Wireless Card or USB?

funkyCable · 13-12-2006, 10:24

Hi

I wanted to find out whats the pros and cons of having a PCI wireless card for a PC or buying a USB Wireless adaptor. I have a USB Adaptor but a friend wants me to install a wireless network for them on their PC. So I would like so advice.

Many Thanks

bopdude · 13-12-2006, 10:29

I don't know of any speed difference between the 2, I suppose it all depends on functionality, usb being easily removed and replaced etc etc. I use usb and its so handy to be able to swap it to a different machine if needed

HTH

Aragorn · 13-12-2006, 10:31

IMO, there are two reasons to use a USB adapter -
1. There are no free PCI slots in your PC (could also apply to laptops)
2. You are unable to install a PCI card (eg no experience adding cards, would invalidate warranty)

If neither of those apply, go PCI.

---------- Post added at 10:31 ---------- Previous post was at 10:29 ----------

Bop has a valid point about swapping among machines, but if every system has its own adapter, ie your mate has only one computer, that prob doesn't apply.

Steve H · 13-12-2006, 10:39

PCI all the way, unless like said above it will invalidate your warranty or you don't have a clue how to install one!

I suspose it's not so much of an issue on newer computers, but USB uses system resources .....

Tech_Boy · 13-12-2006, 10:40

the answer comes down to these facts, a PCI (or in a laptop PCMCIA) cards are doing natively what they were designed to do, where as USB is using a large amount of your PC's processing power to emulate a PCI/PCMCIA card.

PCI/PCMCIA will allways be the preferred choice for wired or wireless networking, tho at a pinch USB will suffice, in the short term.

bopdude · 13-12-2006, 10:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve H

I suspose it's not so much of an issue on newer computers, but USB uses system resources .....

It does ??? how much more than a pci card ???

---------- Post added at 10:43 ---------- Previous post was at 10:41 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tech_Boy

t

tho at a pinch USB will suffice, in the short term.

Short term and at a pinch

I use my usb adapter for downloads and online gaming, ( not at the same time obviously ) doesn't flinch, sits there and does it's job......well, IMHO

13-12-2006, 10:47

well it does use power but not a lot and it does use cpu power but again not a lot .You have a nice dual core system Bop it aint gonna worry you

A pci device draws power and also uses cpu power of course

bopdude · 13-12-2006, 10:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

well it does use power but not a lot and it does use cpu power but again not a lot .You have a nice dual core system Bop it aint gonna worry you

A pci device draws power and also uses cpu power of course

I know it will use some power, as any device will, I was interested to see if Steve H had some comparison chart or info, not that I'm thinking of changing, quiet happy with mine, my cpu is sat at between 1 and 2 %, while surfing and with my torrents going at the same time, system ram is using only 500mb well, just less actually

13-12-2006, 10:59

yeah I use usb cuz there handy to have if someone needs one I can nick Bethias easy sell it then buy a new one lol

dilli-theclaw · 13-12-2006, 11:01

HHHmmm I've used a usb - pcmcia and now a minipci wireless card in my laptop. And I never noticed any real difference in speed.

The only reason I settled on the minipci one was for conveniece as the antenna is built into the screen and the card is in the minipci slot on the bottom of the laptop.