Upgrade network card

[VK19]

Is it possible to upgrade the Realtek 802.11 b/g/n to Intel Dual band wireless AC 7260 for the desktop? Will this new network card work with Windows 10 OS? 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You would only be able to upgrade the internal wifi card to a dual band wifi card if it has two antenna wires connected to it now.

If it does, I recommend you upgrade to the Broadcom equivalent model, because an Intel card may not work in a PC with an AMD chipset.

Broadcom BCM4352 802.11ac 2x2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.0 combo  HP part # 724935-001.

You should be able to find the above model wifi card on eBay.  Search by the HP part number, not the model of the wifi card.

If your PC only has one antenna wire connected to the card, I recommend you either purchase an internal PCIe x1 wifi card if you have an available PCIe x1 slot, or a USB dual band wifi adapter.

The motherboard illustration for your model PC indicates that it has 3 PCIe x1 slots.

[VK19]

Hi,

Thank you for this. I see there is just one antenna wire. In the spec for this desktop, it says "supports both single and dual antenna configurations". Does this mean that if i get a new antenna, and a Broadcom BCM4352, it would work? Or is it simpler to just buy a PCIe x1 wifi card.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

If you got another antenna and the Broadcom card, you would be OK.

But the question is...where do you install the second antenna?

It has to go in a certain place inside the case.

If you know where that would go, then that would work.

I think it would be a lot easier to just remove the currently installed card, tie up the antenna wire to some other wires with a zip tie, and install a modern PCIe x1 wifi adapter that comes with external antennas.

There should be a an internal 9-pin USB connector on the motherboard to connect the cable the Bluetooth would work from.