Change wifi card on laptop Ralink RT3290 to 300M Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2230

cifroes

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May 3, 2011
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I have an HP laptop (Pavilion 15-e003sp) that has a very bad wifi card: Ralink RT3290.

Can I change that card to another Mini PCI-E card, for example an Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2230?


If not to that specific model, can I upgrade to another intel centrino card that is compatible? My current card is limiting me to 72mbps where on my other laptop I get 144mbps. But preferably I want to change to a card capable of 300mbps to use when I upgrade my access point.
 

metalicgeek

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The option is physically possible. However, HP laptops often have a whitelist in the BIOS that allows only specific wireless cards to work. HP MAY have abandoned this practice in the last year or so, but it's not a guarantee.

Check your laptop's manual to see the list of supported wireless cards.
 

cifroes

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May 3, 2011
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damm, that's shady from HP. Any way to know if my model has that limitation?

i've checked the tech manual and it lists this wlan module:
Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2230 Combo Adapter

so maybe that is supported? any way to check that before buying it?