Using a network card that is not officialy supported

[Wutsap]

I am using the HP 250 G3, had alot of network issues, so I replaced the network card with an old card I found in an older HP laptop, and now the internet is working great, the card I am now using is:

Realtek 8188CE.

But, in the service manual of the HP 250 G3, it is not under the supported WLAN modules list, as you can see:

There is a card similiar to the 8188CE, called 8188EE, but still, not the same.

I wonder if I can keep using it although it's not supported officialy.

Perhaps it might cause damage in the future?

Ty!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

it won't cause any damage to your PC.

I'm surprised that old card works on W10, though.

If your model has two antennas attached to the card, you may want to go for a dual band wlan card with bluetooth, such as the Broadcom BCM943228HMB 802.11abgn 2×2 Wi-Fi Adapter, Broadcom Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter.  

HP Part # 730668-001

[Wutsap]

Thank you

I only have 1 antenna, so it's ok. I was also surprised that it worked, I plugged it, turned the laptop on, and the driver was already installed and as you can see it seems to be a very new driver for such an old card:

One more thing: If I changed the card, how was it able to automatically install itself, if it had no driver in the first place, and there was no other source for network connection?:smileysurprised:

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I imagine that W10 had the driver in its database.

It is definitely a very new driver for a very old card!

The latest driver HP has for that card is for W8, and it is from 2012.

Since your notebook only has one antenna, and you are not happy with the card, then the only other card you could get, would be the Realtek card listed in the service manual for your notebook that has bluetooth.

I believe that card only needs one antenna too.

As far as I am aware, the Ralink card needs two antennas as well.

[Wutsap]

I am actually happy with the Realtek 8188CE :). It's maybe an old card, but with the new driver, the signal is always at the max (within the range I'm mostly using), and it only has 1 antenna

Thank you Paul!

But I still wonder, how come an older card never designed to plug to future motherboard can actually do that without any damage? 😮

I guess HP engineers made some of their newer motherboards backward compatible? 

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

The cards use the same mini PCIe  form factor, and the voltage is standard.

I see no way that any damage could result from what you did.