Wireless network adapters are devices that are installed to allow the sending and receiving of data via a wireless network. This convenience is highly important for just about every computer, as wireless network adapters ensure that users enjoy flawless network and internet connectivity.
One type of wireless network adapter are known as PCIe wireless adapters- they’re intended for desktop computers. As long as your computer has an available PCIe slot on your motherboard, installing a PCIe wireless adapter is pretty straightforward and uncomplicated, even with little or no experience.
In this buying guide, we’ll lay out the details and specifications of the best rated PCIe wireless adapters for the 2018 year.
ASUS 4×4 AC3100 PCIe Adapter (PCE-AC88)
As a brand new release for 2016, the new ASUS 4×4 AC3100 PCIe Adapter (PCE-AC88) provides all of the “bells and whistles” while showcasing the best performance we’ve ever seen. Utilizing the latest 802.11ac chipset, it relies on dual bands to deliver speeds up to AC3100 through the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz channels. As an improvement over the incredible popular and widely trusted PCE-AC68 (the next recommendation on our list), the new PCE-AC88 uses a never before seen, brand new 4×4 antenna for a 60% improvement in available speeds.
The antenna is to be setup and configured in an external fashion to allow the magnetic base to amplify and efficiently communicate with your router and other wireless devices that are a part of your WiFi network. It’s arranged in a unique 4×4 design with four-transmit and four-receiving antennas to clearly and almost effortlessly provide a drastic improvement over literally any other PCI-e WiFi adapter currently on the market. Additionally, the antenna is flexible in its design so it can be mounted incredibly easily with a built-in magnet on the bottom.
If you aren’t a fan of the external antenna design, you always have the option to remove the individual antennas from the external antenna base and screw them individually onto the adapter itself. This lets you hide the antennas so they’re sticking out of the back of your PC case, rather than place them on a wall, on your desk, etc.
Although it holds the same “red heatsink” style that you may have already seen in the past, the ASUS 4×4 AC3100 PCIe Adapter seems to handle heat and high-load capacities with ease. It’s a customized heatsink that’s been specially crafted for the unique 4×4 antenna design. All damaging heat will effectively dissipate with passive cooling – no need for any specialized fans or moving air.
Compatibility is another key component that should be examined. Needless to say, this adapter works wonderfully with virtually any modern-day build that’s using Windows 7 or higher. Installation is a breeze too. There isn’t much prior experience or tech-know-how that’s needed to get it installed, configured and up and running for the first time. No drivers are necessarily required, unless you’re trying to use it on Linux or an obscure operating system. Plug and play installation makes it an easy upgrade for anyone to make, no matter how “tech-savvy” they actually are.
ASUS Dual-Band Wireless-AC1900 PCI-E Adapter
The ASUS Dual-Band Wireless-AC1900 PCI-E Adapter (PCE-AC68) is compatible with 5th generation 802.11ac chipset and delivers insanely fast transfer speeds up to 1.3 Gbps. It’s also dual band, so you’re assured a super fast wireless Internet connection that doesn’t lag or lose connection. The design includes an external antenna that’s adjustable and fully flexible – you can therefore extend the signal and point it to different directions to get the best reception in your home or office. However, you’re not required to use it if you prefer the 3 standard antennas (included).
It comes with a high power design utilizing the latest AC-1900 technology. With this, dead zones in even the largest of homes can finally be eliminated with any additional effort. This allows for 150% greater area coverage than previous models that don’t carry these capabilities.
The ASUS AC1900 PCI-E Adapter is very easy to install as well – once installed it will give you a reliable Internet connection without hiccups. Just plug it right in and you should be good to go. Comptaible with multiple operating systems including the latest version of Windows 10, it’s a smart upgrade for those who want to stay on the cutting edge of fast WiFi.
From first glance you may have noticed the large red heatsink. It’s designed with this to facilitate the dissipation of heat so stable operation is always achieved. As we all know, overheating is a common problem with computers, so having this built-in oversized heatsink will eliminate all problems that can arise from high temperatures and keep it running cool at all times.
The ASUS Dual-Band Wireless-AC1900 PCI-E Adapter (PCE-AC68) can be purchased for just over $90. If having a quality wireless connection on your desktop computer is really important to you, you will surely find the price reasonable. Built to handle the latest in 4k streaming, online gaming, and the furthest range, we feel that it’s clearly the best of the best for 2016.
TP-LINK Archer T9E
The Archer T9E from TP-LINK is their latest PCI wireless adapter that uses the 802.11ac chipset for the providing incredibly fast transfer speeds over the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Available in either AC1300, AC1750, or AC1900, you can choose the speeds you need and still take advantage of the latest advancements in wireless technology.
With transfer speeds up to 1300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band, and 600 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band, it’s a great choice for those who enjoy online gaming and high definition video streaming. With 3 external antennas. It utilizes a 3×3 true dual band setup in an omnidirectional manner. You can even upgrade the antennas if you prefer ones that are a bit stronger. However, we feel that the ones that it comes with are just fine!
Built with TP-LINK’s beamforming capabilities, you can expect a strong signal, even through multiple stories or walls. The Archer T9E is a great choice for those who have large homes or just want that extra boost of bandwidth. Best of all, it’s backed by an industry-leading 2 year warranty that comes with 24/7 customer support for any technical inquiries.
Rosewill PCIe Wireless Adapter
The Rosewill PCI Wireless Adapter is another great choice that’s backwards compatible with 802.11 a/b/g/n, and its PCI express capabilities enable it to transfer data up to 300Mbps + 867Mbps on two channels.
Since it supports a dual band connection, it can provide a reliable wireless high speed Internet connection. It works on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, but if you’re into watching high definition videos and playing multiplayer games online, we recommend choosing the 5 GHz channel for a more seamless streaming experience.
Since it comes with a bundled utility CD, setting it up is easy and trouble free. Everything is laid out in a detailed and instructional manner to make the initial installation a breeze. Installing it is not considered a troublesome upgrade. With a quick look over the included software, you’ll have it functioning seamlessly in no time. Best of all, supports both 32 and 64 bit versions of Windows XP, Vista, 7, and 8. It also works on Ad-hoc and has a variety of different infrastructure modes for a great deal of customization.
The Rosewill PCI Wireless Adapter starts at just $12 for the N150 version, and is available in increasingly faster versions on up to AC1200 for $58. This makes it the most affordable option for those who may not need the best of the best, but still want a PCI wireless adapter that can offer reliability and decent speeds.
TP-LINK TL-WDN4800 PCI Wireless Adapter
The TP-LINK TL-WDN4800 PCI Wireless Adapter is a dual band PCI wireless adapter, so it can deliver both reliable and super fast Internet connection speeds when connecting to the web. Its interface is compatible with PCI Express and comes with a wireless transmission power of 20dBm with Max EIRP. As for the frequency range, it works on 2.4 – 2.4835GHz, 5.180 – 5.240GHz, and 5.745 – 5.825GHz. Its wireless modes allow for Ad-hoc and infrastructure modes.
If you’re using Windows, the TP-LINK TL-WDN4800 will work both on 32 and 64 bit platforms for Operating Systems all the way back to XP.
It’s really easy to set it up, even if you’re not the techie type of computer user. The accompanying utility CD will serve as your guide when setting the TP-LINK TL-WDN4800 up to your wireless network. In the process of initially setting it up, you can configure the security settings according to your specific needs.
Installation is very straightforward and easy, but if you’re not sure how to do it, it would be better to hire a professional. But really all you need to do is open up your case and slide it into one of your existing PCIe slots.
You can get the TP-LINK TL-WDN4800 PCIe Wireless Adapter for less than $40, making it an affordable and popular option for many
Which Wireless Adapter Should You Go For?
When it comes to fast and efficient WiFi, there are very few reasons to hold back. If you’re looking for the absolute “best of the best”, look no further than the newly released ASUS 4×4 AC3100 PCIe Adapter (PCE-AC88). It’s designed to support AC3100 speeds and is equipped with some pretty cool features that make its unique 4×4 antenna design quite useful.
If you’re looking for a full-featured PCIe wireless adapter, the ASUS Dual-Band Wireless-AC1900 PCI-E Adapter is your best choice. It comes with an adjustable antenna; so you can adjust it and pick up signals from the strongest points in your home or office. And since it utilizes the 5th generation 802.11ac chipset with speeds up to 1.3 Gbps, it’s an easy winner in our book. Promised to clear up dead zones and boost coverage by 150%, it’s the best choice for those who need high bandwidth capabilities.
The Archer T9E from TP-LINK is another great choice too, however. It’s available in three different performance options from AC1300 to AC1900, but priced a bit less than the ASUS adapter.
If you are really on a budget and you’re looking for a functional but affordable PCIe wireless adapter, consider checking out the Rosewill IEEE PCIe Wireless Adapter. It’s the least expensive of the variety, but still performs exceedingly well for most scenarios.
Sir,
My HP Laptop got problem to connect fiber net. it get connect cant brows and shows
DNS..error.
I check with repair shop he suggest to change the network adapter.
could pls adv me.
Thanks
A PCI wireless adapter won’t do you any good for a laptop. They’re made for desktop computers with an available PCI or PCIe slot on the motherboard. Sounds like you should contact HP directly.
desktop about 4 feet from router. cannot connect using on-board ethernet connection. which pci adapter card should i buy? ONLY USE COMPUTER FOR 78 year old mother AND INTERNET
Hello Vern! Sounds like you need something very basic. We’d recommend the Rosewill N300 WiFi Adapter as a cheap and decent option. If the computer is only used for basic web browsing, this should do just fine. Let us know if you have any other questions!
I have been using the TP-LINK Archer T9E for a few months now and haven’t had any issues with it. It was an easy upgrade and enables me to get a strong signal from upstairs in our 3,000 square foot home!
Yes, it’s quite nice. Thanks for letting us know!
Hi I’m planning to buy one of these need one under 100 dollars for online gaming and upstairs…do u recommend any good ones?
If you’re looking to keep the grand total under $100 go with the TP-LINK Archer T9E. Otherwise, priced a bit more, the ASUS AC1900 PCI-E Adapter is our favorite. Both are rated for the same bandwidth capabilities so either should work equally well for your specific situation.
Hi
thank you for your explanation .
I am planing to buy a wirless card for my pc , and I want one with huge range and powerfull connection but still not that expensive .
any suggestion ? please
I currently have a TP-LINK TL-WDN4800 PCI Wireless Adapter. And have had nothing but problems with it. For the longest time I had it and it would show three bars of my wifi, but say that it couldn’t connect to the Internet. While my laptop and iPad could do fine from the same area. Then a month ago the application in the cd it came with started to say that I didn’t have a wireless device, so I uninstalled it and tried to reinstall it, only for it to keep saying that it wasn’t finding the adapter. I don’t know if it’s just this model or what, but which adapter would serve me best for online gaming? Also I don’t know what model or make my modem is but could it also partial be a problem with that?
I should clarify that I could do things on the Internet from time to time with the wireless adapter, but it was so unreliable that gaming or watching video a majority of the time was impossible. Also I tried to use a wifi repeater to help get a better signal, but it doesn’t help.
Hello Church,
That’s really unfortunate that you’ve had problems with it. What Operating System are you using?
Could it be a faulty card? I would contact TP-Link and take advantage of their 2 year warranty and they should be able to replace it for you. Their phone number is +1 866 225 8139, or you can email them directly at support.usa@tp-link.com.
If you wanted to try another card that excels with gaming, I recommend the (PCE-AC68) from Asus. It’s the first option that we showcase in this post. It seems to be the best fit for most people, but it’s also a few extra dollars.
Also, I highly doubt that your modem has anything to do with it, but your router may be having compatibility issues with your wireless adapter. What’s the make/model of your router?
Hello. I’m buying a new computer and i’m going to build it myself, but i don’t have wired internet connection so i have to buy one of these cards, what card do you recommend? Also i’m going to play games with it (League of Legends, Counter Strike, H1Z1, etc.) so i need good ping.
Oh, and also I’m really on a budget so the cheapest possible would be nice
Hello Johny93, thanks for leaving a comment with your question! If budget isn’t an issue, we always reccomend the Asus PCE-AC68 (the first option above). However, if budget is a huge importance, go with the Archer T9E from TP-LINK (the second option above). They’re both capable of AC1900 speeds and should both suffice for the specific games you love to play. Please let us know if you have anymore questions.
Hey! I have the TP-LINK TL-WDN4800 PCI Wireless Adapter. When I first got the product, my internet was fast and fine, there was no problems, then just a few days ago, I started to get “lag spikes” while playing any games. Do you have any idea why this just popped out of no where, and what the problem could be?
Thanks!
That sounds a bit strange. How many devices and computers do you have on the network? How far are you away from your router? What kind (make/model) of router do you have? Honestly, it could be many different things – it might be hard to pinpoint exactly what’s causing it. Have you contacted TP-LINK? They offer good support for their products.
Thanks for your write-up. VERY helpful! Just picked up the new ASUS 4×4 AC3100 PCIe Adapter and I must say, it’s incredibly fast and there’s a HUGE improvement in my WiFi speeds. I’m using Windows 10 and it was a breeze to install. Just plugged it right in and I was good to go.
Awesome! Yeah the new Asus 4×4 AC3100 PCIe Adapter is downright phenomenal. A great buy and an easy upgrade for sure!
Purchased a TL-WN881ND 4 months ago and recently it started dropping internet connection despite the software saying that i have 60percent signal strength.. would like to know which fast, reliable card for under 50 bucks would you recommend.. must be reliable and be abkle to handle multiplayer gaming.. at the rate that this card is dropping internet connection it may stop working soon
Hey man!
I am stuck between the Asus AC-68 and the TP-Link Archer T9E. The T9E would fit perfectly for my build because its colour. The Asus would not fit very well, but I was just wondering. Is there a really big difference between them? I am planning to have my PC under the desk. My router is not far away just 8-9 meters I think and it does just face 1-2 walls.
Thanks! Awesome review!
Sounds like the T9E would do just fine for your scenario. Thanks for leaving a comment – no problem!
This is by far the best review I could find on PCIe wireless network cards–thank you!
My current setup is:
– Router: 802.11 a/b/g/n at a max speed of 300 Mbps
– Cable internet package only allows download speeds of “up to 30 Mbps” (I may someday upgrade to 150 Mbps)
– Current PCI network card (Belkin F5D7000) is slow at 54 Mbps
I mostly use my desktop PC for internet (including bitstreaming videos). The obvious bottleneck is my wireless network card and plan to upgrade (I have a free PCIe slot on my motherboard thankfully). I am strongly considering the Rosewill N600 because it’s cheap ($25 with shipping here in Canada) and (from what I can tell…would appreciate your confirmation) would remove the wireless network card as the bottleneck in my internet connection. But I am the type of person who likes to use my money towards something that will last so I’m considering the ASUS PCE-AC88 and PCE-AC68 too. My question is: In order to actually benefit from the ASUS PCE-AC88 or PCE-AC68 would I also have to buy a new router (will these even work with mine)? If so, which routers would you suggest (so I can see what the costs would be)? Or will my internet speed always be a bottleneck preventing me from benefiting with these more expensive network cards? Many thanks for your thoughts!
Which of the above work with Linux??
Thank you for sharing.
Very useful.
Faraz
I have been searching everywhere for a good card (at least 1300 mbps speed or more) that supports bluetooth. It seems, I can get a slower internt and bluetooth combo or just a fast wifi without bluetooth. Why is this? How can I get bluetooth on my new build without having to use a dongle? As a seperate option could I also just get a cheaper card but disable the wifi on it- then get a good TP-Link 1900 with it?
Exactly my dilemma right now. I was originally looking at the Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I since it just uses an internal USB header for the BT on the card and supports medium wifi speeds. But the reviews mentioned having a terrible time working the drivers for Win7, and that’s the platform I’m sticking with right now after ditching 10 when I had my laptop
What would you recommend for gaming online AND Livestreaming? My USB adapter at the moment isn’t cutting it. it used to be able to livestream to 1080p but then after a while, it keeps crashing. So, after reading a few reviews and such, I heard that the PCI adapters are better. So what would you recommend?
Gaming and live streaming are both high-demand activities. The more bandwidth, the better! Go with the Asus PCE-AC88.
Hi TechGuru, I’m not sure about all this wifi stuff myself. We have a Netgear wifi router that is hooked up to a Windows 10 laptop in the basement of our house. My desktop is a Dell Intel core 2 Duo Inspiron – 530 that came with windows Vista, but I had Windows 7 installed on it by a professional. All the programs I want to use for my art including my web pages is on my desktop that doesn’t have wifi. Also I can’t use my windows 10 laptop for my art because it won’t work with my digital Nikon transfer camera program. Windows 10 locks up all the time when I try to use it. I really want to be able to use my desktop since all my programs are already on it. Even though my desk top is in the room next to the router I have dead spots. I just bought a wifi adapter yesterday from Staples that plugs into the USB port on the front of my desk top. Needless to say it’s horrible. I installed my virus program yesterday which needed to update. I started the update at 3:00 pm and by 10:00 pm it was still updating. I ended up shutting of my desk top before it was completed. I’m positive it would still be updating now. Will the ASUS Dual-Band Wireless-AC1900 PCI-E Adapter (PCE-AC68) work with my desk top and how is it for handling heat? I know I’m going to need one that works well with dead spots because we have lots of them in our house. We ended up buying the Linskys Ac1750 Wifi range extender to use our laptops upstairs. We plugged the extender in the room that is right above the room where the router is because we couldn’t get it to work in other areas upstairs. We are now able to use our laptops upstairs most of the time. Any help would be very much appreciated!
The higher-end Asus units might be good, but the AC56 I’ve dealt with in the past is semi-garbage. No matter where you put the external antenna, a typical smartphone outperforms it. This is in a dorm room mostly, but performance was similarly inferior at home. I fought with it and managed to get maybe ~75% of the throughput of common Android and iOS devices in the same locations.
I always prefer Intel wifi adapters. Even on my AMD mITX boards, I’ve always gotten best results from using pretty much any Intel M.2 wifi/BT adapter, even with the same antennas! These days if a board comes with something cheaper, I’ll pop it out and slap in an Intel adapter. Speeds go up, and more importantly CONSISTENCY improved.
Also Intel’s drivers are better, at least for wireless. I had a friend with an entry level TP Link POS and the newest drivers are like two years old, and performance sucks regardless of whether you use their junk config software or let Windows manage it. Even an older cheap Intel M.2 wifi chip has fairly recent (and decent) drivers.