this post was submitted on 15 Apr 2024
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Not sure if it matters but I have Libreboot installed. It's the slot located next to the drive slot.

Also any other upgrade recommendations while I'm at it? I have maxed out the RAM and have an SSD. I am wondering if I should upgrade the WiFi card. I don't know if there are any limitations there.

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[–] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 6 months ago (2 children)

A really poor performing eGPU? You're supposed to use it for a cellular card. I'm sure you could find a 4g cellular card in mPCIe, but 5g is probably only going to be in the M.2 formfactor.

And absolutely upgrade the wifi card. They make AX wireless cards in the mPCIe formfactor for whatever reason, and they're a great upgrade over the N cards that they came with. Even AC is a huge step above.

[–] cmnybo@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 6 months ago

Don't use a PCIe 4G/5G card if you care about privacy. That's giving whatever proprietary firmware is running on the baseband DMA access to your computer.

[–] CorrodedCranium@leminal.space 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Do you know if a full sized WiFi card will fit? I've already put my x200s back together.

[–] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

No it needs to be the half height mini pcie card.

Do they even make full sized cards with AX? The last time I saw those were in the pci days unless you count the wwan card slot on larger machines.

[–] CorrodedCranium@leminal.space 2 points 6 months ago (2 children)

No it needs to be the half height mini pcie card.

Gotcha. I wasn't sure after looking in some ThinkPad forum posts about it

Do they even make full sized cards with AX? The last time I saw those were in the pci days unless you count the wwan card slot on larger machines.

I'm not sure if this is full height.

Do you think something like this looks alright?

Just want to make sure I'm not missing out on anything. I haven't bought a wireless card in a while.

[–] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

https://leminal.space/pictrs/image/2bfa8998-8265-409b-a0e9-8bf4b246f7aa.jpeg

That's an M.2 card and won't work without some sort of adapter. I don't think any adapter would physically fit.

https://leminal.space/pictrs/image/5a4f7a4b-e63f-4383-8ddc-416bc5c2dc91.jpeg

The actual card in that picture is the half height one you'd need. The bracket makes it full height.

[–] CorrodedCranium@leminal.space 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Makes sense. Do you think card pictured below would be alright spec-wise?

[–] fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I found that card looking online and it appears to be an intel chipset on an mPCIe board. Assuming it's legit and works right then that should work perfectly. Assuming.

Original comment that's only slightly relevant.

It's AX and it should work but I'm not sure what chipset it uses. I'd generally only ever stick to Intel wireless cards. I've had experience with a number of 6e cards from other brands and nothing comes close to a proper Intel card. My laptops all have the AX201 and x210 cards, but they all have M.2 slots.

[–] CorrodedCranium@leminal.space 1 points 6 months ago

Thank you for all your help. I placed an order for a AX210 HMW.

[–] Jumuta@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

the m.2 card won't fit but there's a mini pcie version of the ax210 (best performing wifi card rn). Search for the ax210hmw

[–] CorrodedCranium@leminal.space 1 points 6 months ago

Thank you for the recommendation. I just placed an order for one.