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Need To Add Wifi To My PC - USB or PCI Adapter?

Tags:
  • WiFi
  • PCI
  • USB
  • Wireless Networking
Last response: in Wireless Networking
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December 5, 2012 2:40:10 PM

Hello All!

I need to add Wifi to my PC and I have been looking at what's available. I have found some adapters that connect via USB and others that are PCI. I am wondering, which option is better?

I have enough USB ports so that's not a problem. It seems as though the USB option might be better because the antenna sits on top of my PC and would allow me to move it around whereas the PCI option puts the antenna(s) at the back lower to the ground (and possibly succeptable to more interference?).

Also, I noticed that there are some motherboards out there (specifically the Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD5H-WB WIFI) that support WiFi. It seems, however, that this just means that they include a wifi card with the motherboard. Is that really the difference between a Wifi motherboard and a non-wifi? Or is there something built into the hardware that makes it better for Wifi?

Thanks!

More about : add wifi usb pci adapter

December 5, 2012 5:08:05 PM


Hello and welcome to Tom's Hardware Forums.

As you've noted, the aerials on a PCI card are low to the ground and have to fight their way around the tin box of your computer to pick up a signal. A wireless dongle will work in a laptop after your PC dies. There's also the possibility of confusing PCI with PCIe and buying the wrong card.

All round it seems better and far cheaper to buy a wireless dongle.

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