Wireless PCIe Half sized cards with WORKING IN TREE/built in drivers????

[claydoh]

Many WiFi PCI cards, if not all, are simply adapters that hold standard m.2 WiFi cards. These can be purchased empty, and you can use whatever m.2 you want.
I have used a few of them, and specifically looked for ones with Intel chips. because they have in-tree drivers, which are open source, and ....work.

Most if not all mobos with WiFi onboard are just using soldered brackets and connectors for an included m.2 card.

Some mediateks seem to work ootb, but ime have been flaky and inconsistent. But dirt cheap. But these can still often need out of tree drivers.

Realtek can go any direction. Some with in-tree, some with old crap (or just crap drivers) that third parties maintain to keep them working on modern kernels, etc ad nauseam, Unfortunately, Ethernet drivers among most all brands are well supported. Probably due to massive enterprise use. WiFi is a completely different animal.

It doesn't really matter if one likes Intel it or not, the fact is their WiFi works and has wide support, and will simply work ootb 97% of the time. Realtek WiFi, even after research and user reports of them working in the past ime have been 80-/20+ in terms of in-tree drivers and ootb functionality.

[rec9140]

That card will Just Work, maybe consider a slightly newer 8265 version if that doesn't drive the cost up too much
I have one like this in a 2013 HP laptop.

https://www.amazon.com/NETELY-Wirele.../dp/B09NK763Z2

I will look at it...THANKS.

I found a mini PCIe one that says Linux support, since alot of the other EXPANDED 5Ghz ones seem to all say winslobber only, but maybe they do work. Don't know...

https://www.amazon.com/AX210HMW-Wire.../dp/B0C559XB9L

I have used this specific one in the recent past:
https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Bluet...Archer-TX3000E

This links gives the amazon 404 dogs.. Searching on the TX3000E gives the PCI card ones, were you taking the mini PCIe card out of these?

others:
https://www.amazon.com/5400Mbps-Blue...eless-Network/
and many more

Same dead 404 dogs on this one... but I did find a tri band... thats BS, its not tri band, and its not really 6GHz... non RF people should stay out of naming RF things... urrghghhghghg .

ax200/201/210 cards have all been flawless for me, and I replace any existing m.2 cards with these wherever In can, though of course with the old style wifi cards, this is less possible.

These all seem to be M.2 which won't fly in the unit I am playing with.. I know I am pushing my luck going beyond even basic 5Ghz support.. but since I had to, or errrr chose put 24.04 on it (mainly as a "beta") I figured I try since the 6.x kernels seem to support this better..

if you want ootb support for wifi, Intel is THE way to go, like it or not / Anything that has an intel card in it is what you want for OOTB support --

Well thats a not like it in my book... thats a bear not to poke.. I am not an intel guy, and their current meltdown I am just grinning from ear to ear on... YES 100% AMD has had theirs too, but I love when its intel.. I hope the chips explode! Like I said, I've got axes, and the grind well!

. Realtek is hit or miss, and they have so many chip variations, so you don't quite know which one you'll get often enough, let alone which version of a driver fork to use if it isn't natively supported.
Some mediatek chps should work, but quality of drivers can be very spotty.

Hmmm.. I'd have to go look but maybe there is a big difference in 802.11(x) v. regular LAN chips v. kernel... hmm.. I know I've had broadcom,, realtek, etc. LAN stuff that never had an issue with.. I unfortunately don't operate with the hoootie toottie attitude when it comes to things like drivers and their source.. I really just don't care. So long as the drivers are available, meh.. move on.. I've always 100% used the OEM nVidia driver, I don't give a crap about whether it has source code.. hint: I ain't using Linux for that. Its nice at times, but its less than 2% if that of any issues that have come along.. and this can go way off down the rabbit hole.. suffice it. I don't have the zealtory on this side of Linux that Linus etc. do, and never will.

[claydoh]

That card will Just Work, maybe consider a slightly newer 8265 version if that doesn't drive the cost up too much
I have one like this in a 2013 HP laptop.
https://www.amazon.com/NETELY-Wirele.../dp/B09NK763Z2

Anything that has an intel card in it is what you want for OOTB support -- most of these PCI cards are simply adapters for the m.2 slot style internal/laptop wifi cards - this one shows it clearly without the fancy covers:
https://www.amazon.com/OKN-2974Mbps-Bluetooth hav-802-11AX-Wireless/dp/B07X462KRK

I have used this specific one in the recent past:
https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Bluet...Archer-TX3000E

others:
https://www.amazon.com/5400Mbps-Blue...eless-Network/
and many more


ax200/201/210 cards have all been flawless for me, and I replace any existing m.2 cards with these wherever In can, though of course with the old style wifi cards, this is less possible.
if you want ootb support for wifi, Intel is THE way to go, like it or not. Realtek is hit or miss, and they have so many chip variations, so you don't quite know which one you'll get often enough, let alone which version of a driver fork to use if it isn't natively supported.

Some mediatek chps should work, but quality of drivers can be very spotty.

[rec9140]

You can see the other thread in re Broadcom and non working internal mini PCIe wireless card....

Any one found any GOOD WORKING with out any need for compiling or sourcing other drivers, ie: its built into the kernel etc. for mini PCIe wireless cards...

For $15-20 I might spring for one that does it internally v. the nano TP-Link I got to work, I really dislike loosing a USB port over this.. not that I probably need it, its just the principal of it! .

I quickly searched up this . . . .
https://www.amazon.com/Intel-7260-HM.../dp/B00MV3N7UO

Any one used these? Not a fan that its intel (yes I have axes to grind! )

So any one got GOOD WORKING mini PCIe cards they have found which work, out of the box ie: no driver installs.. kernel recognizes it and moves on... I'd PREFER DUAL band, ie: 5Ghz, and even better if its supports the 6GHz even if Ive not got that AP yet.. they are still to pricey for my blood, yes I am cheap! Never met a OLD PC I can repurpose to something!

Thanks in advance....