What WIFI card can be used to upgrade HP Pavilion Notebook 15-au063cl ?

[User75]

What WIFI cards are compatible with HP Pavilion Notebook 15-au063cl?  I have an 802.11ac router (2.4 & 5G).  The Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 inside my Notebook appears failing.  I plan to take this opportunity to upgrade the Notebook with a better WIFI card.   Thanks. 

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

Here is the Service Manual. See p. 38. Since you have the Intel AC3165 you have two antennae and you can use any wireless card of the same form factor. 

Manual

Here is what you have now:

AC-3165 M.2 card

I just upgraded my own laptop to an AC9260 module:

https://www.amazon.com/Intel-Wireless-Ac-9260-2230-Gigabit/dp/B079QH5KW1

I updated from an AC7260 which already was a pretty good wifi card. The 9260 seems even faster, however. Its a 2 x 2 instead of 1 x 1 channel as your card is. 

Just know M.2 cards use a very small connector nipple and it is very easy to break. Click it on and off with the antenna turned 90 degrees from where it is is designed to stay. 

Post back with any further questions and please accept as solution if its the info you needed. 

[User75]

Thank you so much, Huffer.  This is very helpful. Forgive my ignorance, what’s difference between 1x1 and 2x2?  I can replace 3165 (1x1) with 9260 (2x2), correct?   

[Huffer]

2 x 2 is the number of wireless chains:

https://superuser.com/questions/323347/laptop-wireless-networking-options-1x1-vs-2x2

2 x I  is better.  

[User75]

THANKS!

[User75]

Hi Huffer,

I was to order AC9260 from Amazon and noticed some warning articles about “Intel does not support the 9260 as an upgrade path” and that consumers must “check with computer manufacturer beforehand, as they're the only ones that can confirm hardware compatibility, approve the upgrade, and provide support afterwards (if they approved the upgrade)”.

Is the warning specifically for AC9260 or is it a standard business operation?  What “upgrade approval” do I need from HP?

[Huffer]

That is a cover your backside statement as there is some special knowledge needed for this. You will be fine with the AC9260 non-Vpro version. I just installed one myself in an HP laptop as I said above. And I also just installed one in a Lenovo Ideadpad 330 with an 8th gen i3. There is no upgrade approval available. 

[User75]

Thanks for clarifying.   I shall move forward with the upgrade.