Best Wi-Fi AC USB Adapter Dongle Thing

AlienC on 30/05/2020 - 01:07

So I have no idea where my wifi usb adapter dongle thingy went so I need to buy a new one as my desktop motherboard is a HP Compaq 8200 Elite which basically means it doesn't have on board wifi and I think it cannot fit a pci express card nor do I want to fit one in because it is full.

My previous usb wifi dongle was only wifi n capable anyways so this might be a blessing in disguise as now I have an excuse to get something better that is wifi ac capable or whatever is the fastest and best for gaming and overall bleeding edge / current heavy internet browsing now.

It has to be usb connectable and not pci express.

I ordered a cheap $17 usb wifi ac capable stick for now with wifi ac 1200 supposedly but that is only temporary and I don't expect it to last very long or do well and it is also expected to arrive this Thursday or Friday at the earliest so I have time to research and maybe even get one in person quicker before the ebay package slash cheap Chinese junk arrives.

So what are some good candidates for usb wifi ac usb dongles and where can I buy them right now?

Computing

Comments

  • Hybroid on 30/05/2020 - 01:45

    Your motherboard seems to have a PCIe x1 slot (small black one). Is that really in use right now as highly unlikely?

    If not, the answer is a TP-Link TX50e or AX3000. I use the former and it's fantastic. Both have Wi-Fi 6, latest 802.11ax and add bluetooth too.

    They can be found cheaper online or local PC store. USB Wi-Fi units are generally pretty rubbish, especially the cheap ones.

    • AlienC on 30/05/2020 - 02:14

      Ok so after a lot of fiddling and moving around my entire pc and desk to see if maybe the dongle fell off or something apparently the problem was my Intel(R) Centrino(R) Wireless-N 2230 was disabled so a troubleshoot fixed it and restarted it and enabled it.

      I have no idea why it booted up disabled and honestly thought that I had physically lost the item but I think the Intel(R) Centrino(R) Wireless-N 2230 is in the pc itself and not a usb stick.

      I am tired and was not all there and that.

      My Intel(R) Centrino(R) Wireless-N 2230 is a bit installed into the motherboard and it was disabled somehow.

      A quick Diagnose opened up the Troubleshooter and solved it by restarting the module and enabling it.

      My internet is working fine now I am trying to cancel my ebay order but now it is too late and so I have contacted the ebay seller and am seeing if they will be compassionate and refund/cancel my order but worst case scenario I have a spare $17 wifi ac capable usb stick dongle adapter thingy if I ever need it or I can try sell it on gumtree or something.

      Life is odd I am tired long week at work but man did it wake me up.

      Thanks Hybroid your information was extremely detailed and a god send but I hate it when I waste smart and helpful people's time which I feel I did to you.

      I honestly wish to repay you somehow because my stupidity wasted your time which I hate happening/doing.

      Alien out.

      • Hybroid on 30/05/2020 - 02:19
        +1

        No worries, it happens. Pay it forward in the future. Glad it's working fine for you.

        • AlienC on 30/05/2020 - 02:30

          Will do. I found it refreshing and it really felt like a glitch in the matrix ergo it normally would not have happened but spooky supernatural unexplainable stuff made it happen.. or I don't know.

          Thank you Hybroid you were a beacon of light in a dark but short time for me.

          And for that I thank you and will definitely try to pay it forward.

    • mauricem on 30/05/2020 - 15:55

      Was keen on one of these https://www.umart.com.au/ASUS-PCE-AX3000-Dual-Band-WiFi-6-Bl… but the reviews aren't great. I gather you've had no problems?

      • Hybroid on 30/05/2020 - 16:25

        I got the TP Link TX50E for my NAS which was only released 2-3 weeks ago. Straight plug and play and been flawless.

  • Iangh on 30/05/2020 - 08:36

    2230 is 'n'. When your ac adpater arrives pop that in and disable the 2230.

    • AlienC on 30/05/2020 - 15:49

      I cancelled the ebay order.

      I know ac is better but was just one of those f it choices. Fml.

      What could I replace the 2230 with to get better internet?

      Might be a fun nice experiment opening my computer and actually working on something for a change.

      • Iangh on 30/05/2020 - 17:48

        I would stick with the 2230. We have 50Mbps NBN and doing an internet speedtest with either a 'n' or 'ac' adapter results in the same speed: 46Mbps. Sure, you get faster onsite transfers with 'ac' but it does nothing for your internet downloads.

        • AlienC on 30/05/2020 - 19:37

          I'm more thinking if latency will benefit.

          I currently get double all my friends in cod.

          Sometimes more.

          Some are on WiFi some are on Ethernet cable but all have better latency so am wondering ac has lag benefit over n.

          Throughput wise everything is fine for like the next 40 years.

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