Slow Internet with Comcast and HP computers

[mattaltieri7]

I have 200mbps speed with Comcast. All my devices get 150-200 except for two HP computers.  One is older and this one I just bought today.  I'm getting 50-60Mbps with my new laptop wirelessly. Hard wired I can get over 200.  Can someone please advise why I can't get 200 on my HP computers thru wireless?  

Product 2PE35UA#ABA

17-bs049dx

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

The model you posted...17-bs049dx has a Realtek BGN 1X1 wifi adapter.

The maximum connection speed that adapter can achieve is limited to 72 MBPS, so 50 - 60 MBPS download is pretty good.

The ethernet adapter that model comes with is capable of connecting at speeds up to 1 GB/S, so that is why you are getting the full 200 MBPS download speed via the ethernet cable.

[mattaltieri7]

Thank you.  Are there any HP computers that are capable of 200mbps speed under $500?  My wife has a $199 Dell laptop and it gets 150mbps.  Not sure what I should be looking for when buying a computer that can get me maximum speeds.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

Unfortunately, I am not up to date on what notebook PC's HP has on the market today.

My newest HP notebook is 5 years old.

What you want to look up the next time you are shopping for a notebook regarding its wireless specs, is to find one that has an AC wireless card and a gigabit ethernet adapter.

Here is a rule of thumb...anytime you see a wireless N adapter with a suffix that ends in 1x1 b/g/n such as what your notebook has, that means it is a single band, 2.4 GHz wifi adapter only.

Dual band wireless N adapters have suffixes that end in a/b/g/n or a/g/n.

Dual band wireless N adapters normally connect at 144 MBPS on the 2.4 GHz band, and 300 MBPS on the 5.0 GHz band.

Dual band AC cards...

1 x 1's connect at a max of 433 MBPS, and 2 x 2's connect at a max of 866 MBPS.

So, for example...I just randomly selected a model from your series below...

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-15-bs100-laptop-pc/16851388/model/19460259/document/c0587700...

Next to the wireless connectivity specification you see this...Intel® 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (1x1) Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® 4.2 Combo

That will tell you based on what I posted above that it has a 1 x 1 wireless AC adapter, and you can expect to have a maximum connection speed of 433 MBPS in the 5.0 GHz band if you have a wireless AC router.

I happen to know the wifi model referenced is the Intel 3168 AC wifi adapter, and here is the link to the specs for that model wifi card.

https://ark.intel.com/products/94854/Intel-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC-3168

[mattaltieri7]

Thank you.  This helps a lot.  I new there was an issue when I got home and it connected to the internet without asking me 2.4 or 5G speed.  All the other devices that are fast are connected to 5G.  Now I know what to ask when I return this one and look for a new laptop.  

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.