One for the techies!

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Dan1502

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Dan
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I've just ordered a Dell Vostro (see other thread) and as it doesn't come with a wireless adapter and I could only order one over the phone with an internal card and I didn't want to miss out on quidco.

Anyway the following is a link to the board layout:

http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/vos430/en/sm/tech_sysbd_diagram.htm

The only other items I might at for the time being are another hard drive and possibly an express card adapter in order that if I buy an express card to compact flash adapter I could use it on this machine as well as my laptop.

So, my question is whether I should get a PCIe Wireless card or not and whether this would preclude me from also getting an express card adapter?

If there is an alternative better solution please also say so.

Thanks

Dan
 
Are you absolutely sure it doesn't come with a wireless adapter? I'd find it very strange for any new laptop not to come with one! A quick look through Dell seems to suggest they all do..
 
purpleclouds said:
Are you absolutely sure it doesn't come with a wireless adapter? I'd find it very strange for any new laptop not to come with one! A quick look through Dell seems to suggest they all do..
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His links goes to a desktop motherboard :shrug:
 
I use a Belkin Wireless N USB adaptor, either plug it directly into the usb port or use the supplied lead and stand so that you can set it somewhere handy.
 
how much did you save through quidco and how much are you going to have to spend to get the bits?
 
Harvey_nikon said:
how much did you save through quidco and how much are you going to have to spend to get the bits?
Click to expand...

I saved 5% through quidco so about £25. So the amount I saved should cover the wireless adapter.

So, to summarise, a USB wireless N adapter will be just as fast as an PCIe card?

I can get a standard PCI card wireless N adapter?

Either of the above would leave my PCIe 1 slot free - is it this slot which an express card adapter would plug into?

Thanks

Dan
 
Why don't you get a usb wireless card? If your that worried about speed- get a pair of ethernet over power plugs.
 
aligibbs said:
Why don't you get a usb wireless card? If your that worried about speed- get a pair of ethernet over power plugs.
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Quite happy to if I can get one that doesn't have to be placed on top of the box to be knocked about but I'm just trying to decide on the best and tidiest option. I am also trying to understand what I can plug in where and the pros and cons including where the express card adapter would plug in - PCIe 1 or PCIe 16 or either?
 
As Neil said go for PCI1 and leave the PCIE slot free for a future graphics upgrade. A wireless network card doesn't need the PCIE bandwidth.
A USB card would be possibly fast enough too (they're often only 150 mbits for wireless N), the simple choice is whether you want an internal or external device. As Alistair suggested, you could also go for a pair of ethernet plugs.

And by the time you've sorted it, you can work out your 'real' savings against the £25 from Quidco. A decent Wireless N adaptor with p&P is going to be over £20.
 
Phil V said:
And by the time you've sorted it, you can work out your 'real' savings against the £25 from Quidco. A decent Wireless N adaptor with p&P is going to be over £20.
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Guessing he would also have paid extra for the wireless card over the phone..... :)
 
He can use a pcie wireless card, there are two slots, the 16x one for gfx card and the smaller (1x ?) underneath it. Depending on what you are using your network for depends on what sppeds you need. Wireless N is fastest atm but you need a N router too. If you need the speed go hard wired.
 
aligibbs said:
Guessing he would also have paid extra for the wireless card over the phone..... :)
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Beat me to it and the external ones on offer by Dell were more expensive than could be sourced separately.

I have a wireless N router so would like an n class card. Whilst I could use the small PCIe slot I am wondering which PCIe slot a PCIe to exress card adapter would use as if this is the small one I would like to keep it free for that as I'm thinking of buying a lacie (or similar) fast express to CF card reader as the 20 mb RAW files from my camera take a stupid amount of time to download via USB and my laptop also has an express card slot.

Thanks for the advice.
 
Dan1502 said:
Beat me to it and the external ones on offer by Dell were more expensive than could be sourced separately.

I have a wireless N router so would like an n class card. Whilst I could use the small PCIe slot I am wondering which PCIe slot a PCIe to exress card adapter would use as if this is the small one I would like to keep it free for that as I'm thinking of buying a lacie (or similar) fast express to CF card reader as the 20 mb RAW files from my camera take a stupid amount of time to download via USB and my laptop also has an express card slot.

Thanks for the advice.
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It wasn't clear to me originally that the over the phone price didn't include a wireless card - I apologise.

But around here the argument appears more important than the advice :bang:- the best slot to use is one of the standard PCI ones, leaving the faster PCIe slots free for something that needs the bandwidth.

I also tend to forget that I need to actually say to some people that buying accesories from somewhere like Dell is a fools errand!:( I generally take it as obvious.:shrug:
 
Phil V said:
It wasn't clear to me originally that the over the phone price didn't include a wireless card - I apologise.

But around here the argument appears more important than the advice :bang:- the best slot to use is one of the standard PCI ones, leaving the faster PCIe slots free for something that needs the bandwidth.

I also tend to forget that I need to actually say to some people that buying accesories from somewhere like Dell is a fools errand!:( I generally take it as obvious.:shrug:
Click to expand...


That's ok, thanks. Just been looking and the Linksys dual band looks very good but twice the price of the Tenda one sold by ebuyer which is also well reviewed on ebuyer.

As it's for the company I'm tempted to go with the Linksys one.
 
I think so yeah but will check later

Not sure I have the box or driver CD but as said, you are welcome to have it if you like

PM me if you like as I may miss the topic
 
whitey said:
I think so yeah but will check later

Not sure I have the box or driver CD but as said, you are welcome to have it if you like

PM me if you like as I may miss the topic
Click to expand...

Many thanks to Steven who's generously sending me his unused USB adapter - top bloke!
 
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