Need a good wireless card for Desktop PC

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Danger_Noodle

Danger_Noodle

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Aug 15, 2015
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Okay so I know the general rule of thumb is to use a hardline when gaming on your desktop PC. I'm a firm believer in this as well. However, I recently moved into a place that has only 1 ISP and my options are super limited as far as what I can do. It's looking like a hard line will cost me a lot of money whereas a wireless card would be a 1 time purchase and that will be the end of it. I'm making peace with the fact that, for while I'm here, my Overwatch and online gaming days are essentially over as the connection is only 30mbps anyways. However, I need at least internet access for browsing and downloading so a Wireless card will save me hundreds per month. So I'm looking for one with a decent boost to reach the Wifi downstairs so I can at least download single player games off steam. I bought a card previously that wound up being completely incompatible and I had to RMA it which is why I'm asking first this time.

My system is Windows 10 home.
Asus Sabertooth Mark S z97
GTX 980ti
16GB DDR3 RAM
I7 4790k

Budget, anything under $200.

Thanks guys.
 
Solution
Hlsgsz
I would try first for a couple of powerline adapters if the pub is literally one floor down and they will allow you to do this.
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Wolfshadw

Wolfshadw

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Aug 3, 2006
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Need more details about your new living situation.

Your ISP does not care about how you connect. WiFi or Ethernet (wired) doesn't matter to them. Internet access will cost the same.

Now if you're talking about a public/semi-private WiFi hotspot as apposed to your own Ethernet connection (requiring your own modem and ISP bill), then yeah. A decent WiFi card would be in order, but which one would depend on the available WiFi network protocol you're trying to connect to (Wireless A, B, C, N, or AC). Check with your provider to find out.

-Wolf sends
 
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Danger_Noodle

Danger_Noodle

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Basically the latter. The pub downstairs told us we can use their Wi-Fi all we want. The speed is the same 30mbps as what would cost me $150 a month, plus signing a contract for a year. The ISP is not good, but they have a monopoly on the area. So a good wireless card would save me $$$ until I move in a couple of years.
 
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Wolfshadw

Wolfshadw

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OK. In reality, the "best" card isn't going to make a difference because you're sharing the bandwidth with everyone else who is using the pub's WiFi. All you really need is one that can maintain a connection and that depends a lot on the building infrastructure and any additional interference you may run into. I would probably recommend starting out cheap and going from there, but in reality, if a low cost, but quality card doesn't work for you, then it's unlikely that a high cost named-branded card would do you any better.

I probably wouldn't spend more than something like this TP-LINK TL-WN881ND to see if it worked. If it does, great. If not, you may need to look into something other than WiFi (MoCA/PowerLine).

-Wolf sends
 
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Danger_Noodle

Danger_Noodle

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Okay I'll see about the powerline adapter first.

I did buy a wireless card a year or so ago that looked similar to that one listed, yet every time I installed the driver software for it to function it actually completely wrecked my entire system causing me to have to reboot to a system state before the software was installed. So I'm willing to try that wireless card, but the reason I thought price might be a factor is because some wireless cards seem to be completely incompatible with modern hardware. I remember the box of the one I bought said 'Windows 8 compatible' but apparently that was only partially so. The brand was an Asus though, so TP Link might be better. I'm not sure.

Also, the pub doesn't get a lot of traffic. It's a small town and because it's actually a microbrewery it's only open for 4 hours 6 days a week. So 90% of the time we are the only ones even using it.
 
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Hlsgsz

Hlsgsz

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Feb 29, 2016
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Even better. See if you can convince them wiht the powerline. Provided you have a bit of luck and teh wiring is good, you will also be able to game well as that doesn't have the latency of wireless. You said you are talking about a couple of years, right? :)
 
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Danger_Noodle

Danger_Noodle

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Yeah, It'll probably be a least a few years. We moved up here to NE Montana because I got a good job in the area. We may move after a couple of years but my all expenses paid apartment is pretty nice so I don't know if we will want to move out after a year or so. Like I said I DON'T have to pay for internet access or anything else for that matter so I'm gonna try the powerline thing, but I have to be understanding if they think it's too much trouble at all. So I would like to know a decent Wi-Fi adapter that would be compatible in case of backup. The newer Asus models don't look too bad, but I also don't know how I feel about their networking tools after my last experience where it literally broke my PC.

But like I said, I love Overwatch and stuff, but mostly this connection is for browsing, work, and downloading from steam. I'm mostly a big RPG guy and spend a lot of time playing those. So if I have to settle for subpar speeds I will live.
 
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