There are times when your motherboard will not come with a built-in Wi-Fi, and you will be required to buy a separate Wi-Fi card for your PC. Now most motherboards do have an M.2 slot where you can plug in the Wi-Fi card, but if you want something that has a bit more strength, and ability to catch signals in a better way, you are better off with the best PCIE Wi-Fi card.
Now there will be debates about how you should use a wired connection with your PC, but in this article, we are strictly focusing on all the good PCI-E Wi-Fi cards available in the market. As with some of the previous round ups, this one is going to be on the smaller side to avoid any confusions with the consumers.
This helps us ensure that our readers are able to pick the best possible product without having to go through a long list of products, reading all the reviews, and moving back and forth to find the product that is right for them.
So, let us not digress any further, and have a look at the best PCIE Wi-Fi card that you can buy in the market.
Top 5 Best PCIe WiFi Card of 2023
1. ASUS Dual-Band AC1900 PCIE (PCE-AC68) – View on Amazon
The first offering today is from Asus. They have made some really amazing routers, so their superiority in the field of networking is something that we cannot doubt. After all, Wi-Fi cards do fall in the networking lineup. Not just that, Asus has a strong history of some amazing products as well.
The first PCI-E card we are looking at is called the ASUS Dual-Band AC1900 PCIE (PCE-AC68). This is a rather small PCI-E card that comes with three antennas that you can conveniently place on top of your case, or on your desk.
The wireless performance is among the fastest I have tested, the build quality is one of the best, and installing this card is among the easiest. You just need to make sure that your PC has a space for a wireless card, and you would be good to go. Additionally, Asus has chosen a pretty great price for this card as well, as it does not cost a lot of money to begin with.
With all the good things aside, you would wonder if there is something wrong with the ASUS Dual-Band AC1900 PCIE (PCE-AC68). Well, to be honest, the only flaw I noticed is that the antenna extension cable is on the shorter end.
If you are okay with this minor flaw, then you should know that the Asus Dual-Band AC1900 PCIE card is among the best of the best in the market, and should get the job done for anyone looking to have Wi-Fi enabled on their computer.
Pros
- Great wireless performance.
- Consistent connection.
- The build quality is top notch.
- It is easy to install.
Cons
- Short extension cable.
2. TP-Link Archer T6E AC1300 PCIe – View on Amazon
If you look at the product history of TP-Link, you will realise that the company has a great history of releasing some fine networking products. Whether you are buying their wireless routers, or their PCI-E cards, the good thing about them is that they are extremely reliable, and work without any issues whatsoever.
Today, we are looking at the TP-Link Archer T6E AC1300 PCIe. One of the best Wi-Fi cards available in the market that is designed to give users an easier experience. Unlike some of the other cards, this one comes with antennas built into the card rather than having additional adapter for it. The implementation is good, and saves space.
The good thing is that the Wi-Fi remains very consistent, and there is absolutely no drop in signals, or consistency. I did test the card with some online gaming as well. Playing games like PUBG, and Battlefield V. Luckily, there were no latency issues and even the download speeds were consistent. The antennas are removable, so if you wish to change them for bigger, or higher range antennas, you can easily do so in the future.
My only complaint with this card is that the size of the card itself is on the bigger side. This can be an issue for cases that do not have that much clearance or for people who are just trying to keep things simple and minimalistic
Overall, the performance on the TP-Link Archer T6E AC1300 PCIe makes it one fo the best PCI-E Wi-Fi cards available in the market.
Pros
- Great performance.
- Easy to install.
- Does not take up any desk space.
Cons
- The card might be too big for some.
3. TP-Link TL-WDN4800 N900 – View on Amazon
The one thing that I really love about TP-Link is that they have products that are designed for nearly everyone you could think of. Whether you are looking for some really high end products, or just some basic entries, TP-Link has got you covered.
Today, we are looking at the TP-Link TL-WDN4800 N900. This is a dual band Wi-Fi card by TP-Link that for some, might be an overkill, but the good news is that it still gives you a pretty decent performance to begin with.
The card itself comes with not two but three antennas this time, and instead of being larger in footprint, the size has been cut in half. Which means that even with those slim profiles, you can easily put this card in even the smallest PCs. The good thing is that there is no performance drop.
As far as the downsides are concerned, luckily, I did not find any. The TP-Link TL-WDN4800 N900 is among the best Wi-Fi cards you can buy; it is cheap, it is powerful, and the best part is that there is absolutely no performance drawback at all.
Needless to say, by spending mon the TP-Link TL-WDN4800 N900, you will be getting great performance as well. The good thing is that there is not going to be performance drops or anything major problems to begin with.
Pros
- Simple and easy to install.
- Great range.
- Great performance.
- Requires absolutely no drivers whatsoever.
Cons
- None
4. Rosewill RNX-AC1900PCE – View on Amazon
The thing that you need to know about Rosewill is that they are a company that are not that well known in the market. However, there is no denying that they have some pretty great products to offer to the consumers. In the past, I have used products from Rosewill like their cases, and even their keyboards. But today, things are on the different spectrum.
Today, we are looking at the Rosewill RNX-AC1900PCE; a surprisingly small PCI-E Wi-FI card from Roesewill that tends to give you great performance at an even better price tag. Now the thing about this card is that it is certainly on the steeper end, but considering the performance numbers we have, it deserves the price tag.
It supports all the modern-day wireless standards, so I can assure you that the performance is going to be great. It is simple to setup, and it does not require you to spend a lot of time fiddling with it either.
All you need to do is simply plug the card into our computer, and you would be good to go. It offers all necessary security protocols as well, so you really won’t have any issues with that either.
Honestly, after using the Rosewill RNX-AC1900PCE for about a week, I tried really hard to find issues with this Wi-Fi card, but there were simply no issues. However, I would have liked if Rosewill had added extension cables for those who do not want the antennas hiding behind their PC, but that is something that can easily be managed otherwise.
Overall, the Rosewill RNX-AC1900PCE is one of the best, if not the best PCI-E Wi-Fi cards available in the market. It is simple to use, it is fast, and it is reliable as well.
Pros
- Solid throughput.
- Installation takes mere minutes.
- Great speed.
Cons
- Does not come with extensions.
5. ASUS 4×4 AC3100 (PCE-AC88) – View on Amazon
If you are thinking about investing in something that offers you stellar wireless performance to a point it becomes nearly impossible to tell the difference between wired and wireless, then the ASUS 4×4 AC3100 (PCE-AC88) is one of the best Wi-Fi cards available in the market.
Right out of the box, the card delivers great performance; whether you are streaming something, playing online, working, or just downloading something, you will be getting great and consistent performance that will not be disappointing thanks to the fact that there is no data loss whatsoever.
Additionally, you can mount the antennas somewhere else if you want to. The best part about this Wi-Fi card is that it is SFF compatible, meaning that you really do not have to worry about installing it in the small form factor.
In terms of problems, I really do not think there is a lot to be concerned about when it comes to the ASUS 4×4 AC3100 (PCE-AC88). It is indeed one of the best PCI-E Wi-Fi cards that you can buy, and the best part is that it is simple and easy to use as well.
All in all, if you are looking for a great wireless solution for your desktop, or your SFF build, then the ASUS 4×4 AC3100 (PCE-AC88) is a great buy that should give you great performance regardless.
Pros
- Excellent performance.
- Simple to install.
- Can be installed in nearly every single build.
- One of the best price tags.
Cons
- None
Conclusion
The thing about PCI-E Wi-Fi cards is that they are a niche product. This simply means that there are handful of people who would want them. However, that does not mean that they are irrelevant. As the Wi-Fi technology is becoming more and more relevant.
The list caters to the best PCI-E Wi-Fi cards that you can buy from the market. As I have stated previously, the purpose we kept the list simple and concise is because we do not want the readers to get confused because of the sheer number of options available.
If you want to know the best pick, it has to be the ASUS 4×4 AC3100 (PCE-AC88). Simply because for a fiar price, this Wi-Fi card is giving you everything you could possibly want from a card in the first place.
The wireless performance is one of the best; it does not matter if you are playing games, watching movies, or downloading data from the internet, the card gives stellar performance, can fit in literally any PC, and does not cost a lot of money either.
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