Upgrade WiFi card to Intel Dual Band Wireless AC 7260 - BIOS whitelist & compatibility ?

[jamiebloom2]

I want to upgrade the wireless network card on my notebook

Model no.                     HP Pavilion 15-n203sx

Product no.                  F9U07EA#A2N

BIOS Version/Date     Insyde F.71, 13-03-2017

to

Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 802.11 ac 2x2 WiFi + BT 4.0 WLAN module 

Model number Intel 7260HMW

SPN 784639-005

FCC ID PD97260H

The currently installed WLAN module is Ralink RT3290 802.11 bgn 1×1 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 combo adapter

It has 2 antennas connected to the main & aux port & is a half size mini pci-e card (hmc form factor)

The maintenance & service guide of my notebook lists the following WLAN modules

So, I would like to know the following

1. Does my laptop have a BIOS whitelist? I don't want to pay for a card & later find out that it won't work because of whitelist issue.

2. Will this card (Intel Dual-Band Wireless-AC 7260 see pic above) work on my laptop, even though it's technically not listed in my laptop's service guide as supported WLAN module ? (though very similar one is listed; Intel Dual-Band Wireless-N 7260)

Thanks

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Yes it will, but I recommend you get this model 7260 AC card...

Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 802.11 ac 2x2 WiFi + BT 4.0            HP Part # 710661-001

The card is readily available on eBay or Amazon.

Search by the HP part number, not by the model number of the wireless card.

[jamiebloom2]

Thanks for the prompt reply.

I searched for hp spare part number 710661-001 on amazon & I found that 3 part numbers are listed in description for the Intel Wireless AC 7260 model which are 710661-001 / 756753-001 / 784639-005.However, part number 784639-005 is displayed in the image.

Will the Intel Wireless AC 7260 card with any of the above mentioned part numbers work in my laptop?

 Or do I have to specifically get spare part number 710661-001 & not 784639-005?

I would really appreciate further clarification from you to eliminate any doubts about compatibility. Thanks

Image from amazon attached below

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I really can't say.

I guess since the listing says the card is good for HP PC's, it should work.

I didn't take any chances, and ordered the 710661-001 card from China on eBay.

I installed it in an HP 350 G1 business-class notebook (Intel 4th gen core processor like your model).

It took two weeks to get to the USA, but I got the part number I wanted.

Most of the Chinese sellers ship worldwide.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=710661-001&_sacat=0&_sop=15

[jamiebloom2]

Sorry, for the delayed reponse.

You're right! I am now certain that part number 784639-005 is incompatible with my notebook.

Going by the reviews posted online as well as hp partsurfer, I believe that older versions of Intel 7260HMW wifi card with spn 710661-001 were whitelisted & thus work in some hp business class notebooks similar to the HP 350 G1 you installed it in

Unfortunately, it is neither listed in the maintenance & service guide of my notebook nor does hp partsurfer list my pavilion notebook as compatible with 710661-001

http://partsurfer.hp.com/Search.aspx?searchText=710661-001 

I searched the official HP Spare Parts store, only to be greeted with this message "Part is not orderable in the HP Parts Store"

I will try to confirm compatibility of part number 710661-001 with an HP authorized parts reseller to ensure that I don't have to deal with the dreaded "WiFi module not supported error" on boot. I think it could take a while.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Much appreciated.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.