this post was submitted on 15 Apr 2024
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Not sure if it matters but I have Libreboot installed. It's the slot located next to the drive slot.

Also any other upgrade recommendations while I'm at it? I have maxed out the RAM and have an SSD. I am wondering if I should upgrade the WiFi card. I don't know if there are any limitations there.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago (2 children)

A really poor performing eGPU? You're supposed to use it for a cellular card. I'm sure you could find a 4g cellular card in mPCIe, but 5g is probably only going to be in the M.2 formfactor.

And absolutely upgrade the wifi card. They make AX wireless cards in the mPCIe formfactor for whatever reason, and they're a great upgrade over the N cards that they came with. Even AC is a huge step above.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Do you know if a full sized WiFi card will fit? I've already put my x200s back together.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

No it needs to be the half height mini pcie card.

Do they even make full sized cards with AX? The last time I saw those were in the pci days unless you count the wwan card slot on larger machines.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (2 children)

No it needs to be the half height mini pcie card.

Gotcha. I wasn't sure after looking in some ThinkPad forum posts about it

Do they even make full sized cards with AX? The last time I saw those were in the pci days unless you count the wwan card slot on larger machines.

I'm not sure if this is full height.

Do you think something like this looks alright?

Just want to make sure I'm not missing out on anything. I haven't bought a wireless card in a while.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

https://leminal.space/pictrs/image/2bfa8998-8265-409b-a0e9-8bf4b246f7aa.jpeg

That's an M.2 card and won't work without some sort of adapter. I don't think any adapter would physically fit.

https://leminal.space/pictrs/image/5a4f7a4b-e63f-4383-8ddc-416bc5c2dc91.jpeg

The actual card in that picture is the half height one you'd need. The bracket makes it full height.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Makes sense. Do you think card pictured below would be alright spec-wise?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I found that card looking online and it appears to be an intel chipset on an mPCIe board. Assuming it's legit and works right then that should work perfectly. Assuming.

Original comment that's only slightly relevant.

It's AX and it should work but I'm not sure what chipset it uses. I'd generally only ever stick to Intel wireless cards. I've had experience with a number of 6e cards from other brands and nothing comes close to a proper Intel card. My laptops all have the AX201 and x210 cards, but they all have M.2 slots.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Thank you for all your help. I placed an order for a AX210 HMW.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

the m.2 card won't fit but there's a mini pcie version of the ax210 (best performing wifi card rn). Search for the ax210hmw

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Thank you for the recommendation. I just placed an order for one.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Don't use a PCIe 4G/5G card if you care about privacy. That's giving whatever proprietary firmware is running on the baseband DMA access to your computer.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (2 children)

How about a Turbo Memory card? The support on Windows seems terrible, but under Linux, it would show up as superfast 1GB or 2GB flash drive.

I haven't tried it myself, but I am (loosely) planing to.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

how fast is a turbo memory card? Is it daster than modern ssds in a mpcie adaptor?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Not sure about the exact speed, but it's a NAND on a PCIE x1

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I was looking at that myself. Some ThinkPad forum posts seem to suggest it only helps if you don't have an SSD.

If it actually functions as a secondary drive that's incredibly fast that would be a neat novelty.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

I've seen something similar. What I gotten from that is the fact above only applies when you're using it as an accelerator (as intended).

Yes, it would function as a drive, at least under Linux.

Once again, I haven't actually used this thing..

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

An RGB card. Then cover it up.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Perfect size for a Coral Edge TPU. do some tensorflow stuff on device...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Second wifi adapter to share/route/firewall your cell hotspot or public wifi?