Why have Wi-Fi on a desktop?
You may be wondering if you really need to have Wi-Fi on a desktop computer. This will depend on what type of user you are, where you have the computer and if it will always be there or if you are going to move it. You should even take into account what Ethernet network card is integrated.
The fact of having a wifi card It will allow you to connect a computer without using cables. You will be able to connect it to the router or any access point you have. If you connect by cable, that will require an installation and it is not always possible. You can especially have problems if at some point you move the computer to another location or even put the router in another place.
Now, if your desktop computer doesn’t have a Wi-Fi card, it’s likely that the Ethernet card it does have isn’t current, so you’re going to be limited. Maybe it is Fast Ethernet and that means that you will not be able to reach speeds higher than 100 Mbps. Only if the card is Gigabit Ethernet and you use a cable of at least category 5E could you reach 1 Gbps and thus take advantage of fiber optic speeds current.
If you use a modern Wi-Fi adapter for your PC, you will be able to connect at a good speed and not depend on cables or a fixed place to connect. In addition, as you will see, they are cheap and you will find options that are very simple to install.
What to do to have Wi-Fi on a PC
If you have a desktop computer and it does not have wireless connectivity, it is not difficult to add Wi-Fi. Basically you will have the option to install a internal or external card through a USB port. With both methods you will be able to connect to a Wi-Fi network and have access to the Internet.
Wi-Fi USB card
Perhaps the easiest and most accessible option for most is to install a external Wi-Fi card, which you can plug into a USB port on your computer. You will not have to disassemble the equipment, or carry out anything complex. You will only have to buy the network adapter, plug it into a free USB port and the operating system will automatically detect it.
It is a device that can be as small as a flash drive. There are different sizes, since some have an external antenna and others only internal. You can find these small adapters from just 8-10 euros, although they can also be more expensive depending on the features.
From that moment on, when you have the USB Wi-Fi card configured and working, you will be able to connect both by Ethernet cable and wirelessly. You will be able to detect nearby Wi-Fi networks and have access to the network with your desktop computer without worrying about cables.
internal network card
Another option is to install an internal network card. It is not as simple as the previous option, since this time you will have to open your desktop PC. Most common WLAN network cards work by PCIe ports. It basically means that you are going to have to connect it to the motherboard.
This does not necessarily mean that it will be a difficult process, but it is something more complex than simply taking the card and plugging it into a free USB port. Also, your motherboard may not have free slots or may not be compatible with newer cards and you may not have the best results.
If you are going to have the computer in one place all the time and you want good performance, these types of cards work very well. You simply connect it to the motherboard and from there you don’t worry. It will be one more of the components that the team has.
What to consider when buying a Wi-Fi adapter
As you can imagine, not all wireless adapters are going to work the same. In fact, there may be notable differences between one and the other and not all of them will offer good results. Whether you buy an internal or external Wi-Fi network card, you should look at some features to achieve the better coverage and speed.
The ideal is to buy a card adapted to current times, that is compatible with the latest standards and in this way ensure that the connection is protected and without sacrificing great speed and quality. It might even improve the results you get when you connect via cable.
So these are the main factors What to keep in mind if you are going to buy a Wi-Fi adapter for your desktop computer:
- double band: the first characteristic is that it has a double band. In this way you will be able to connect to both the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band. You will be able to avoid interference and problems that you would have if it were not dual band.
- WiFi 6: It is the most current standard and with which you will have a good speed, above the Wi-Fi 5 standard. If you are going to buy a wireless network card, the ideal is that it is compatible with Wi-Fi 6.
- Maximum speed: What maximum speed does it support? This point is also important. You will see it measured in Mbps. The more, the better. You will be prepared for the most current fiber optic rates.
- antenna type: Network adapters can have both internal and external antennas. It does not mean that one is better than another, but generally those that are external tend to have better results. Especially those that are larger can have a longer range.
- Size: but having an antenna or not will also cause the size to vary. However, in principle, on a desktop computer this does not matter as much as on a laptop, but it is one more factor that you must take into account. Do you want a small adapter, the size of a flash drive, or do you not care if it has a larger base if the results are better?
All in all, adding Wi-Fi to a desktop computer is a simple process. You’re just going to have to buy a network card and plug it in, either through a USB port (if it’s external) or on the motherboard (if it’s internal). You should always take a good look at what its characteristics are and thus optimize the results.
