HP Pavilion 17-e108ed upgrade Wi-Fi Card to Intel 7260

[Karmakstylez]

Hello HP Community,

I have a Realtek RTL8188EE 802.11 bgn Wi-Fi Adapter. I want to replace this one with a Intel 7260 AC Module. This is the same form factor Half PCI-E so that would not be a problem. Also the antenna's should not be a problem. I wanted to first put a 9260 inside it, but that has a different form factor and different antena cables.

Is this possible? Is there a BIOS whitelist, because I think the support on this product has ended long time ago?

I do not have to worry about warranty, because I do not have that anymore.

Product Number: E9M57EA#ABH

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

No, you can't install an Intel card because your notebook has an AMD processor and chipset, and it is too much of a risk.

It may or may not work.

But you can upgrade to the Broadcom equivalent...

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

You should be able to find this model card on Amazon or eBay.

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

[Karmakstylez]

Thank you for your quick response. Does my Laptop have a BIOS Whitelist? I know in the manual stands that is always recommended to install only parts that are tested by HP before.

There is also an AX200 WiFi 6 Mini PCIE which has the same form factor. Does this one work?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

As far as I am aware, there is no BIOS whitelist because several forum members have upgraded the wifi adapters on the 15e and 17e model series (the only difference between the two models is the size of the display panel).

Unfortunately, I would have no idea if a  AX200 WiFi 6 HMC card would work.  If it is Intel, probably not.

Any AX200 PCIe card that I have seen is really a M.2 card that is put in a PCIe x1 adapter used in desktops.

Intel's specs on the card indicate M.2 form factor only.

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/189347/intel-wi-fi-6-ax200.html

I do know that the BCM card I recommended will work, based on other forum members feedback after I recommended that card.

The only way we find out if wifi cards work that are not listed in the manual is from feedback from forum members who take the gamble.

HP does not publish any info on what models have whitelists or not.

A general guide is no whitelists on notebooks made in 2013 or later, some models made in 2012 don't have them, and all models made from 2011 and earlier do as far as I know.

There are a couple of models made in 2015 that have whitelists, such as the 14-ac and 15-ac model series.

[Karmakstylez]

This are the the AX200 variants. There is a new one of Intel that is the AX200 but in mini PCI-Express factor

Else I will also get the BroadCom you mentioned:

I will test this out when I receive them. Either one will work. I will inform you about that later.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

That is strange that they have a HMC form factor for that AX200 card, and Intel states no such thing.

I guess it is not that expensive a risk to take.

Hopefully, it will work.