Replacing wireless card in Samsung R580

Any tips on how to open my Samsung R580 laptop up and replace the internal wireless card? I tried to find a partial disassembly manual on the Samsung website but couldn't.

I want to replace my wireless card with one that is widi compatible. I'm not experienced at all in doing this kind of thing so hopefully it's not too difficult. Thanks.

 

Maybe you should be looking at Serviio before you do anything, if you don't already know about it.

 

Thanks but that won't work for me. I want to be able to see everything on my laptop screen on my tv screen. This includes like when I'm running excel, I want to see it on the screen or the internet.

 

I'm not 100% on this but to the best of my knowledge the Samsung R580 has a Atheros Wi-Fi card and you'd need an Intel card to use widi, seeing widi is an Intel software. Maybe someone else can confirm or deny this.

 

Yes, that is correct. That is why I need to replace my wireless card. But I'm not sure if this is even possible or how to do it. I watched a video on youtube showing how to open a Samsung R520 (which looked similar to my R580) but I couldn't even see a wireless card in that video.

Are wireless cards easy to spot and remove on Samsung R580s? I assume it's not in the HDD or memory panels so have to go internal somewhere.

 

The cards are easy to find on most laptops, how you'd find yours is unknown to me and they are easy to replace or remove. Try Youtube there are many Samsung dismantle vids there, if you're lucky you'll find one for the R580 or a close model match.

This Samsung R580 112BNHMW WiFi Wireless Network Card Original Laptop Tested could be useful to you.

 

Thanks. I couldnt find any YouTube videos on it for Samsung models similar to mine. But I'll give it a shot.

 

First I would remove the cover for the RAM. Sometimes the WiFi card is in the same compartment and is easily accessible.

If you can't see the WiFi card then you will have to do further disassembly. This video may be a useful guide.

John

 

Thanks John.

Bad news. I realize my video card is a nvidia geoforce card and widi only works with Intel HD graphics video cards. I assume I can't replace my video card - right?

Guess I'll need a new laptop. Shame. Thanks anyway though.

 

Is the graphics Nvidia only or using Optimus to switch between Intel or Nvidia according to need? If the latter there's a chance that WiDi can be made to work. However, I don't know more given that I avoid discrete graphics and haven't tried WiDi.

John

 

Your assumption is right, even though my wasn't, I had this information shortly after viewing your post, but seeing that your R580 has the 330m Processor I thought it was also have switchable graphics or both discrete graphics & Intel HD graphics, because most laptops made since the (i) series of processors are switchable graphics. :confused2:

This may or may not interest you, but I also looked strongly into WiDi and there was only one TV with the built-in capability to receive WiDi at the time I went to the store (about 6 weeks ago) LG's 2012 TV range, but you could get it to work on other HDMI or Composite video connected TV's as long as you buy an adapter, about $100.

But you could get the same effect more or less by hooking your laptop up with a cable to your TV and and buying a $50 wireless keyboard and mouse, just my 2 cent worth.

 

I don't really understand why a non-intel video card shouldn't work, especially when I think my card is more powerful than some intel cards. You'd think it'd be the communications and CPU that matter, not video card if the card has enough power usually to handle blu-ray. Intel website does say intel card required though.

I was planning to get an adapter for my tv. The keyboard idea is a good one but I take my laptop everywhere so don't want to have to plug/unplug is all the time which I would still have to if I hooked a cable up to my tv.

Thanks for all your help guys. Was worth discussing since it could have saved me a lot of money. Guess I'll be getting a new laptop or going without wireless.