a ton of negatives I've read on it.

edit : really hoping Meaker with chime in as I'd like to know how he's doing it just to confirm usb dongle or something

 

Hey there the unit in the16f2 i have is a separate bluetooth card independant of the wireless card i am using. it shipped as stock with my barebones which had no hardware added. its intel and bd3 compatible.

I believe it lives under the keyboard rest area and works great with my razer orochi.

 

Is this something that has been eliminated with the newer barebones? Any chance you could post a pic of this mainly how it connects.

edit : BTW this is exactly what I was expecting something weird like this

 

Ok just found this

Seems the newest model that comes with the GTX 570m does not come with this like the previous 2. I can't see it being cost effective for MSI to have removed the connector from the Motherboard though. Hopefully someone will be kind enough to post a picture of the new and old model.

 

Based on a recent upgrade I've seen MSI do to motherboards, I doubt they removed the connector.

 

can only hope sadly confirmation will only be step 1 finding one of the modules might be whole new challenge lol

 

similar to this?

(2) NEW MSI Wind U210 U120 U90 Bluetooth Module QBTM300 | eBay

 

This? Just under the power button and beneath the keyboard. Looks like it is screwed in with the screw you see above it.

 

The drivers list "AzureWave Bluetooth_BT280"; which seems to be this:


Chrono Informatique

 

I have that as well.

I think this is the port:

 

Thanks for the pic looks like they put it in a fun place looks like I'll have to buy and explore a little.

Having a hard time finding that model somewhere on this side of the globe. Connector looks the same as the ones I posted I'll have to open it up when I get it in. Really how much money did this feature really cost them?

 

what gpu did your model originally come with?

 

Mine came with the 580M, and no separate bluetooth card.

 

cool just what I needed then since yours is the 3rd model as well then. Looks like I was wrong the pics you posted is a 10 pin connector and the ebay ones are 8 pin going to have to look around some more. This will probably be the way to have the least amount of wireless issues.

 

Yes I have a cable plugged in there but it leads to the monitor housing along with the wireless antenna.

 

Getting a Bigfoot Killer 1103 installed with a 3rd antenna by the reseller when you order will help with connection strength and just about eliminate dropoffs and disconnects.

Add any Bluetooth USB dongle you want and you can change dongles easily if the 1st choice results in stuttering.

The BFN 1103 worked great with my WNDR3700v2.

In the room with the router inSSIDer showed connection strength in the mid 20s

I get 0 ping,70Mbps download and uploads measured in speedtest.net

With the 6230 testing I had not disconnects or dropoffs but connection strength was in the high 30s and low 40s.

The difference between the WNDR4500 router and the WNDR3700v2 with the BFN 1103 is barely noticeable in most on-line activity and dowloading.

With the stock Intel wireles card N 130 dropoffs and disconnects were common outside the room with the router but in the room with the router no disconnects.The signal strength was in the low 50s.

 

I'll be assembling this 100% myself no worries about pulling this thing apart though I did this stuff for enough years its well within my ability

I have the WNDR3700v1 but not a huge difference between the models just ROM size and for some reason the v2 disabled one of the antennas

I'm pretty sure I'll be going with the 1102 as really don't need the extras from the 1103 and will probably want to upgrade to 802.11ac when its out anyways.

Back to the bluetooth usb dongles are cheating . I may have found one of these and sent an email out to the supplier

 

from the pic that looks like a 10 pin connector ... everything I'm finding even on the link is an 8 pin connector. Some stuff is in the way how many pins is it?

 

May have found one they may be discontinued as well so will be an uphill fight

 

I know XOTICPC offers a USB Bluetooth dongle for $29.

It's listed as an option in some notebook customizations that don't have BT on the mainboard or on the stock wireless card.

Also:
Newegg.com - Bluetooth Adapters, Bluetooth USB Adapter, Wireless Bluetooth Adapters

http://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-USB-Micro-Adapter-Dongle/dp/B001EBE1LI

BTW,I returned 3 WNDR3700v1 routers before they sent me a 37AVv2.

 

I have a few dongles those are quick and dirty but not good for permanent use IMO

my wndr3700v1 was bought in sept 2010 and has been reliable since then I think I'm good

 

Found a place that sells the old model like Meaker has with the GTX 570 GPU and the bluetooth chip built in problem solved!