So there are many companies offering WiFi chips: Intel, Mediatek, Qualcomm, Realtek etc… who makes the best ones?

I am sorry if this question sounds stupid, because in the tech world it’s best to compare the products themselves, not the brand. However I am not familiar with how this sector of the hardware industry works and product lines of each company. So I hope your answers can enlighten me and others in the same boat.

  • siazdghw@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Intel > Qualcomm > Realtek > Mediatek.

    Get an AX210 or AX411, the later is technically better but is only compatible with Intel CPUs that support CNVio2.

    • NewKitchenFixtures@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Broadcom really should be in that listing….

      Synaptics and Infineon also have product lines branched from that. And Redpine (now in Onsemi) have some extra features for low power.

      Marvell and NXP also figure into V2X where those others don’t always have parts to meet temperature requirements.

    • Sevallis@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Agreed, that’s a good rank ordering. Also, OP, if you want a stronger connection and are using a desktop, consider simply upgrading your connection with better antennas. I upgraded my router, and the antennas on my Intel AX201 with the Eightwood EWUA0160 kit since it has SMA connectors. With larger antennas at the end of a good length of cable, I was able to more advantageously place them for least interference. I can’t ethernet my PC to the router right now, but I wanted to stream to my phone using Moonlight, and this helped me a lot.

    • nathris@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      +1 for the AX210. Its $20 on Amazon. If you have an open PCIe x1 slot you can get an adapter and for under $40 you end up with a wifi+bluetooth card that beats any branded cards from the likes of D-Link or Netgear which are probably using proprietary broadcom or realtek chips.

      Plus its upgradeable. When WiFi 7 rolls around its another $20-30 for a drop in replacement.

      • cburgess7@alien.topBEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        their 6E cards have pretty much patched up the problems. My laptop has a normal 6 adapter and has connectivity issues out the ass. I tried upgrading to a 6E module, but unfortunately the slot doesn’t support a 6E adapter

    • piexil@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      IMO realtek is worst, worse than mediatek.

      Avoid broadcom if you use Linux. Their drivers suck…