Network card upgrade

[Kronos_2003]

my laptop currently has the realtek RTL8723DE 802.11b/g/n 1x1 wifi + BT 4.2 combo adapter...................

it only supports 2.4ghz, my laptop only has 1 antenna also

i was recommended the intel dual band wireless-AC 3168 802.11ac 1x1 wifi + BT 4.2 combo adapter

will this be compatible with my laptop?

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

The 3168 requires two antenna cables.

The only AC wifi card that will work with one antenna cable is this one...

Realtek RTL8821CE 802.11 ac 1×1 WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Adapter (MU-MIMO supported) L17365-005

The only place I have been able to find this card is on eBay because the HP parts store has them on back order.

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

[Kronos_2003]

Thanks :), Thats my current network card in the bottom right

[Kronos_2003]

I read somewhere that certain antennas can only support 2.4ghz so upgrading the card wouldn't work, is that true?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I have never heard of that.

Notebook antennas are built the same way, regardless of what frequency they operate on.

The only difference is if there is one, two, or 3 cables (some wifi cards require 3 antenna cables).

The RTL8821 dual band card will work just fine with the 8723DE's wifi antenna cable.

If you looked at the pictures of the 8821CE wifi cards listed on eBay, you saw that they all had just one antenna terminal.

The 8821CE has the same specs as the Intel 3168.  72 MBPS on the 2.4 GHz band, and up to 433 MBPS on the 5.0 GHz band.

[Kronos_2003]

I had a feeling that was incorrect, thanks again, im going to order the chip on saturday, any tips for a beginner on replacing the chip 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.

You already know how to do the hardest part...opening up the notebook.

The rest is easy.  Carefully remove the antenna cable.  It snaps on to the terminal, so try to pull up evenly on it.

Unscrew the screw.  Remove and replace the card.  Align the antenna cable connector right over the wifi terminal and press down.  It should snap on.

Here are the links to the latest W10 wifi and Bluetooth drivers HP has for that model wifi adapter...

Wifi: 2024.0.8.107/2024.0.4.108 Jun 5, 2019

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp96501-97000/sp96885.exe

Bluetooth: 1.6.1015.3008 Jun 11, 2019

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp97001-97500/sp97009.exe

[Kronos_2003]

Ordered the chip, I was just reading about “whitelists” where certain cards would be blocked by the Laptops BIOS, you’re certain my laptop supports this card?