Review: TP-Link AC1900 Wireless Dual Band PCI-Express Adapter
Posted by: Timothy Tibbetts on 03/24/2017 06:33 AM
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Not too long ago, we took a look at some of the Best USB Wi-Fi Adapters For Windows, and I decided to upgrade to a PCI-E adapter in an attempt to improve my wireless connection. Like USB Wi-Fi adapters, there were thousands of choices, but I landed on the TP-Link AC1900 Wireless Dual Band PCI-Express Adapter. It was priced in the $70 range, not too shabby for a good PCI-E card. So, as long as I have it, we might as well review it. It's not a brand new card by any means.
Unboxing was simple and well laid out with quick-start directions, tech support manual, and a driver CD. As always, I went to the website to get my driver directly, just in case. Windows XP - 10 is supported. Once physically installed (you need a PCI-E slot) I installed the drivers in minutes. The entire installation, for those with experience, was 5-6 minutes from box to done.
I ran the usual speed tests, but I have an issue wit most of them. As you well know, it truly depends on the time of day, your current connection and many, many other factors. I am about 30 feet from my Xfinity router with two walls from a bathroom between myself and the router. Being Florida, we have metal "studs" in our walls. On SpeedTest.net I was sent to 3 different servers each time. Google's speed tests were atrocious and in no way accurate. My current service is Xfinity 75/5, and I consistently pulled 90 Mbps down and 12 Mbps up at 7:30 in the morning. My pings were almost consistently 31 MS. However, some servers showed a bit higher, occasionally as high as 110 MS.
Compared to my prior USB Wi-Fi adapter, I noticed immediately faster website loads and a solid 5-bar signal as compared to my previous 4 bars. I guess those antennas aren't just for looks. Because of the fast response, great upload and download speeds and the fact that it's bolted in, I'm sticking with it. My only other option would have been to run CAT5 to my office and I really didn't want to. And now, I don't have to.
Check out the TP-Link AC1900 Wireless Dual Band PCI-Express Adapter here on Amazon.
Specs include:
802.11ac chipset upgrades desktops to Wireless AC, the latest, most powerful Wi-Fi technology available
Built for high-performance computing, such as gaming online and 4K Ultra HD video streaming
Blazing Wi-Fi speed over 5GHz (1300Mbps) and 2.4GHz (600Mbps) bands
Heat Sink technology distributes heat away from core components to improve reliability and performance
Beamforming-capable for stronger, more reliable wireless connections
3x3 true dual-band, omnidirectional and upgradeable antennas maximize connection range and stability
Backwards compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n; Supports Windows XP/7/8/8.1/10
2-year warranty and unlimited 24/7 technical support
Unboxing was simple and well laid out with quick-start directions, tech support manual, and a driver CD. As always, I went to the website to get my driver directly, just in case. Windows XP - 10 is supported. Once physically installed (you need a PCI-E slot) I installed the drivers in minutes. The entire installation, for those with experience, was 5-6 minutes from box to done.
I ran the usual speed tests, but I have an issue wit most of them. As you well know, it truly depends on the time of day, your current connection and many, many other factors. I am about 30 feet from my Xfinity router with two walls from a bathroom between myself and the router. Being Florida, we have metal "studs" in our walls. On SpeedTest.net I was sent to 3 different servers each time. Google's speed tests were atrocious and in no way accurate. My current service is Xfinity 75/5, and I consistently pulled 90 Mbps down and 12 Mbps up at 7:30 in the morning. My pings were almost consistently 31 MS. However, some servers showed a bit higher, occasionally as high as 110 MS.
Compared to my prior USB Wi-Fi adapter, I noticed immediately faster website loads and a solid 5-bar signal as compared to my previous 4 bars. I guess those antennas aren't just for looks. Because of the fast response, great upload and download speeds and the fact that it's bolted in, I'm sticking with it. My only other option would have been to run CAT5 to my office and I really didn't want to. And now, I don't have to.
Check out the TP-Link AC1900 Wireless Dual Band PCI-Express Adapter here on Amazon.
Specs include:
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