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Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit)

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Hello,
in an older Topic, I had discussed that I bought a new HP ProDesk 400 G7 Microtower PC  without knowing that it did not include a Network Card as the seller mislead me into thinking that it did.
That topic was solved and as a reference, I am including it in this topic. Missing Wireless adapter

Back then, I was pointed out to purchase the Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 wireless network kit but in the end, I ended up buying a Wireless USB adapter from Tp-Link.
Now after a few months of using that adapted, I find myself quite disappointed because it has its negatives and after reading on other people's ratings and reviews on my adapter and other Wi-Fi USB adapters I have concluded that they aren't that good for the job they suppose to do.
My biggest issue is that I get lag on video calls, meetings, and online streaming even though the manufacturer says there is no lag.

Anyhow, the reason I am creating this post today is that I've decided to purchase a network card that installs directly in the motherboard. After another research I've made, I see better ratings and reviews by people sharing their satisfaction on internal network cards.

Now looking into my motherboard I don't see a slot for the Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 wireless network kit to be placed in.
Also, I have watched a few videos on youtube of other people installing the same kit or similar but I don't think my motherboard supports it. Perhaps newer motherboards don't or not.

Thus, I have found a few alternatives that seem to be a much better choice but I doubt they can be placed into my motherboard.
One is the Gigabyte GC-WBAX200, the second is TP-LINK ARCHER TX3000E, and many more.

Can someone please give me feedback on the following?

As you can see from my motherboard's pictures I have two X1PCIEXP slots but to me, they look 

1. Is it me? Or my X1PCIEXP slots are much smaller than the size of those network cards?
is it the zoom in those images that is confusing?
If you look in my motherboard's images it looks like none of these cards would fit in its slots.
It's like the size of those cards is twice the size of my slots.

2. If in fact it's my confusion and indeed the slots are compatible. Is it better to buy a network card with or without a cooler attached to it?

3. Some cards offer Wi-Fi 6 while others have Wi-Fi 5. Price is not very far apart.
Is there a chance that my motherboard would neglect the Wi-Fi 6 technology let's say due to compatibility issues?
Or it would be fine?
Should I buy a Wi-Fi 5 card just to be safe? 

Thank you all in advance!
And sorry if this post was tiring to read.
 

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions
HP Recommended

Hi:

 

As I posted yesterday, it would be a matter of choice.

 

Either type will work the same. 

 

The external antennas that come with the kit would be the most important part, in my opinion.

 

So, to me it would be a matter of which costs less, and if I had any plans to use a PCIe x1 slot for something else, or the internal USB connector for something else.

 

The empty M.2 slot was designed to be used for the wifi card with no additional connectors needed, and the M.2 wifi slot cannot be used for anything else but a wifi card.

 

I only have PCIe x1 wifi cards because I don't have any PC's new enough that had a M.2 slot for a wifi card.

 

They work great.

 

However, If I had the option like you do, I would opt for the M.2 slot.

 

View solution in original post

15 REPLIES 15
HP Recommended

I looked up your system over at the parts surfer using your product id 9CY18AV

Your motherboard looks like this and it matches your photos

https://partsurfer.hp.com/ShowPhoto.aspx?partnumber=M23452-601

 

There are 3 PCIe slots: A single xl16 and a pair of x1 plus the two M.2.  The smaller one is empty 

If you have empty x1 then just about ANY Intel wifi card will work.  The driver for the WiFi is the WLAN driver here

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-prodesk-400-g7-microtower-pc/37933628/model/3793...

the driver is in the install file sp135768.exe  I peeked into that file and there is an extensive list of Wi-Fi cards that should work fine.   Both x1 and m.2 are listed.

Do you have bluetooth?  If a bluetooth card is taking an x1 slot it could be replaced with a combo Wi-Fi bluetooth such as TP-link 1200 series.  Windows 10 and 11 probably has the intel driver already recognized as they are plug and play.

 

If your obtain an m.2 Wi-Fi card you will need antennas and must route them.  I suggest using the x1 slot and the antennas outside the case.  

 

Hope this helps

 


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Hi, @SotirisGRR 

 

The wireless card goes in the M.2 slot next to the SSD in your screenshot.

 

When looking at your screenshot the wifi card slot is above the SSD and the hold down screw is on the bare metal side of the frame like it is for the SSD.

 

I can't save your screenshot large enough to draw the outline where it goes.

 

I still recommend the kit I had posted in that other discussion.

 

What I don't see in any of the pictures including the picture that BeemerBiker posted (not saying one isn't there), is the internal 9-pin USB connector you would need to connect the USB cable from a PCIe x1 wireless card's Bluetooth to connect to.  Bluetooth is USB powered.

 

So, while a PCIe x 1 wifi adapter would work fine, the Bluetooth will not work if there is no internal USB connector to connect the USB Bluetooth cable to.

 

With the desktop kit I posted, since the card goes in the M.2 Wifi slot, the Bluetooth works from that slot as well as the wifi.

 

I have 2 Intel AX200 PCIe x1 and an Intel 7265 AC wifi adapters in some old HP and Dell business desktop PC's, but those all have the internal 9-pin USB connectors, and they don't have a M.2 slot for a wifi adapter.

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As @Paul_Tikkanen mentioned, BlueTooth requires USB.  There seems to be a USB socket but it is probably used to connect to the front panel "SD/Media".  I did not see any other motherboard connectors in the photo.  If you want bluetooth one can use an externa to internal cable but that cable needs to be routed back through into the case and frequently a hole is not available to pass the cable through.

 

BeemerBiker_0-1644771333777.png

 

 


Thank you for using HP products and posting to the community.
I am a community volunteer and do not work for HP. If you find
this post useful click the Yes button. If I helped solve your
problem please mark this as a solution so others can find it
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Hi, @BeemerBiker 

 

Yes, I completely missed that.

 

You can definitely connect the USB cable to that socket, if no plans to add the optional SD card reader.

 

I still think that since the M.2 slot is there for a wifi adapter, using the M.2 wifi slot would keep a PCIe x1 slot free as well as the SD card reader connector.

 

 

HP Recommended

Hi @BeemerBiker,  @Paul_Tikkanen,

I do believe the motherboard from partsurfer is a match and also the support.hp  page.
Just to confirm, in the past before I had a look into the motherboard I had downloaded and installed all 7 drivers from the Driver-Network's tab but Windows did not detect any Bluetooth or wifi adapter. Back then I thought I had the hardware.
This is understandable now since the hardware parts are missing.

Before, I was aware of the 3 PCIe slots but not for the two M.2 @BeemerBiker mentioned.
Now having looked again into the motherboard I believe I can confirm their existence.

Could any of you please confirm on the pictures that these are in fact the two M.2 sockets?
I drew a red shape around them. I assume what you mentioned to be the "smaller one is empty" is perhaps the left one that says WIRELESS J38 on top of what @Paul_Tikkanen says next to the SSDThe other one in use I don't know what is used for
Would this be the one that I can connect the Intel wifi card that you both suggested and plug it in?

I wonder why the manufacturer did not label them as M.2 but whatever.
I am planning to buy an M.2 card and screw it to that black screw that I drew a blue square shape. 
Would that work?
Can you please point me to the right product?
I want to avoid purchasing the wrong one because some products might differ in size and sockets.

Now what I understand is that the M.2 card will provide me with both WIFI and Bluetooth while the PCIe x1 with WIFI only unless I use that internal 9-pin USB connector.
Is this the case?

I am a bit confused now with what @Paul_Tikkanen said that if I buy the PCIe x1 card the BlueTooth wouldn't work since "BlueTooth requires USB".
I have no idea if there is one on my motherboard and I doubt it. 
Do I really need to buy one with the PCIe x1card and if so can you point me to the right product?
Still don't know how I am supposed to connect it with the PCIe x1card.

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HP Recommended

Hi:

 

The device you outlined appears to be a M.2 solid state drive.

 

The wifi M.2 slot is the slot above that one.

 

As BeemerBiker posted in his second reply, if you install a PCIe x1 wifi adapter, it will come with a bluetooth cable that you can connect to the media card reader connector in the screenshot he posted.

HP Recommended

Picture shows a really cheap combo Wi-Fi / Bluetooth card in an HP6000

BeemerBiker_0-1644776009210.png

 

I found the USB connector under the lift up power supply.

It is convenient for me to use the external antennas and not figure the best place to route the cables.  Sometimes the heavy metal case of desktop systems degrades the signal

https://www.newegg.com/edup-ep-9636gs-pci-express/p/0XM-00X2-00027?Item=9SIAH19BBJ6920

 

You might be better off using the M.2 and the recommended Wi-Fi board. I tried the same thing in a Lenovo S20  and found the board only worked in certain slots.

 


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I am a community volunteer and do not work for HP. If you find
this post useful click the Yes button. If I helped solve your
problem please mark this as a solution so others can find it
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Whoa! I had no idea that this little blue rectangular part is my SSD drive and that is called internal SSD occupying an M.2 slot.
I thought all SSD drives were external types but now I see the difference.
So the one next to it that says WIRELESS J38 is the second M.2 slot and that one can be connected to a wifi card like the Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200

So in other words my motherboard will support both cards.
Either the PCIe x1 that will usually come with a (Bluetooth connector) or the M.2 and have the same result.
Cool! Thank you both for helping me out!

Just out of curiosity what are your options?
Which wifi card type (PCIe x1 or M.2) will be a better choice?
In terms of reliability, efficiency, compatibility, wifi speed...etc 

Which one you would go for if you were in my shoes?
Thank you in advance!

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HP Recommended

Hi:

 

As I posted yesterday, it would be a matter of choice.

 

Either type will work the same. 

 

The external antennas that come with the kit would be the most important part, in my opinion.

 

So, to me it would be a matter of which costs less, and if I had any plans to use a PCIe x1 slot for something else, or the internal USB connector for something else.

 

The empty M.2 slot was designed to be used for the wifi card with no additional connectors needed, and the M.2 wifi slot cannot be used for anything else but a wifi card.

 

I only have PCIe x1 wifi cards because I don't have any PC's new enough that had a M.2 slot for a wifi card.

 

They work great.

 

However, If I had the option like you do, I would opt for the M.2 slot.

 

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