Network Adapter Upgrade to 5Ghz

[Ashaad]

Hi,

I want to upgrade my laptop's network adapter from 2.4GHz to 5GHz ( Single band or Dual Band ).

Details of my laptop:

Model -  HP 15 - af127ca

Motherboard - AMD A8-7410 APU with AMD Radeon R5 Graphics 2.20 GHz

Network adapter - Broadcom BCM43142  802.11bgn WI-FI M.2 

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Since your notebook only has one antenna cable connected to the BCM wifi card in there now, your only option is this one...

Realtek RTL8821CE 802.11 ac 1x1 WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Adapter (MU-MIMO supported) HP part # L17365-005.

You can find this model on eBay.

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

The card has the same throughput as the Broadcom card on the 2.4 GHz wifi band, but on the 5.0 GHz wifi band with an AC router, it has a maximum throughput of 433 MBPS.

Below is the link to the service manual, where you can find the wifi card removal and replacement procedure.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c04653881

[Ashaad]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the reply. I shall order the same and fix it. I shall let u know once its done too. Thanks a lot.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

[Ashaad]

Hi Paul,

Do I have to install new drivers? If yes, how should I do it?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

W10 will automatically install the wifi and bluetooth drivers for the card.

If you want to update them to the latest version afterward here they are...

Wifi:   2024.0.10.216      Jun 22, 2020

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp104001-104500/sp104413.exe

Bluetooth:  1.8.1027.3000     May 21, 2020

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp104001-104500/sp104078.exe

Before you install the Realtek card, uninstall the Broadcom bluetooth and wifi adapters in the device manager, and check the uninstall driver box.

If there is any Broadcom bluetooth software listed in the Windows control panel, uninstall that too.

Shut down, unplug the PC, remove the battery and install the Realtek card.

[Ashaad]

Awesome.. Thanks

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.