Is "Realtek wi-fi 5 (2x2)" the same as "802.11 a/x"? Or what?

[KinNC]

I've just started shopping for a new desktop, and am looking for an explanation of "Realtek wi-fi 5 (2x2)".

The term is new to me. Is this just a new name for "802.11 a/more letters"? Or is it something different?

Will it function in more-or-less the same way as my old 802.11 a/more letters in my current desktop? With my several years' old gateway/router rented-from-my-cable company? Or will I have to procure a new gateway/router?

Simple answers to these questions would be much appreciated, and would greatly assist me in my desktop shopping.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

If you can avoid getting a PC with one of the Realtek wifi adapters do so.

They are terrible.

If you have an option to get a PC with one of the Intel AX wifi adapters, get that instead.

All the new wifi adapters including the AX ones are backward compatible with the older wireless standards.

I have a HP notebook with an Intel AX200 wifi adapter and I only had a wireless AC router and the card worked fine--just not at the full AX connection speed of 2+ Gigabytes.

I only pay for 200 MBPS internet service anyway.

Here is a table with the wifi comparisons.

Difference between wifi 6,wifi 5,wifi 4,wifi 3,wifi 2,wifi 1 (rfwireless-world.com)

Bottom line: the newest AX wifi adapter will work with an old wireless N or AC router.