CF-31 - can I upgrade to M.2 Intel AX200NGW Wireless Card, Wi-Fi 6 11AX WiFi Module?

There are now 2 modules that can be purchased that support WiFi 6.
They are M.2 modules.

can anyone tell me if a Core i5 CF-31 would support one of these please?

https://hothardware.com/reviews/killer-wi-fi-6-ax1650-review

Intel AX200NGW Wireless Card, Wi-Fi 6 11AX WiFi Module

 

You can try it in a mk5 or later. Let us know if it works.

 

Hi Steve, thanks for the info, unfortunately mine is a Mk4 - do you know the reason why it won't work with a Mk4?
Thanks, Mark.

 

The mk1-4 has a different pci interface than the mk5 and later.
The mk1-4 takes a 2 screw WiFi card & mk5 and up takes the 1 screw WiFi cards.

 

OK thanks, saved me from finding that out as I opened it up.
Shame, I have a need for high speed internet with the laptop waterproof, will have to see how far I can go with WiFi 5 and below.
I can ensure the laptop and access point are very close, within 6 feet, it is an outdoor application.

Thanks again for taking the time to enlighten me.
My CF31 Mk4 has a Intel dual band wireless-ac 8265 in it.
Regards, Mark

 

I think your MK4 is MK6 in fact

 

OK, might be worth popping the bottom cover and see what I actually have inside, rather than an internet search, unless I can determine the Mk number for example via the exact processor model?

 

OK, so my excuse is that it is nearly midnight here in the UK.
Of course it helps if you are using Device Manager to check the network device on the right computer.

On my CF-31, the network adapter is an Intel Centrino Advance-N 6235. I've popped the bottom cover and confirmed that I have the two screw version.

It's been a long day. I'll leave it there!

However, if there is a two screw network card upgrade that would increase throughput please let me know, I'd be really grateful.

Regards, Mark (getting my coat...)

 

There is MC8305 WWAN module on your photo, not Wi-Fi.
Your max is Intel AC 7260 mini pci-e.
You will definitely loose bluetooth functionality if you upgrade.

 

You can always post your model number. Or reboot go into bios and on the main page it will say bios version. What ever the bios version starts with is your mk number.
The mk3 and 4 used the 6235 WiFi card.

 

I don't think it will work, my CF-20 is newer and it wasn't compatible with AX200(did not appear in bios).

 

Good to know, did it sow up in the OS?

 

I do not have the card anymore so i cannot confirm, it seems that there is some kind of whitelist built in these computers.

 

That's correct. There is a white list. In newer models it is a little bit more complicated to fix the BIOS but it works. I modded the FZ-G1 and CF-31 and added the AX200 and I can see both the WiFi and Bluetooth in the BIOS and also in Linux. You will need to dump the BIOS extract the modules and search for the old strings and replace them with the new ones from your AX200.

 

Could you direct me to somewhere that would explain how I can do this to enable a intel dual band AC3160?