Wireless N-7260card replacement

[Ogden22]

The wireless card in my Cyberpower Xplorer laptop is quite dated and I'm not able to take advantage of newly installed fiber optic cable (constantly getting buffering when I stream online etc.).  I would like to replace it with a newer card that will provide a better and faster and more stable Internet connection.  Can anyone provide a suggestion/link?  Thanks.  The attached photo showscurrent WLAN card what I currently have installed in the laptop.

[AlHill]

You will need to consult with cyberpower regarding compatibilty and wireless integration.

Doc (not an Intel employee or contractor)
[Maybe Windows 12 will be better]

[Ogden22]

Thanks.  They were clueless.

[Ogden22]

This is their response.

Yeah I think I just misunderstood your initial enquiry in that case! This is the wireless module you have right now: NOTEBOOK INTEL WIRELESS-N 7260HMWBN 300MBPS + BT 4.0 MINI PCIE COMBO

I'm afraid I wouldn't know which cards would be compatible if you did want to replace it or if they would even be available given the age of the laptop.

Apologies for any confusion.

Kind Regards,

J.
Customer Support

[salter]

That looks like a mini-PCIe card, a half-height card. You should be able to install any other mini-PCIe card. In Windows 10, Windows Update will normally provide necessary drivers, though you didn't say what OS you're running.

The next step is to find a mini-PCIe card that has better specs than your current one. At some point, that format was superseded by M.2 cards, which would not fit in your laptop. I've seen ads for mini-PCIe cards that support WiFi 6, though they may actually be M.2 cards that fit into an M.2-to-mini-PCIe interface/adapter, and I don't know if that would fit in all laptops.

[Ogden22]

Thanks for your response.   Would something like this be an upgrade?  (I'm using Windows 10)

https://www.amazon.fr/Hopcd-Bluetooth4-2-Gigabit-int%C3%A9gr%C3%A9e-802-11a/dp/B08K37SFRN/ref=sr_1_6?__mk_fr_FR=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=33RSNI1J30ICQ&keywords=mini-PCIe+carte&qid=1668809390&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjY5IiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=mini-pcie+carte%2Caps%2C911&sr=8-6

[Ogden22]

And then there's this one, which is a bit more expensive, but looks more like the one it would replace.

https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B07R8J3ZK5/ref=sspa_dk_detail_6?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07R8J3ZK5&pd_rd_w=Cgc0z&content-id=amzn1.sym.e5d0d07c-2200-4160-9df6-57a715946b24&pf_rd_p=e5d0d07c-2200-4160-9df6-57a715946b24&pf_rd_r=CHQN3NKD7MG06DJBRZ95&pd_rd_wg=F9fRG&pd_rd_r=8fe3c89f-013a-4fe6-9fb5-8860e91c02ac&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdG...

[salter]

The first is a mini-PCIe card, so it should fit in your laptop and work. You'd need to check to see if its specs are enough of an upgrade over your current card.

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@Ogden22 wrote:

And then there's this one, which is a bit more expensive, but looks more like the one it would replace.

---

Yes, I'm sure that second one looks like your current card, since they appear to be the identical model. 

The third one says it is WiFi 6. It says: "Note: Does not support IBM/Thinkpad/Lenovo/HP notebooks." I don't know why that would be, maybe something specific to WiFi 6. I don't have WiFi 6 experience, so I can't comment on that. Like the others that you linked to, it is a mini-PCIe card, so would fit in your laptop. @n_scott_pearson  is knowledgeable about this stuff, so check his comments.

[Ogden22]

Finally, and I promise this is the last, one that supports wifi 6.  But is it compatible with my laptop, that's the question.

https://www.amazon.fr/Bluetooth-MPE-AX3000-double-r%C3%A9seau-Adaptateur/dp/B094VPY48X/ref=psdc_340859031_t2_B07R8J3ZK5

[AlHill]

And that is why cyberpower needs to provide you compatibility information.

Doc (not an Intel employee or contractor)
[Maybe Windows 12 will be better]

[n_scott_pearson]

I have purchased samples of the mpe-ax3000h (Wireless-AX, WiFi 6) and mpe-axe3000h (Wireless AX, WiFi 6e) cards and can report that I have used them successfully in a 8 Series motherboard with a 4th gen Core processor and in a 6 Series motherboard with a 2nd gen Core processor.

Now, two provisos on this success:

1. I was using a M.2 Type E to PCIe x1 adapter card to host these modules. This separates my testing from any nuances that might be introduced in an on-motherboard implementation.
2. I only have Wireless-AX Routers, so have not tested the 6GHz capability of the mpe-axe3000h module - and have no idea about any issues that are the result of no 6GHz activation support that might be in the motherboard's BIOS [Aside: If ICS could source something that completely explains the locale-based band activation/blocking, it would be appreciated.]

Hope the helps,

...S

[Ogden22]

Thanks n scott, this sounds like great advice.  And I think if I had the tech acumen that you have I would be able to understand it and wouldn't have had to post my question in the first place.  It was informative, however, to know that there is such a thing as an M.2 Type E to PCIe x1 adapter card, which may come in handy at some point.

At any rate, I provide here the specs for the Xplorer.  This is my backup laptop that I mostly use for streaming to the TV and I'll probably replace it soon, but I'd like to get another year out of it with upgraded wifi.  I've contacted Cyberpower again and am waiting for a response, but typically all I get out of them is 'would you like to order a new laptop?'

[salter]

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@Ogden22 wrote:

It was informative, however, to know that there is such a thing as an M.2 Type E to PCIe x1 adapter card, which may come in handy at some point.

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I mentioned that in my first reply to you. In other forums I've seen people question whether those adapters would fit in all laptops, as some leave just enough space for the min-PCIe card. I've never used an adapter so I can't advise on that. Clearly they work in some laptops, as @n_scott_pearson indicated.

@Ogden22 wrote:

I've contacted Cyberpower again and am waiting for a response, 

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What would they tell you? They're unlikely to confirm that some card they've never tested would work in that old laptop. Laptop manufacturers publish specifications at time of release, but often we can upgrade things well beyond what they tested, as newer components become available. 

[n_scott_pearson]

Some vendors give their support agents a bonus if they talk you into upgrading, so you'll run into agents who are more interested in doing that than really helping you - not that they are going to do much to help you with a system this old regardless. All of these vendors use the chant: "What have you bought from us lately?". Some of these vendors even run their support groups for profit.

I am becoming such a cynic,

...S

[Ogden22]

Not a cynic, just a realist.  But I've seen worse.  For my most recent laptop purchase, I ordered from PC Specialist.  After customizing the laptop and paying for it, I was given the run around for two months - some part wasn't available, the manufacturer didn't know when it would be, I should accept the next model up for a few hundred additional euros.  I was committed to the laptop and decided not to start the process again elsewhere.  I wrote to PC Specialist and asked for some sort of compensation and what I got was a 20 euro game that I never bothered with.  Cyberpower won't provide the support, it's no big deal.  There are plenty of people on forums like this one who are willing to advise.