[SlvrScoobie]

Hello,
I was reading about people installing a 3rd wire for an N card, and realized that it is the same card i installed into my XPS laptop (which already had the 3rd wire) but I was left with an extra intel 3945b/g card.
Would this card be better than the broadcomm b/g card?
Just wondering if anyone has upgraded or used both and noticed a difference. I always bought the intel card with my laptops but never read if they were any better..
I think my final solution will be to go N since i have the router but in the meantime, what are your thoughts on just swapping in the intel card?

[somms]

I've always had better performance using the Broadcom WLAN Mini-PCI and now Mini-PCIe formats than with Intel WLAN.

Maybe that because most of the wireless routers I used also have Broadcom radios. My current gateway router is the Linksys WRT600N dual-band draft-N equipped with broadcom chipset radios...

http://en.community.dell.com/wikis/netw ... -pcie.aspx

FWIW: There are no wireless routers avail from the major manufacturers that contain Intel chipset radios. Broadcom, Ralink, Atheros are common chipsets used in wireless routers but never Intel... Not sure why Linksys, D-Link, Asus and the rest not use Intel radios but there must be a reason.

[holmes4]

On the other hand, Intel does extensive validation of its wireless adapters and you'll find an Intel wireless card inside every "Centrino" notebook, and, at least according to Dell, Intel wireless uses less power than competing solutions.. Up until the Mini, every notebook I used had an Intel wireless solution. Up until the Mini, I never had a problem associating with a wireless router, but the Mini gives me fits with my home router (ActionTec.)

I have ordered the Intel 5300 card and will see how it works for me.

[somms]

Originally Posted by holmes4

On the other hand, Intel does extensive validation of its wireless adapters and you'll find an Intel wireless card inside every "Centrino" notebook, and, at least according to Dell, Intel wireless uses less power than competing solutions.. Up until the Mini, every notebook I used had an Intel wireless solution. Up until the Mini, I never had a problem associating with a wireless router, but the Mini gives me fits with my home router (ActionTec.)

I have ordered the Intel 5300 card and will see how it works for me.

If you are going for power savings...

Full Height Broadcom WLAN that ships w/Mini:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/n ... tm#1824987

Dell Wireless 1395 WLAN Mini Card Specifications: Dellâ„¢ Wireless WLAN Card

Power Characteristics
The current draw values were measured over a 1-second interval. The maximum transmit and receive values were measured while transferring a continuous UDP data stream at the highest rate setting of 54 Mbps.

Characteristic Value (±5%)
Current draw, Power Save mode 30 mA (average)
Current draw, Receive mode 200 mA (average)
Current draw, Transmit mode 300 mA (average)
Power supply 3.3V



Half-height Broadcom WLAN that Dell should have used in Mini due to lower power consumption and size:

Dell Wireless 1397 WLAN Half Mini Card Specifications: Dellâ„¢ Wireless WLAN

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/n ... tm#1825091

Power Characteristics
The current draw values were measured over a 1-second interval. The maximum transmit and receive values were measured while transferring a continuous UDP data stream at the highest rate setting of 54 Mbps.

Characteristic Value
Current draw, Power Save mode 24 mA (average)
Current draw, Receive mode 153 mA (average)
Current draw, Transmit mode 230 mA (average)
Power supply 3.3V

[UnaClocker]

You can't use a full height mini pci-e card in the Mini9, there isn't room. It only uses half height cards. So your information is already suspect.

[somms]

Originally Posted by UnaClocker

You can't use a full height mini pci-e card in the Mini9, there isn't room. It only uses half height cards. So your information is already suspect.

Pics of the full-height WLAN 1395 that ships in Mini and the 1397 half-height WLAN...

[UnaClocker]

Wow, that thing is freakin small! I bet they cost a ton more, which would be a good reason not to put it into a very low cost machine. Not to mention, I don't see any difference in my personal batter life when using the WLAN vs when not using it.
I was thinking half/full mini pci-e based on the SSD's I've dealt with.. The one in the Eee is significantly longer than the one in the Mini9.. So now I see there are 3 sizes.. Crazy half baked "standard"..

[somms]

Yeah, the WLAN standard and SSD standards don't seem to match up much at all. Still am trying to figure out the SSD form factors myself.

[SlvrScoobie]

so how could i run tests to determine if the intel card is similar or better in voltage usage than the broadcomm?

[Fanfoot]

You could scope it with a multimeter.

or you could buy one of these:

at:

http://www.amazon.com/P3-Internation...8292970&sr=8-1