Uncertain if this Intel wifi adapter will fit in my HP 14-cf0006dx

[bik3]

Thanks in advance for any help. Would love to learn more about this.

Context:

My laptop: HP 14-cf0006dx, Running Windows 10

Current wifi adapter in laptop: Realtek RTL8723DE 802.11 bgn 1x1 WiFi + BT 4.2 Combo Adapter

Goal: I'm planning to swap this 2.4 Ghz only adapter to a dual band adapter that recognizes both 5 Ghz and 2.4 Ghz.

------------------------------------------

Research on compatible adapters, and the one I chose:

My laptop's manual lists 5 compatible wifi adapters (p. 38 under 'WLAN' module), one of which is the Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 9461 (the one I'd been planning to get).  Based on Intel's specs for that adapter (check out the "product brief" on that page, then scroll to page 3 of the document it opens), it appears there are two separate models of the 9461: 9461NGW (which is M.2 2230), and 9461D2W (which is M.2 1216). After some research online, I was under the impression that it's the 9461NGW that's compatible with my laptop, but I could be wrong.

Questions/Concerns:

When looking up that Intel wifi adapter (9461NGW), there are clear differences in how it looks compared to my current wifi adapter. I'm uncertain if these differences will prevent it fitting in my laptop. I have pictures for reference:

Picture#1 (current adapter): Realtek RTL8723DE

Picture #2: Intel 9461NGW

There's three differences I noticed:

1.  Realtek (pic 1, current one) is A+E key, and the Intel is just E key
2. The Realtek appears longer/skinnier, and the Intel appears more like a square
3. The main "notch" (not sure the word?) to hold the Realtek in place is on the top left, whereas on the Intel it's on the top, but directly in the middle.

Will any of these things prevent that Intel adapter from fitting in my laptop? If so, then maybe I have misunderstood which version of the Intel 9461 my laptop manual is referring to.

Side note:  This source says my current Realtek's form factor is 1630, not sure if that is useful..

P.S.: I realize I could also get the compatible Realtek adapter; the main reason I'd settled on this Intel one is that I was found one on Ebay for a good deal and from a good seller (good reviews). (A lot of the Realtek ones I found the seller's had poor reviews with complaints of user/defective/poorly packed items, so I'm hoping this one works.) Also, I was trying to pick one of the single antenna ones (which is what my current adapter is). I'm not sure if my laptop will support the dual antenna ones.

[BeemerBiker]

The maintenance and support manual for your laptop  here, list the following WiFi cards

note that one if them is 2x2 so it needs two antennas.  Unless you want to take the laptop apart to string the 2nd antenna I recommend the 1x1

Wireless networking Compatible with 0iracast-certiƭed devices
Integrated Wireless options with dual antennas (M.2/PCIe):
Intel Dual band wireless-AC 3168 802.11AC 1×1 WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Adaptor (non-vPro)
Realtek RTL8822BE 802.11 ac 2×2 WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Adapter (MU-MIMO supported)
Integrated Wireless options with single antenna (M.2/PCIe):
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 9461 802.11 AC 1×1 WiFi + BT5 Combo Adapter (non-vPro) (MU-MIMO supported)
Realtek RTL8821CE 802.11 ac 1×1 WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Adapter (MU-MIMO supported)
Realtek RTL8723DE 802.11 bgn 1×1 WiFi + Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Adapter

I recommend you stock with one of the recommended such as intel or the 8821CE.

Possibly our expert @Paul_Tikkanen might advice you on that intel you pictured.   I do not know if it will work.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi, @bik3 

The Intel 9461 model card will not work in your notebook.

There is only one model Wi-Fi card you can upgrade to when your notebook has only one antenna wire and you want both the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to work.

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

The card has a maximum throughput of 433 MBPS on the 5.0 GHz Wi-Fi band with an AC router and an excellent signal.

You can find this model on eBay, or Ali Express. 

I see some Intel 3165 cards listed on the eBay listings, so don't buy those.

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

RTL8821CE - Buy RTL8821CE with free shipping on AliExpress

On the Ali Express listings, make sure the card has the HP Part # of 915620-001.

The only concern I have is the location of where the mounting screw goes on the 8723 vs the 8821.

But your notebook's service manual indicates the RTL8821CE part number I posted is supported in your notebook.

See chapter 3 of the service manual.

[bik3]

Thanks for taking the time to respond to me, @BeemerBiker and @Paul_Tikkanen; sorry I am late to see these replies. It appears the images I Posted of the adapters in the initial thread were deleted, apologies there, too.

With regards to the intel adapter: @Paul_Tikkanen. i trust you on this (you are prolific on these threads, and clearly know your stuff), but I'm confused why the service manual lists the Intel 9461 as a single-antenna adapter that is compatible with my laptop? Is this an error? Below is a screenshot of p. 38 of the manual, to show what I'm talking about. Again - I trust you here, just trying to better understand this (will help me avoid similar confusion in the future, when I want to replace something else)

(For reference, the screenshot above is taken from p.38 of the manual here: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c06146792.pdf )

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

The Intel 9461AC Wi-Fi adapter will only work if your notebook originally came from HP with that model card.

If it did not, then it won't work.

That is because it is a CNVi card that only works with certain processors and motherboards.

What Are the Intel® Integrated Connectivity (CNVi) and Companion...

Now, if you want to try the Intel 9461 out because it is listed as supported in the manual, just be cautioned that there is a 99% chance it won't work.

[bik3]

@Paul_Tikkanen - thanks a TON. In no way was I stuck on getting that Intel - I'll be purchasing Realtek RTL8821CE (in fact I found one from a good seller after seeing your last response). I just wanted to understand better. I'm relatively new to tinkering with my laptop, so just trying to avoid future confusion for myself.

I was going to say "why don't they mention this caveat in the manual" , but the more that I think about it, I understand why they don't: even if that Intel adapter is only compatible with 1/100 of these HP 14 laptops, that is still justification for them to list it as a possible compatible adapter. I guess when I saw a list of "compatible parts", my impression was "all these parts will work in every single one of these laptops"; I need to reframe my thinking to "here's a list of all the parts that work across all of these laptops, but each laptop is different and it might not work in yours"

Off topic - but do you have any advice for future reference when I want to swap something, and there is such a list of "compatible parts", how to know for sure which one will actually work with my laptop? (is there any other source I can visit to find out?)

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I agree with you.

Once I advised another forum member to install that card because it was listed in the service manual as supported and it didn't work.

Needless to say, I was surprised by that.

I have read many other posts where folks removed a Realtek card and installed one of the Intel CNVI cards listed in that link I posted and there has been a zero % success rate of any of them working.

Since I don't work for or represent HP, I don't know why they don't put an asterisk next to the Intel CNVI cards with a notation that it can only be used to replace a broken one of the same model.

The only other things you can upgrade would be the memory and M.2 SSD (to a larger capacity one), and to the best of my knowledge you can use pretty much any compatible brand of memory and M.2 SSD you want.

[bik3]

Thanks for the explanation. OK, I feel better about things now. I have already upgraded the SSD in this laptop, so maybe that's about all I can do in terms of upgrades. I might replace parts if they break, but in that case, I can just replace with the exact same parts.

I guess in this particular case (the wifi adapter), it's just experience that has led you to know this.

Either way - I am incredibly grateful you passed this experience to me, because I was about to hit "purchase" on that Intel last week, then thought to myself "better double check first." You saved me a lot of hassle and frustration here.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime. 

Glad to have been of assistance. 

Yes, the only reason I know of this issue is due to other forum members reporting the results of wifi card upgrade projects that were unsuccessful. 

[bik3]

Hello. I just wanted to reply to this thread, @BeemerBiker and @Paul_Tikkanen, and thank you for the time you took to respond to my question. I purchased the Realtek RTL8821CE as advised by Paul (rather than the Intel I was originally going to get). I finally worked up the courage to install it last night - it worked flawlessly! My laptop recognized it right away, and I didn't even need to install any drivers. I can now connect to my new router without issue! I also think this solves some intermittent connection issues I might have had with my original wifi card. Additionally, this was a real learning experience, about how just because a part is listed in the manual (like that Intel), care should still be taken beforehand to make sure it will work with my exact laptop.

Thank you so much for your kind advice to people on these forums, we all appreciate it.