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Why does my USB Wireless Adapter work better than my PCIe adapter?

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  • Wireless Networking
Last response: in Wireless Networking
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March 12, 2013 3:25:34 PM

Hey guys, I'm having some issues with my USB Adapter consistently performing better than my internal PCIe card. Testing with speedtest.net I get between 10 and 16 Mbps on my USB adapter, but only between 1 and 5 with my internal. Also, I believe the USB dongle is so old that you cannot even purchase it (online or otherwise) anymore.
USB Adapter: Belkin N Wireless F5D8053v4
PCIe Adapter: Rosewill N900PCE

I simply do not understand. It has always been my understanding that internal adapters were better than USB. It was even more expensive! Please help me out.

Additional Info:
My operating system is Windows 7.
I have the latest drivers for both adapters installed.
My ISP provider is Comcast.

More about : usb wireless adapter work pcie adapter

March 13, 2013 7:12:39 AM

Internal adapters are only "better" in that they can have larger and more antenna. Many times the chips doing the work are exactly the same. In your case the chips are different which in itself may be the cause. Your internal board uses atheros and your usb uses ralink.

I would suspect the most common cause is that your pci card is having the signal blocked more than the USB. This is the key issue with PCI cards. They sit so close to the metal case that they only get signal out toward the back and if you stick it against a wall its worse. Many times people plug the USB in the front or sides of the machines.

There is no way to tell for sure way too many difference to tell for sure. Only thing that would be fixable is if for some reason the pci card was negotiating 802.11b/g rather than running n. I would force the router to run N-only and see what happens.
March 13, 2013 4:20:24 PM

bill001g said:
Internal adapters are only "better" in that they can have larger and more antenna. Many times the chips doing the work are exactly the same. In your case the chips are different which in itself may be the cause. Your internal board uses atheros and your usb uses ralink.

I would suspect the most common cause is that your pci card is having the signal blocked more than the USB. This is the key issue with PCI cards. They sit so close to the metal case that they only get signal out toward the back and if you stick it against a wall its worse. Many times people plug the USB in the front or sides of the machines.

There is no way to tell for sure way too many difference to tell for sure. Only thing that would be fixable is if for some reason the pci card was negotiating 802.11b/g rather than running n. I would force the router to run N-only and see what happens.


How exactly do I do that?
Also, my router is a Belkin. Does the USB Adapter work better because it is a Belkin, too?
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March 14, 2013 6:47:19 AM

Setting the router to N only is a option someplace in the wireless settings. It is a simple checkbox I think I have not used belkin for a long time.

Unlikely it matters that the USB and router are the same brand. Belkin like every other vendor buys chip from either atheros or broadcom or ralink.

Wireless is still partially luck to get working, there are many many variables that are dependent on a persons house and things in the house. That is why you see reviews of the same equipment with some people saying it works great and other saying it does not work at all.
March 14, 2013 7:04:03 AM

Do certain chips work better than others? I might have to check into getting a PCIe card that uses ralink.
March 14, 2013 7:10:50 AM

I would bet there are differences but you would have to study some very technical specifications to tell the differences. You generally have a CPU chip and one or two radio chips.
March 14, 2013 2:01:18 PM

bill001g said:
I would bet there are differences but you would have to study some very technical specifications to tell the differences. You generally have a CPU chip and one or two radio chips.


Is there any clear-cut difference in performance between the different chip types? I just don't get how such an old USB adapter completely outclasses this ~$40 dollar internal adapter.
March 15, 2013 4:50:37 AM

This is like asking if intel is better than AMD. Cost means nothing really and internal adapters always being better is old information based on the theory that USB was slow. I still suspect it the computer case blocking the signal somehow.
October 24, 2013 3:13:18 PM

Haha, I have a Belkin PCIe and a Rosewill USB adapter, and the USB one is better also, so maybe don't worry about the brands like dude ^ said. How much ypu pay doesn't mean anything. I have acutally bought the exact same parts on a usb 3.0 pcie card that was $20 and another that was $70.
!