5 GHz WiFi Card Upgrade- Compaq Presario

[filupskid]

I just got a new router today and I found out that it is a dual band router and supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. I was wondering if I could upgrade my existing WiFi card that only supports the 2.4 GHz and get one that will support the 5 GHz band. Also if I have a 5 GHz WiFi card in my laptop can I still connect to networks that only support 2.4 GHz? How much would a new card cost? And lastly, if I can upgrade my card, how do I put it in my laptop?

Specs:

Model: Compaq Presario CQ57-33WM

OS: Upgraded to Windows 8.1 Pro

Memory: Upgraded to 6GB of RAM

Hard Drive: 320GB 5400RPM

Processor: 1.50 GHz Intel Celeron Processor B800 1333 MHz FSB

Network Adapters:

Realtek RTL8188CE 802.11 b/g/n WiFi Adapter

Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller

(Lots of WAN Miniports are also listed in device manager)

Can I even upgrade my WiFi card based on these specs? Would it be difficult to change out? Let me know if you need more info on the computer.

Also, if it ends up that I can't change out my card or it is really difficult to change, could I use something like this as last resort? USB Dual Band Wireless Adapter

Any help is appreciated!!

Thanks!

[pepe999 · Accepted solution]

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@filupskid wrote:

I just got a new router today and I found out that it is a dual band router and supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. I was wondering if I could upgrade my existing WiFi card that only supports the 2.4 GHz and get one that will support the 5 GHz band. Also if I have a 5 GHz WiFi card in my laptop can I still connect to networks that only support 2.4 GHz? How much would a new card cost? And lastly, if I can upgrade my card, how do I put it in my laptop?

Specs:

Model: Compaq Presario CQ57-33WM

OS: Upgraded to Windows 8.1 Pro

Memory: Upgraded to 6GB of RAM

Hard Drive: 320GB 5400RPM

Processor: 1.50 GHz Intel Celeron Processor B800 1333 MHz FSB

Network Adapters:

Realtek RTL8188CE 802.11 b/g/n WiFi Adapter

Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller

(Lots of WAN Miniports are also listed in device manager)

Can I even upgrade my WiFi card based on these specs? Would it be difficult to change out? Let me know if you need more info on the computer.

Also, if it ends up that I can't change out my card or it is really difficult to change, could I use something like this as last resort? USB Dual Band Wireless Adapter

Any help is appreciated!!

Thanks!

---

Hi,

According to the service manual this lappy doesn't support 5GHz wireless cards. Newer Intel based laptops (Ivy Bridge and higher) support the latest Intel wireless cards including the latest 7260AC one. Your laptop is older so I can't say for sure what is going to work or not. In this case I suggest to get some of the usb wireless adapters such as the one from your link or one of these:

http://wireless-adapter-review.toptenreviews.com/

[filupskid]

Ok. Thanks for your help! Now that I know that, does anyone have a recommendation for a USB 5 GHz Wireless Adapter? It needs to be a small USB (Nano USB preferred). I don't want it hanging off the laptop while traveling. The smallest one that I found, I posted a link to it in the first post that I wrote.

Thanks!