Are there any 5GHz wifi cards that will work with my laptop? Model # 14-CF0013dx

[ShatterDay]

Is it possible to upgrade the wifi card on my laptop? I understand that the current card only has 1 antenna and that installing a second antenna requires disassembly of the screen. Are there any other wifi cards that would support 5ghz and have only 1 antenna? If not, where could I find the list of other compatible dual band cards? If I have to disassemble, I will, but I want to explore other options as well. 

Main reason for buying this model was an unbeatable cost. Had extra RAM and NVME laying around from another build and I have upgraded those, but want faster Wifi speed. 

Thank you for your time and help. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Yes, there is one model AC wifi/Bluetooth adapter that will work as a direct swap using only the one antenna, and that is this one...

Realtek RTL8821CE 802.11 ac 1x1 WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Adapter (MU-MIMO supported)

HP part # L17365-005

Unfortunately, the card has been on back order for months on the HP parts store, but there are several for sale on eBay.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=L17365-005&_sacat=0&_sop=15

I assume your model has the Realtek 8723DE card.

The 8821CE will have the same throughput on the 2.4 GHz wifi band, but it will have up to 433 MBPS on the 5.0 GHz wifi band if you have an AC router.

[ShatterDay]

Thank you for the quick response. If I'm willing to sacrifice Bluetooth, are there any other cards? 

Is the stock one currently connected via a mini PCIE? I opened up the laptop to upgrade the other components but did not pay close attention to this. Will I still be able to use the suggested card even if I have a NVME in the other m.2 port? 

Thanks again! 

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

The wifi card in your model is of the M.2 form factor.

If you can live without Bluetooth, I would get the Intel 7265 AC card, and connect the sole antenna to the wifi card's Main or #1 terminal.

Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 802.11ac 2 × 2 WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Adapter

HP Part # 793840-005

Here is the link to the service manual.   The wifi card R & R procedure can be found in chapter 5.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c06146792

[ShatterDay]

Thank you for linking me to the manual. Is what there that I found this:

L25889-005 9461NGW

It's an intel 9461 Dual Band card with 1 antenna. So in theory, bluetooth would work.

Just havent seen any reviews so I dont know how it would compare to the 7265. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Yes, I saw that card listed there too.

Anytime I have recommended that card to folks where the card was NOT listed in their notebook's service manual, it didn't work.

So, I am reluctant to suggest that card to anyone now.  Once bit, twice shy.

It should work in your model, but I don't have any feedback from anyone who installed that card and reported it did work.

The 9461 would be a better card than the 8821CE just because it is an Intel card, and has Bluetooth 5.0, but it will have 1/2 the throughput specs of the older 7265.  But it would have Bluetooth, where with only one antenna, the 7265 won't.

Here is a side by side comparison of the 7265 and the 9461...

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/compare.html?productIds=125193,83635

Bottom line...unless you are transferring a lot of files within your home network, or you are paying for more than 400 MBPS download speeds from your internet service provider, having the 7265 and giving up Bluetooth, to me is not the best option.