Dell Inspiron 17R SE - upgrading Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2230 to 6235

[idata]

Hi,

I have got the WI-FI card Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2230 installed in my laptop Dell Inspiron 17R SE 7720.

Unfortunately this WI-FI card does not support 5GHz frequency.

I plan to buy Intel Centrino Wireless-N 6235 and replace by it the previous card in this laptop. The laptop has built two antennas (needed by Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2230).

Should it support Intel Centrino Wireless-N 6235?

From both product specification card sizes are almost identical. And basically the only difference I see is this functionality of supporting 5GHz networks (and because of it, support for the 802.11a standard).

Do you know are there any other requirements for Intel Centrino Wireless-N 6235?

I have tried to contact with Dell support, but they have not tested this card yet. As far as I know there are no BIOS restrictions for replacing WI-FI card in this laptop,

Thank you for help.

[idata · Accepted solution]

Thank you for your post Thom.

Note that Intel does not support the installation of wireless adapters in OEM systems. More info is available at http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/sb/CS-011644.htm http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/sb/CS-011644.htm.

Also there are many reasons that an adapter might fail completely or partially when installed in an OEM system. Take a look at http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/sb/CS-031167.htm http://www.intel.com/support/wireless/wlan/sb/CS-031167.htm.

The problem with this is that since these wireless adapters are designed to be installed only by the laptop manufacturer, there is no warranty or integration support on these products, it would be best to find out from Dell which 5GHz wireless card they can recommend. I they haven't tested the 6230 they may have tested other 5GHz cards.

[idata]

Did you ever try upgrading the wireless card in your Inspiron 17R SE? I just bought the same laptop and am wanting to upgrade the wifi as well.

[SSapp]

I wonder that nobody in these world never ever try to upgrade their wifi card to the new hardware ?

I want to upgrade too. but I couldn't find the answer too.

Since it's centrino maybe Intel lock in the mainboard chipset.

[idata]

I bought the Centrino N-6235 as an upgrade for the Centrino 2230 in my Inspiron 17R SE.

Installing the card was a snap although I was briefly unsure how to connect the 2 antennas.

Windows 7 didn't detect the drivers right away for the card, so I had to download the Intel PROSet/Wireless Bluetooth Software for Windows 7 from the Intel Download Center.

Everything is working now, and I can connect to both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks!

[idata]

I bought Intel Centrino N-6235 Advanced as well for upgrade for the Intel Centrino 2230 installed in my Inspiron 17R SE.

Everything works fine, no problems with mounting the new one.

WiFI 2.4GHz, 5GHz and Bluetooth 4.0 works fine, no problems at all.

[TMobi]

Thanks Thom and Merudo,

I also replaced my 2230 for the Intel Centrino N-6235 in our new Dell 17R. Everything works fine.

It was the first time I opened a laptop so I found it a bit tricky. After watching some YouTube movies I tried it. The wifi card is below the keyboard. I removed all screws from the back, also in the battery compartment and behind the lid. Just not the harddisk screws. Then I carefully lifted the keyboard using a screwdriver in the slits at the top. This was the most tricky, it got it loose on the top right and then pulled it while sequentially from right to left unlocking the locking mechanisms with a screwdriver in the slits with a levering top-down movement. After turning the keyboard its connector could be removed after flipping the grey locking bar open upward. Now the wifi card was reached. Finally removing the antenna connectors by careful upward lifting with a screwdriver and one more screw. Then reverse the procedure after replacing the wifi card. Make sure you ground yourself and have your data backed up.

Hopefully this is helpful for you!

[MW5]

Hi guys

I have the same problem with mine. Used to start at 300Mbps, then drop to 54 Mbps. Also dropped out completely intermittently. Now it only ever gets as high as 54Mbps, sometimes as low as 4Mbps. All other services wired and wireless on the router are rock solid at high speeds. Did anyone also notice your Ethernet dropping out intermittently?

The 17R is still under warranty and the Dell service people are calling tomorrow. Thinking of getting them to procure a n6235 and install that rather than just replacing the n2230 and then having the same problems again later on.

Excuse my ignorance, but does the 'dual stream' mode of the 6235 allow for concurrent connection on 5 and 2.4GHz?

When you replaced the 2230 with the 6235 in the Dell 17R SE, did you buy the low profile card or just the standard one? Intel shows 6235ANHMW as standard and 6235ANHMWLPG as the low profile version.

It would be much appreciated if you could tell me the part number for the card that worked in your 17R SE.

Thanks and best regards,

Mark