Hi guys. I have a relatively old desktop computer (i.e. Intel Core™2 Duo Processor E6400 w/ 4 GB RAM running Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit) that I need a wireless adapter for. Do you have any recommendations on a good choice?
Looking at Newegg's best-rated adapters, I see quite a range from a $6.38 USB adapter to a $72.99 PCI Express adapter. I don't want to waste my time on something inexpensive that isn't going to work well. But I also don't want to waste my money on something that isn't going to do anything different than a less expensive one.
wireless adapters for desktop computers
- Thread starter barlowc
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Get a card that you install into the desktop. Much better then the USB type. I got an inexpensive one for about 40$ about 4 years ago..Works well. Check for reviews on amazon. Should help you to narrow down your choices a bit more. Im running an ancient Dell with XP..lol
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Originally Posted By: Rolla07
Get a card that you install into the desktop. Much better then the USB type. I got an inexpensive one for about 40$ about 4 years ago..Works well. Check for reviews on amazon. Should help you to narrow down your choices a bit more. Im running an ancient Dell with XP..lol
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear-rang...p;cp=1&lp=1
Perfectly acceptable performance and good range. Should be available locally.
The USB adapters have come such a long way in recent years there's no reason not to get one.
Few observations.
Nothing wrong with USB wireless adapters. I have sold more than a few. No problems with any of the later devices. Early ones tended to be somewhat problematic just due to the newness, and driver problems under XP. Absolutely 0 problems setting them up with WIN7.
Expansion cards, ditto. PCI, PCI-E have all worked OK. I have not run across any problem children. Like anything, antennae placement can be less than optimal, some come with remote antennas.
Another solution- access point. I used to sell a lot of Buffalo AirStation WCR-GN routers, mainly because they were $20 whenever Newegg ran deals on them, and also because the made great access points. You can set them up as access points, plug an Ethernet cable into it, connect the other to your computer and it acts just like an Ethernet connection. Plus, you can plug in up to 4 systems, and all can connect via wireless from the one access point. Once you get the router/access point configured, it is transparent, no drivers or additional software needed on the client.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
What's keeping you from running cat 5?
The cheaper cards / adapters tend to use cheap chipset that are not as good in reception and stability. Look at the model number and search it with "chipset" on the internet and see what you come up. My preference is Broadcom, then Atheros (now Qualcomm), then Intel, then Marvell or Ralink (these 2 are not really that great), then no name brand.
If you run Windows they should all work, but if you run Linux or some funny stuff then drivers maturity of the lesser then Intel / Atheros / Broadcom brands could be bad IMO.
I should mention that throughput is pretty important with this computer. I have a dual-tuner TV tuner card and use it along with Windows Media Center to serve as my DVR for over-the-air broadcasts. In the past I used my Xbox 360 as an extender and streamed recorded programs through it to my TV. Here in my new home I'll either do the same, or will put in a new video card with HDMI out and just connect it directly to my TV.
I was an inside-the-PC-only guy for wireless adapters but gave that up once I grabbed an AE3000 USB adapter from Linksys
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124467
This adapter works fine with Core2Duo vintage computers. Grab it, set it up, be done. It just works. I can't say that for a number of PCI adapters.
Originally Posted By: barlowc
I should mention that throughput is pretty important with this computer. I have a dual-tuner TV tuner card and use it along with Windows Media Center to serve as my DVR for over-the-air broadcasts. In the past I used my Xbox 360 as an extender and streamed recorded programs through it to my TV. Here in my new home I'll either do the same, or will put in a new video card with HDMI out and just connect it directly to my TV.
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: barlowc
I should mention that throughput is pretty important with this computer. I have a dual-tuner TV tuner card and use it along with Windows Media Center to serve as my DVR for over-the-air broadcasts. In the past I used my Xbox 360 as an extender and streamed recorded programs through it to my TV. Here in my new home I'll either do the same, or will put in a new video card with HDMI out and just connect it directly to my TV.
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: barlowc
I should mention that throughput is pretty important with this computer. I have a dual-tuner TV tuner card and use it along with Windows Media Center to serve as my DVR for over-the-air broadcasts. In the past I used my Xbox 360 as an extender and streamed recorded programs through it to my TV. Here in my new home I'll either do the same, or will put in a new video card with HDMI out and just connect it directly to my TV.
If you're close to the router with not too many walls/floors between, sure.
I smoked 2 patriot USB wifi sticks on an old desktop.
the desktop was running a bit torrent connection between a friend & I for about 9 straight days. Needless to say, the first stick lasted 2 days and I started to get errors. I got a 2nd stick, same one, that barely made it the next 7 days, a lot of rebooting & inserting into the other usb ports.
that stick still works, I put it in a laptop to test and it seems ok.
I don't believe the usb sticks can handle the massive constant data transfer.
So I put a D-Link PCI card in, single antenna. This has handled everything and anything.
There's no substitue for a card with its own brain on it.
D-Link vs Patriot isn't exactly a fair comparison
Originally Posted By: EricF
There's no substitue for a card with its own brain on it.
Softmodems were the work of the devil. They were introduced at a time where busses and CPUs were still too slow for them to really be workable, especially to the online gamer market.
AC'97 when it was first introduced was in the same boat. It was plagued by bad performance and they were noisy. Now discrete soundcards are rare and almost completely unnecessary unless you're a sound engineer.
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