CNVio2 and Wi-Fi 6E

[BHarr8]

I'm looking for some clarification on Wi-Fi 6E when it comes to Intel wireless cards.

For the Wi-Fi 6 generation Intel produced the AX200 (for PCIe) and the AX201 (for CNVio2).

For the Wi-Fi 6E generation I am seeing (and already using) the AX210 (for PCIe) but there does not seem to be any CNVio2 cards for Wi-Fi 6E.

Will Intel be producing Wi-Fi 6E cards for their CNVio2 interface?

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/series/189434/intel-wi-fi-6-series.html

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/series/204838/intel-wi-fi-6e-gig-series.html

[Alberto_Sykes]

BHarr8, Thank you for posting in the Intel® Communities Support.

In reference to your question, for us to be able to provide the most accurate assistance on this matter, we will do further research, as soon as I get any updates I will post all the details on this thread.

Regards,

Albert R.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Alberto_Sykes]

Hello BHarr8, I Just received an update on this matter.

At the moment Intel® just released the Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210 and just works with Wi-Fi(PCIe), BT(USB). At this point, there is no information confirming if the new Intel® WiFi 6E cards will support the CNVio2 interface. 

For unreleased product information, please visit our Newsroom for the most recent announcements and news releases:

https://newsroom.intel.com/

Regards,

Albert R.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Saltgrass]

I am looking for the same thing and see no information regarding the timeline for the AX211, but I do see it mentioned.

I am in the Windows Insider program but my motherboard currently has an AX201 (CNVio) which is not 6e.  I tried substituting a AX210 (PCIe) but the system could not see it.  So no Wi-Fi 6e until Intel gets moving..

I just had a thought I might be able to get some type of an adapter for an AX210 which would work in a PCIe slot and just disable the onboard Wireless.  So I might try that..

[n_scott_pearson]

AX201 is CNVio2. You cannot install a non-CNVio adapter (like AX200, AX210) into a CNVio/CNVio2-supporting M.2 connector.

Just saying,

...S

[Saltgrass]

@n_scott_pearson , the point is we need the AX211 but I believe it depends on the chipset as to what you can do.  I noticed yesterday my Z490 chipset does not seem to have a PCIe Wi-Fi option where some do.

The Z590 chipset has both..  If @BHarr8 had a system that was compatible and had access to change the card, that may be a possibility..

Thanks for the response..

[BHarr8]

I have several AX210 cards installed in systems all the way down to 8th gen. That is what happens when you go with industry standards.

The fiasco with CNVio VS. CNVio2 and the lack of a wifi 6e CNVio2 card is what you get with proprietary standards.

I would be willing to bet that 10th and 11th gen laptops are coming with AX201 cards because on a structural level the 10th and 11th gen CPUs cannot support wifi 6e through CNVio2.

By contrast literally anything with a industry standard wifi port using PCIe can use any of Intel's PCIe wifi cards.

This is a newegg search for 11th gen laptops with AX201 cards:

https://www.newegg.com/p/pl?N=100006740%20601385151%20601357211%20601357212%20601357214&SrchInDesc=AX201

0% of these can be upgraded to AX210, that is 8 pages of results.

Here is the same search filtered to AX210:

https://www.newegg.com/p/pl?N=100006740%20601385151%20601357211%20601357212%20601357214&SrchInDesc=AX210

1 result and I think that 1 is a mistake, I don't that that is an AX210.

Here is the same search filtered for AX200:

https://www.newegg.com/p/pl?N=100006740%20601385151%20601357211%20601357212%20601357214&SrchInDesc=AX200

These can be upgraded to AX210, not exactly a huge selection.

The moral of the story is that if you have an AX201 Intel device right now and want wifi 6e, just toss it in a landfill and buy a 12th gen device when it comes out. You know those will have it on day 1.

[Eugene1956]

CNVIO2 uses Intel CPU features, I know. Will AX201 work with any CPU of 10th generation - Celeron also? I have problems with Asus ROG STRIX Z490-I GAMING. It is supplied initially with AX201 WiFi module, but doesn't recognize it. CPU is Celeron G5905. I tried another AX201 module, tested - again no recognition. Is it necessary to buy I3-10100 to use this module?

[Eugene1956]

You are wrong - sometimes it works. I have bought Huananzhi H610M PLUS MB with I3-12100F CPU. MB has M.2 WiFi slot NGFF/CNVio2. I tried Intel 7265 (non-CNVio) and AX201 modules - both worked fine. But  Asus ROG STRIX Z490-I GAMING really hangs with 7265 - that is true. 

[Vegan]

CNVi surfaced with Intel Coffee Lake 9th gen machines. I have a Dell Precision 5540 and Dell supports recent Intel WiFi offerings.

Having said that the old PCIe and USB approach has been fine and I have seen the AX200 in M.2 2230 form for older machines. Intel has cards that work but check with your vendor for support

[BHarr8]

This thread is about CNVio VS CNVio2, which had no documented support differentiation at the time. Whatever Intel changed created a dead end for all CNVio systems while conventional PCIe based slots have far more extensive support.

It looks like Intel created the CNVio standard and then almost immediately abandoned it on a physical hardware level. It has yet to be seen if the CNVio2 standard will see a longer support cycle.

Related to this, I did test install an AX411 card into a CNVio2 slot that supported AX201 and it worked without issue.

[Saltgrass]

I just installed an AX411 on my ASUS Z790 motherboard.  I was wondering if anyone could confirm the double connect ability

Below is an attachment from Windows 11.  My Router has three available Wifi networks, which show as Wi-Fi 7,8 and 10.  The Wi-Fi 10 network shows no Link speed, but the other two do.  Does this verify the Double Connect ability?