What should you know before buying one? I want to connect many bluetooth controllers at the same time if that does not increase the price a lot

  • GamerBoy705@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    You can go for any WiFi card that uses an Intel WiFi chipset pretty much. Good cheap chipsets include the Intel AX200/201 which supports WiFi 6, and Intel AX210/211 which supports WiFi 6E. They also integrate Bluetooth within the chipset itself, so any WiFi cards using these chipsets will also have Bluetooth (check the product description to be sure). Intel WiFi chipsets also have great driver support and compatibility.

    Just make sure your motherboard has a M.2 Key-E slot, which is the most commonly used interface on most cheap WiFi “cards”, or you can get something that is in a more traditional PCIe card form factor.

    Many AX200 WiFi cards cost around $20, which is a bargain considering what it offers.

    • mhz@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      To add up to that, Intel linux drivers are open source, they just work out of the box in linux.

      • Qazwsxedcrfv000@lemmy.unknownsys.com
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        1 year ago

        If motherboard/device has a M.2 E key slot, you can consider AX200 and AX210. The latter supports WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 in addition to WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. You have to avoid their silbing models AX201 and AX211 however as they are using the Intel CNVi interface.

        As is typical with these combo cards, the WiFi controller is connected via PCIe while the bluetooth is connected via USB. I know some manufacturers are actually selling these on adapter cards that have standard PCIe gold fingers and require external connection to a USB port (like the EDUP one shared above).

  • Lemmenmo@lemmy.worldM
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    1 year ago

    I would avoid USB as the range is shit.

    After that, I’d go for this : https://pcpartpicker.com/product/mMJgXL/edup-ep-9651gs-80211abgnacax-pcie-x1-wi-fi-adapter-ep-9651gs

    It’s $1 dearer than the slightly cheaper options, but it looks better & honestly that’s all it comes down to, these all use the same intel chipset.

    Just make sure you plug in the antennas for range & make sure to use the card-> USB header cable for bluetooth.