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.

    Laptop Wifi Card

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by Riddick70, Jan 28, 2019.

  1. Riddick70

    Riddick70 Newbie

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Hey guys. I have a Toshiba laptop with a Qualcomm Atheros AR956x wifi card. The wifi speed is slow and the card isn't dual band so I can't connect to 5ghz bands. I want to upgrade to an AC card.

    I've read that Intel 7260 or Intel 8260 wifi cards are good upgrades but they're slightly different than the one in my laptop. The notch on my wifi card is slightly to the left. The notch on the Intel cards is right in the center. I'd like to hear your advice on a good compatible card.

    Intel cards look like this. https://www.amazon.com/Intel-Wirele...it/dp/B079QJQF4Y#immersive-view_1548703347550

    My card looks like this. https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.newegg.com/amp/products/14U-00DJ-000C9#ampf=undefined
     
    Riddick70, Jan 28, 2019
    #1
  2. Starlight5

    Starlight5 Yes, I'm a cat. What else is there to say, really?

    Reputations:
    826
    Messages:
    3,230
    Likes Received:
    1,643
    Trophy Points:
    231
    @Riddick70 please make a photo of your laptop's WLAN slot.
     
    Starlight5, Jan 29, 2019
    #2
    Riddick70 likes this.
  3. Riddick70

    Riddick70 Newbie

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Hi, Starlight5. Here's a picture.
    [​IMG]
     
    Riddick70, Jan 29, 2019
    #3
    Starlight5 likes this.
  4. Starlight5

    Starlight5 Yes, I'm a cat. What else is there to say, really?

    Reputations:
    826
    Messages:
    3,230
    Likes Received:
    1,643
    Trophy Points:
    231
    @Riddick70 you can use 9260 or similar cards just fine; 9260 would be my recommendation, it is the best WLAN card at the moment and is going reasonably cheap (at least on Ebay).
     
    Starlight5, Jan 29, 2019
    #4
    Dennismungai, Vasudev, Riddick70 and 1 other person like this.
  5. Riddick70

    Riddick70 Newbie

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Thank you. I'll order one and will update when I receive it.

    Edit: I just happened to find it for a couple dollars less on Amazon with prime shipping.
    Intel Wireless-Ac 9260, 2230, 2X2 Ac+Bt, Gigabit, No Vpro https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079QH5KW1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_GTiuCbJ4F51MA
     
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2019
    Riddick70, Jan 29, 2019
    #5
    Starlight5 likes this.
  6. WhatsThePoint

    WhatsThePoint Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    3,338
    Messages:
    3,322
    Likes Received:
    809
    Trophy Points:
    181
    As mentioned you can use an Intel 9260 or you can also use a Killer 1550 that is the same card as the 9260 but with some added software if you care to use it.
    To get full advantage of the 9260/K1550 you should have it connect to a router that supports HT160 but other AC routers can get a theoretical data rate of 866.7 Mbps.

    Also know that an Intel AX200 wireless ax card is going to be available within the next couple of months that will be backward compatible with AC routers.

    Windows 10 x64 is an upgrade requirement to use the 9260 if you are not using it now.
     
    WhatsThePoint, Jan 29, 2019
    #6
    Vasudev, Riddick70 and Starlight5 like this.
  7. Riddick70

    Riddick70 Newbie

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Thanks for the info, What'sThePoint. I think I'll be okay with the 9260. This is a pretty basic laptop but the download speeds are noticeably slower than any other computer/smart phone in the house. It also doesn't detect 5ghz bands (single band card) and the the range isn't very good on 2.4 ghz, which is why I want to upgrade the card.
     
    Last edited: Jan 31, 2019
    Riddick70, Jan 29, 2019
    #7
  8. Riddick70

    Riddick70 Newbie

    Reputations:
    5
    Messages:
    8
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    6
    I received the Intel 9260 wifi card today and it works perfectly after installing the driver. It's giving me full download speeds connected to the 5ghz band. :) Thank You, Starlight5 and WhatsThePoint.

    For future reference, The laptop is a Toshiba Satellite C55-B5270.
    Intel Pentium N3530
    8gb RAM

    The upgrades are a 240gb Kingston SSD
    HDD DVD Adapter/Caddy for the OEM 500gb HDD
    and Intel 9260 Wifi card

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Riddick70, Jan 31, 2019
    #8
    Charles P. Jefferies, Vasudev, WhatsThePoint and 1 other person like this.
  9. WhatsThePoint

    WhatsThePoint Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    3,338
    Messages:
    3,322
    Likes Received:
    809
    Trophy Points:
    181
    Ultra Male has posted download links to the newest Intel ProSet drivers for the Wireless 9260/K1550 and Intel Bluetooth
    You can find them in the Killer 1550 review thread post #425
    I suggest updating to these drivers
     
    WhatsThePoint, Feb 5, 2019
    #9