IMPORTANT!!! Some news I have just learned thanks to @garyc5245 comment. So, apparently, there is this thing called Intel CNVi and CNVi wi-fi cards work only with CNVi motherboards and CNVi motherboards work exclusively with CNVi wi-fi cards. Also, CNVi has two versions that need to be matched too. Study up on that before swapping your wi-fi cards! read this before new wi-fi card purchase: www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000026155/wireless.html link content: Intel Integrated Connectivity moves key elements of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Technology into Intel processors. The solution is comprised of: - CNVi, the integrated wireless IP portion of Intel processors - A companion RF (CRF) module in M.2 form factor (2230 and 1216 Soldered Down) These Intel Wireless Adapters are CRF modules that support Intel Integrated Connectivity: - Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX411 - Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211 - Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX203 - Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 - Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX101 - Intel Wireless-AC 9560 - Intel Wireless-AC 9462 - Intel Wireless-AC 9461 These CRFs can only be used with select Intel processors/chipset on systems/motherboards that is specifically designed to support it. Though you can insert these CRF into a standard M.2 Key E socket, they are only compatible with a system designed for the CNVi. Contact your system or motherboard manufacturer to verify compatibility. forum thread: community.intel.com/t5/Wireless/Differences-between-Intel-AX211-vs-AX210-WiFi-6E-Bluetooth-v5-2/m-p/1358093 link content: "I do not like the fact that a M.2 Type E socket supporting CNVio or CNVio2 cannot be used with/for generic M.2 Type E devices. That is, if you have a motherboard with a CNVio-based M.2 Type E socket, you can *only* install a Wireless-AC 9461, 9462 or 9560 module. Similarly, if you have a motherboard with a CNVio2-based M.2 Type E socket, you can *only* install a Wireless-AX AX201 or AX211 module. When I say '*only*', I mean that installing anything else may cause the motherboard to not even power up."
Thanks heaps, I did this to my motherboard ( Asus TUF Gaming B650M-PLUS WiFi) after watching your video. It was simple and easy and worked like a charm. I got the Wifi card from Ali express for approx equivalence of $10 usd delivered. It's something I'll do with all my motherboards now I don't want to waste time trying to find work arounds etc if it's not Kernel supported in linux I'm not interested especially when the work around is so quick and easy.
Could you have left that big IO cover off? I am thinking of upgrading the WIFI to 6E on my MSI Prestige X570 Creation, keep the rear IO shield of course, but just leave the big cover off. The RGB loss would be no issue.
Sure, it shouldn't be a problem. The back IO shield should be screwed in, also on your board, I presume, so it should hold. Just make sure you press it in properly into the IO frame on the PC case. The RGB though, the LEDs could be on the board actually and the cover serving as a light diffusor only. So check it out, you might end up in a situation, that the RGB will glow to all directions. You can always turn it off in settings, but it could be that you would have to turn off RGB for the whole board. Also verify, that the the cover IS only a cover and not also a cover/heatsink combo for VRMs. However, that would be unlikely, in my opinion.
Can you tell me what exact wifi card was there originally. Mine one doesn't show up in the device manager at all not even the drivers. Cam you please tell so that i can reinstall the original drivers. I have the same motherboard.
The original wi-fi card is Intel 9260NGW But that is strange, it should be detected. Go to your BIOS and check if the wi-fi (NIC) port is not disabled, if there even is option like that. Try Windows Update to find the appropriate drivers, if that doesn't help, try the Intel Driver & Support Assistant. If that fails, try to find specific driver for this card on Intel website. If that fails, try to update your BIOS, if update is available. If that fails, you can try to take the wi-fi card out and swap it with some other wi-fi card, to see if the other one works or if the problem is in the port somewhere.
@will_neithan i did all these thing but nothing worked. In the end I just opened the io and had to reinsert the card after cleaning it and it automatically came back. Thanks
Hi thanks for making this video it has help greatly, one question thou. I'm building a new pc and I want to know if I should update my motherboard bios before or after I replace the wifi card?
Hey, I'm glad the video helped. Regarding the BIOS, I would say, that the general rule is to upgrade it before the hardware change, because old BIOS has higher chance of not supporting the new hardware. In such case the worst case would be that your PC does not boot. However, if you have the possibility of flashing your motherboard directly without turning on your PC, then such a worst case scenario means nothing much, because you just stick your prepared flash drive with the new BIOS in the motherboard and upgrade it though press of a button. If you do not have the option to flash your bios externally, then you would have to remove the newly added hardware, upgrade BIOS, then put the new hardware back in. So, I guess upgrade BIOS before. Don't forget that BIOS upgrade usually deletes all your BIOS settings, so back them up. There is also styles that you never upgrade BIOS unless you are experiencing some issue because new bios version can cause new instabilities or bugs. However, I do not follow this way of thinking. I upgrade my bios every time I encounter a new version and if there would be a problem because of it, I can always just flash it back to previous version with no issues.
hey one last question, are the antenna cables specific to a certain connector on the wifi card? or it doesn't matter? Like any antenna wire can be connected to any of the of antenna slots on the wifi card?
@@waderhoden Hey, yes, it should not matter. To my knowledge, antennas are universal. That doesn't mean though that some antennas can't be better than others.
just to verify, if I have a wifi 6 (AX201 card) you "cannot" upgrade to the a 6E AX210...right? I've had a device manager error with the current new z590 motherboard and I noticed the 2 wires that connect to the m.2 wifi card were making contact with each other and not sure if that is the cause of the issue. Great video btw, wish i would have found this before my tear down
Thank you for bringing this issue to my attention! I have done some research and it seems that Intel has made things more confusing and less universal. Check the comment I have pinned. So, my understanding is, that if your z590 is a CNVi motherboard, you can use only CNVi wi-fi card in the m.2 slot specified for built-in wi-fi, however any other m.2 slot should be able to utilize a non-CNVi wi-fi card, like the AX210.
That is a big maybe, unfortunately there is no universal answer. First, the ssd and the m.2 slot have to be physically compatible, you need to be able to insert it in.. this step has also a few caveats regarding the keys. Then it is up to the motherboard if the specific slot has functionality for pcie/sata/nvme. It can be one of the options, two, or all of them. Third, even if you make an ssd work in your wifi pcie slot, the speeds and stability are uncertain, since the slot was primarily made for wifi card. So, yeah.
Troubleshoot, troubleshoot!!! First make sure that you have read my pinned comment. Next, take the whole wi-fi module out of the system and try to turn on your PC. If that works, try again your original card. If that works, try the empty module only. If all good, go to bios, try to disable wi-fi pcie port (wnic), then try to plug in the new card again. If PC boots, then it should mean there is no short on the card, so it is some compatibility. Try to disable fast boot in bios. If that doesn't help, depending on what kind of motherboard you have, I remember one time I was getting blue screen after installing new component and I fixed it by changing some pcie initialization settings in bios, so try to find on google: **your motherboard model** "blue screen after installing new component". If that doesn't help, try the wi-fi card in different computer to see if it works.. do this step as one of the first, if it is easy for you to get your hands on another PC where you can try it.
IMPORTANT!!! Some news I have just learned thanks to @garyc5245 comment.
So, apparently, there is this thing called Intel CNVi and CNVi wi-fi cards work only with CNVi motherboards and CNVi motherboards work exclusively with CNVi wi-fi cards. Also, CNVi has two versions that need to be matched too. Study up on that before swapping your wi-fi cards!
read this before new wi-fi card purchase:
www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000026155/wireless.html
link content:
Intel Integrated Connectivity moves key elements of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Technology into Intel processors.
The solution is comprised of:
- CNVi, the integrated wireless IP portion of Intel processors
- A companion RF (CRF) module in M.2 form factor (2230 and 1216 Soldered Down)
These Intel Wireless Adapters are CRF modules that support Intel Integrated Connectivity:
- Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX411
- Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211
- Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX203
- Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
- Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX101
- Intel Wireless-AC 9560
- Intel Wireless-AC 9462
- Intel Wireless-AC 9461
These CRFs can only be used with select Intel processors/chipset on systems/motherboards that is specifically designed to support it.
Though you can insert these CRF into a standard M.2 Key E socket, they are only compatible with a system designed for the CNVi. Contact your system or motherboard manufacturer to verify compatibility.
forum thread:
community.intel.com/t5/Wireless/Differences-between-Intel-AX211-vs-AX210-WiFi-6E-Bluetooth-v5-2/m-p/1358093
link content:
"I do not like the fact that a M.2 Type E socket supporting CNVio or CNVio2 cannot be used with/for generic M.2 Type E devices. That is, if you have a motherboard with a CNVio-based M.2 Type E socket, you can *only* install a Wireless-AC 9461, 9462 or 9560 module. Similarly, if you have a motherboard with a CNVio2-based M.2 Type E socket, you can *only* install a Wireless-AX AX201 or AX211 module. When I say '*only*', I mean that installing anything else may cause the motherboard to not even power up."
This is almost magic. Was looking like crazy to find pcie adapter for my a/e Google coral card. Thanks a lot.😅
I'm glad the video helped:) Are you building a drone to identify and eliminate humans?
Thanks heaps, I did this to my motherboard ( Asus TUF Gaming B650M-PLUS WiFi) after watching your video. It was simple and easy and worked like a charm. I got the Wifi card from Ali express for approx equivalence of $10 usd delivered. It's something I'll do with all my motherboards now I don't want to waste time trying to find work arounds etc if it's not Kernel supported in linux I'm not interested especially when the work around is so quick and easy.
I'm glad the video helped:) Don't forget to read also the pinned comment about the CNVi wi-fi cards!
Could you have left that big IO cover off? I am thinking of upgrading the WIFI to 6E on my MSI Prestige X570 Creation, keep the rear IO shield of course, but just leave the big cover off. The RGB loss would be no issue.
Sure, it shouldn't be a problem. The back IO shield should be screwed in, also on your board, I presume, so it should hold. Just make sure you press it in properly into the IO frame on the PC case. The RGB though, the LEDs could be on the board actually and the cover serving as a light diffusor only. So check it out, you might end up in a situation, that the RGB will glow to all directions. You can always turn it off in settings, but it could be that you would have to turn off RGB for the whole board. Also verify, that the the cover IS only a cover and not also a cover/heatsink combo for VRMs. However, that would be unlikely, in my opinion.
Can you tell me what exact wifi card was there originally. Mine one doesn't show up in the device manager at all not even the drivers. Cam you please tell so that i can reinstall the original drivers. I have the same motherboard.
The original wi-fi card is Intel 9260NGW
But that is strange, it should be detected. Go to your BIOS and check if the wi-fi (NIC) port is not disabled, if there even is option like that. Try Windows Update to find the appropriate drivers, if that doesn't help, try the Intel Driver & Support Assistant. If that fails, try to find specific driver for this card on Intel website. If that fails, try to update your BIOS, if update is available. If that fails, you can try to take the wi-fi card out and swap it with some other wi-fi card, to see if the other one works or if the problem is in the port somewhere.
@will_neithan i did all these thing but nothing worked. In the end I just opened the io and had to reinsert the card after cleaning it and it automatically came back. Thanks
@@avrayushranjan Man, that is strange. Well, it worked in the end, so good for you. Cheers.
Hi thanks for making this video it has help greatly, one question thou. I'm building a new pc and I want to know if I should update my motherboard bios before or after I replace the wifi card?
Hey, I'm glad the video helped. Regarding the BIOS, I would say, that the general rule is to upgrade it before the hardware change, because old BIOS has higher chance of not supporting the new hardware. In such case the worst case would be that your PC does not boot. However, if you have the possibility of flashing your motherboard directly without turning on your PC, then such a worst case scenario means nothing much, because you just stick your prepared flash drive with the new BIOS in the motherboard and upgrade it though press of a button. If you do not have the option to flash your bios externally, then you would have to remove the newly added hardware, upgrade BIOS, then put the new hardware back in. So, I guess upgrade BIOS before. Don't forget that BIOS upgrade usually deletes all your BIOS settings, so back them up. There is also styles that you never upgrade BIOS unless you are experiencing some issue because new bios version can cause new instabilities or bugs. However, I do not follow this way of thinking. I upgrade my bios every time I encounter a new version and if there would be a problem because of it, I can always just flash it back to previous version with no issues.
@@will_neithan thanks, appreciate the advice 🙏🏾
hey one last question, are the antenna cables specific to a certain connector on the wifi card? or it doesn't matter? Like any antenna wire can be connected to any of the of antenna slots on the wifi card?
@@waderhoden Hey, yes, it should not matter. To my knowledge, antennas are universal. That doesn't mean though that some antennas can't be better than others.
@@will_neithan thanks man, your the best!!!
just to verify, if I have a wifi 6 (AX201 card) you "cannot" upgrade to the a 6E AX210...right? I've had a device manager error with the current new z590 motherboard and I noticed the 2 wires that connect to the m.2 wifi card were making contact with each other and not sure if that is the cause of the issue. Great video btw, wish i would have found this before my tear down
Thank you for bringing this issue to my attention! I have done some research and it seems that Intel has made things more confusing and less universal. Check the comment I have pinned.
So, my understanding is, that if your z590 is a CNVi motherboard, you can use only CNVi wi-fi card in the m.2 slot specified for built-in wi-fi, however any other m.2 slot should be able to utilize a non-CNVi wi-fi card, like the AX210.
hai ,can we connect m.2 nvme ssd on that slot ? 😅
That is a big maybe, unfortunately there is no universal answer. First, the ssd and the m.2 slot have to be physically compatible, you need to be able to insert it in.. this step has also a few caveats regarding the keys. Then it is up to the motherboard if the specific slot has functionality for pcie/sata/nvme. It can be one of the options, two, or all of them. Third, even if you make an ssd work in your wifi pcie slot, the speeds and stability are uncertain, since the slot was primarily made for wifi card. So, yeah.
that is pcie x1... so be my guest and get 1/4 the usual speed.
Installed this card, BSOD an instant and windows won't boot
Troubleshoot, troubleshoot!!!
First make sure that you have read my pinned comment.
Next, take the whole wi-fi module out of the system and try to turn on your PC. If that works, try again your original card. If that works, try the empty module only. If all good, go to bios, try to disable wi-fi pcie port (wnic), then try to plug in the new card again. If PC boots, then it should mean there is no short on the card, so it is some compatibility. Try to disable fast boot in bios. If that doesn't help, depending on what kind of motherboard you have, I remember one time I was getting blue screen after installing new component and I fixed it by changing some pcie initialization settings in bios, so try to find on google: **your motherboard model** "blue screen after installing new component". If that doesn't help, try the wi-fi card in different computer to see if it works.. do this step as one of the first, if it is easy for you to get your hands on another PC where you can try it.
Might just buy the pcie version for an extra £20 🤣
Noooo, don't do it, tooo ugly! :'(