Best pcie wifi cards on the market 【2020】?
Table of contents:
- What is a PCIe WiFi card
- Advantages of having a WiFi card
- Current standards: WiFi 6 the best
- What do we need to take advantage of Wi-Fi 6
- Keys before buying a WiFi card
- Interface type and compatibility
- Total bandwidth and frequency bands
- Coverage and antennas of the Wifi cards you can buy
- Best Wifi cards
- Asus PCE-AX3000
- ASUS PCE-AC88
- Hommie 1733Mbps 5GHz / 2.4GHz Dual Band PCI-E
- ASUS PCE-AC51
- Killer WiFi 6 AX1650
- Intel 9260NGW
- Conclusions about Wifi PCI Express cards
Having a fast computer to work and play is as important as having a network with high bandwidth. In this article we wanted to collect the best PCIe and M.2 WiFi cards on the market for this 2020. If you want we have the latest in connectivity with Wi-Fi 6 what you will see here is what is currently available.
In addition, we analyze the main advantages of having a WiFi card as well as everything that involves the new 802.11ax standard and the differences with Wi-Fi 5. We hope that with this article your doubts are well resolved.
Index of contents
What is a PCIe WiFi card
As you know, the world of the Internet, the network of networks, can be accessed in different ways, and one of them is through WiFi. When we have a PC, the normal thing will be to connect by cable to our router or through the wireless network, which is what interests us. The third would of course be mobile connectivity, that is, 3G, 4G and now 5G.
To make a network connection you always need a server and a client, while the router will be the server and the gateway that gives us access to the Internet, the client will be the one that requests and consumes the services. We do this through a network card. There are them for wired or Wi-Fi connection, although we almost never see them because they are directly integrated into the motherboard of our equipment.
A WiFi PCIe card is one that we find normally available as a separate card, the one that will connect to the expansion slots of our equipment. Although we have a desktop PC, there are WiFi cards to provide them with a wireless connection. In this way, in addition to saving us a cable, we can also move the router or our desktop wherever we want without problem.
Actually, a WiFi card will always be PCIe, not only the external ones, but also those that connect to M.2 slots in our PC, since the communication protocol remains the same. Likewise, the chips installed directly on the board also use the PCIe rails of our computer.
Advantages of having a WiFi card
You will think that it is foolish to have a WiFi card in a desktop PC, or even in a laptop that a priori already has wireless and Bluetooth connection, but nothing is further from reality.
With one of these, we will be able to give mobility to our desktop computer. Isn't it boring to always be sitting in the same place because of the cable connection? The biggest nuisance of a desktop PC is the amount of cables we have in between. If we take one off, welcome be.
In this way we can move our router from place if at any time we need that space or the coverage does not cover our entire house. In this way we will be independent and we will improve coverage just by moving the router to another room.
But the most important advantage with current WiFi cards is that they provide us with an even higher bandwidth than the Ethernet cable gives us. Of course, for this we will need a powerful router.
With WiFi we will not have any problem with the shared resources between computers, since ultimately LAN and WLAN will be the same internal network.
Current standards: WiFi 6 the best
Currently the main novelty in this regard is the new IEEE 802.11ax standard, also officially called WiFi 6. This standard can be considered an upgrade of wireless connectivity in every way, as it increases its speed, efficiency, latency, coverage and the ability to connect users to the same network.
One of the advantages of WiFi 6 is that it works in the two main bands, at least in Europe, that is, in 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz. This was not currently the case, since 802.11ac was used for 5 GHz and 802.11n for 2.4 GHz. The bandwidth in both cases increases to twice the capacity, making possible 4 × 4 connections (with four antennas) in both frequencies.
The differences between the two frequencies lie in coverage and speed: while 5 GHz offers much greater bandwidth as it is a shorter frequency, they have less coverage if they meet walls. Meanwhile, 2.4 GHz has a higher wave amplitude and passes more easily through objects, but its speed is lower. WiFi 6 improves these two aspects in each and doubles the amount of information that can travel through them by increasing the carrier frequency to 160 MHz and modulation to 1024-QAM compared to 256-QAM from the previous standard.
Along with this we have a reduction of latency to own values of wired connections, being ideal for watching 4K and 8K content through WiFi and without cuts. MU-MIMO technology improves multi-user transfer using multiple antennas, while the new OFDMA technology enables data with multiple antennas to be transmitted to multiple users at the same time by separating information on different carriers. This means that the capacity to support clients is multiplied several times without the bandwidth of each user being affected as negatively as in Wi-Fi 5.
Here we provide you with a table with the differences between the current standards:
As you can see the difference is completely abysmal especially with Wi-Fi 4. We must bear in mind that WiFi 5 does not operate over 2.4 GHz so the speeds of this band are WiFi 6 it will be very slow.
In any case, it should be said that WiFi 5 is also a very fast standard and is the one that absolutely all routers implement it today.
What do we need to take advantage of Wi-Fi 6
Well, an essential element to make use of the appropriate WiFi connection is the router, and a compatible operating system and PC, although the latter is practically assured at present as long as the slot is compatible with the CNVi protocol.
In order to use all the bandwidth provided by a wireless standard, we need a router that also operates on it. For example, if we are going to buy a WiFi 6 card, then the router must be WiFi 6.
Backward compatibility in computing is a wonderful thing, as a newer protocol automatically supports all of the older ones. This means that if we have a WiFi 6 router, we will be able to use a WiFi PCIe WiFi 5 and WiFi 4 network card. Obviously, the bandwidth will be limited to the oldest standard.
Finally, know that all WiFi cards have Bluetooth integrated in versions 4.2 for the most discreet and 5.0 LE for the best.
Keys before buying a WiFi card
Finally and before looking at our list of WiFi PCIe card, we are going to define the keys that a user must take into account before buying one of these cards.
Interface type and compatibility
The first and most important will be the interface on which the network card will be connected. In current equipment we have two ways to connect it, through normal and ordinary PCIe expansion slots and through M.2 slot.
In the first case we will only have the possibility of connection in a desktop computer, since laptops and MiniPCs do not have this type of expansion slots on the motherboard.
In the case of the M.2 slot we will find it currently in most motherboards and computers. For example, in a laptop this slot is practically implemented in all computers except the thinnest ones because it has the chip directly integrated into the board. In a laptop it is common to find the network card over an M.2 slot, so it will be interchangeable with a more powerful one. It is important that this is compatible with CNVi.
The same is true for desktop boards. Those with WiFi installed have a card installed just behind or inside the rear port panel.
So we must look at the specifications of each equipment in question to identify if we have any of these possibilities. For compatibility we should not worry too much, since current WiFi 5 and WiFi 6 boards are always compatible unless the specifications say otherwise.
Total bandwidth and frequency bands
There are not too many options on the market either, and this greatly facilitates the choice of card and its purchase. We must always make sure that it operates on both frequencies, that is, at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz in order to obtain maximum versatility.
The bandwidth of a PCIe WiFi card will normally be:
- 2.4 Gbps / 5 GHz and 574 Mbps / 2.4 GHz on WiFi 6 supporting 2 × 21.73 Gbps / 5 GHz connections and 533 Mbps / 2.4 GHz on WiFi 5 supporting 2 × 22.17 Gbps / 5 connections GHz and 1000 Mbps / 2.4 GHz in WiFi 5 supporting 4 × 4 connections
This is the current capacity of the cards, and as we see there are no WiFi 6 4 × 4 clients yet, we hope they arrive soon.
Coverage and antennas of the Wifi cards you can buy
The length of the antennas and their physical presence influences the coverage of the card. Most of them offer external extension antennas to take them out of the equipment and thus extend their range. Obviously this is not possible on laptop cards.
When we say that a connection is 2 × 2, it means that two antennas transmit and receive simultaneously. 4 × 4 will mean that there are 4 and 1 × 1 that there is only one.
Best Wifi cards
If more to say, we leave you with the list of WiFi PCIe and M.2 cards that we consider to be of better quality
Cudy AX3000 WiFi 6
- AX200 WiFi 6 chipset inside. In combination with the AX200 Wi-Fi 6 module, this PCIe WiFi 6 card offers faster and clearer Wi-Fi to fully unlock the potential of your Wi-Fi 6 router. 2.4GHz provides 574Mbps of maximum speed and extremely long range, 5GHz It reaches 2402Mbps maximum speed, ideal for gaming and 4K streaming. Full compatibility for 802.11ax / ac / a / b / g / n routers.Bluetooth 5.0 technology. The WE3000 PCIe Bluetooth adapter is compatible with the latest Bluetooth 5.0 technology, achieving a speed 2o faster and coverage 4o wider than Bluetooth 4.2, also compatible with Bluetooth 4.0. Full compatibility for Bluetooth 5.0 / 4.2 / 4.0 devices. WPA3 Advanced security. The latest security enhancements: WPA3 provides more secure and individualized encryption for personal password security, protecting your network from wireless hacking. Faster, smoother and wider. 1024-QAM and a 160 MHz bandwidth offer a continuous and powerful Wi-Fi signal, achieving speeds 3o faster than standard AC Wi-Fi. OFDMA technology reduces delay by up to 75%, ensures ultra-responsive real-time gaming and a smoother experience. All the accessory contains in the package: a WE3000 with standard profile, two high-gain 5 dBi antennas, a low profile bracket, a Bluetooth header cable, a quick installation guide, a resource CD driver. System requirements: Windows 10 (64bit).
That is one of the cheapest WiFi 6 cards that we can find on the market and that offer full bandwidth. We do not have to worry about the chip, since it is mounted directly by Intel as in the rest of the cases, only that its finish is somewhat more basic than we will see below.
Asus PCE-AX3000
- The new wi-fi standard: wifi 6 (802.11ax) yields more and consumes less energy High-speed wi-fi connections: 3000 mbps to handle more saturated networks 802.11ax technology: with ofdma and mu-mimo, wifi 6 offers more transmissions Fast, stable and efficient when multiple devices are connected simultaneously Bluetooth 5.0 is faster and goes further: Enjoy Bluetooth transmissions twice as fast and up to 4x faster range
In this case it is a card with the same chip and a little more expensive for being from a brand with greater guarantees. It has another version with heatsink, better aesthetics and antennas with base. We think that for its price of 90 euros it is not a great advantage, so we prefer this one.
ASUS PCE-AC88
- Upgrade your desktop connectivity to Wi-Fi AC3100 4x4 with up to 2100 Mbps in the 5 GHz band and 1000 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band 60% faster and better coverage than 3x3 AC adapters External base antenna that Allows installation where the signal is strongest The heatsink ensures more stable and reliable continuous operation 60% faster than 3x3 AC devices
Now we continue with the best performance network card under the WiFi 5 standard, which supports a 5 GHz bandwidth above 2000 Mbps thanks to its 4 × 4 connection. It also operates in the 2.4 GHz band in a 3 × 3 connection.
Hommie 1733Mbps 5GHz / 2.4GHz Dual Band PCI-E
- Ultra Fast Speed and Dual Band Upgrade your WiFi card to 1733Mbps WiFi speed at 5GHz or 300Mbps at 2.4GHz, Dual band to reduce freezing and delay in streaming and gaming, includes smooth 4K video. No more messy Ethernet cables are needed. (Note: Offer up to 1733Mbps wireless speed in the 5GHz band when the router uses a 160MHz channel.) Next Generation WiFi Standard Compliant with the latest and fastest IEEE 802.11ac standard, perfect connection to 802.11a / b / g / n. PCI-E Offers unmatched wireless stability when working with PCI-E / x1 / x4 / x8 / x16 slot. Intel 9260 Chip and Bluetooth 5.0 Adopts high-quality Intel 9260 chip, offering super fast connection speed and a more stable signal. No more dropping the line frequently at the time of the football game and games. With the latest Bluetooth 5.0 technology, and backwards compatible with Bluetooth 4.2 / 4.0 / 3.0, it supports connection with mobile phones, headphones, keyboard, mouse, speaker, etc. More privacy and security. Better coverage by 2x6dBi External Antennas The design of the aluminum alloy heat sink distributes heat away from the main components to improve reliability and performance. Wider wireless range with 2x6dBi high gain external WiFi antennas to ensure a greater range of stability and WiFi connection. Easy Installation and Compatibility Compatible with Windows 10 64Bit and Linux4.2 + operating system. You can easily add high-speed WiFi connectivity to a desktop computer through a PCI Express slot. The included utility provides a quick installation.
If we cannot afford the previous card, we have a somewhat more discreet one with a 2 × 2 connection at 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz similar to those of laptops but with PCIe connectivity
ASUS PCE-AC51
- High-speed wireless connectivity Dual-band AC wireless technology for lag-free streaming and high-performance networks Supports WEP, WPA and WPA2 security ciphers Transfer rate (maximum): 433 Mbit / s Wi-Fi standard: IEEE 802.11ac
We continue to download this version also Dual band although with a dedicated antenna at 5 GHz and the other at 2.4 GHz.
Killer WiFi 6 AX1650
- Please read: The module is 22 x 30mm and should only be used on notebooks with an M.2 connector and a standard A or E key plug. It does not work in the M.2 slot on a desktop. Please read: Use only on Intel-based systems running Win10 64. Do not use on Lenovo / IBM / ThinkPad systems The Killer AX1650 provides the most powerful Killer network technology built into Intels' most advanced WiFi 6 chipset. The AX1650 offers up to 2.4 Gbps of performance, low latency, and the most reliable connections. The AX1650 offers up to 3 times more performance than previous generation 80 MHz 2 x 2 AC devices when connected to a point of WiFi 6 access, and it features the Killer Control Center 2.0, which offers users a rich interface to optimize the network performance of their PC.Designed to play: Killer AX1650 keeps your game fast and smooth with its advanced Stream Detect 2.0 technology It automatically detects, classifies, and prioritizes game traffic.
This is the M.2 version of the WiFi 6 cards seen above, with exactly the same dual band capacity and bandwidth. It is also the Gaming version of the Intel AX200, so it is slightly optimized.
Possibly the best option on the entire list.
Intel 9260NGW
- Model: Intel AC 9260NGW. A-Tech Pack ^ _ ^ - Single Carton Packing with ESD Bag and Screw Set for each wifi card Straps: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz (160 MHz), maximum speed: 1.73 Gbps, Bluetooth 5.0 NGFF M.2 SPS: 9206870-001 FRU: 01AX769 Only compatible with Windows 10 and Linux and Google Chrome. Some Lenovo and HP machines do not support, please contact customer service to confirm if they can use
Finally we leave here one of the most widely used cards in laptops before the arrival of the AX200 WiFi 6. It is very similar to the 6560NGW and with the same capacity.
Conclusions about Wifi PCI Express cards
Without further ado, we leave you with some tutorials in case you want to continue learning interesting things about networks:
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