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August 12th, 2025 23:04
Will a Dell Precision 3530 allow an upgrade to (and run) at an 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) transfer rate?
Will an 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) card fit in a Dell Precision 3530?
And if so, will the Precision 3530 get a Wi-Fi 6 (AX) transfer rate?
Or in the 3530, will it just downgrade to an AC transfer rate?
The current Wi-Fi card in the 3530 is an Intel 9560 160MHz.
PembertonMike
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August 23rd, 2025 04:44
I tried both the Intel AX200NGW Wi-Fi 6 card as well as the Intel AX210NGW 6E Wi-Fi card in two identical Dell Precision 3530s (with i7-8850H processors).
Both of those Wi-Fi cards installed and worked just fine in those two laptops.
I do not yet have a 6E router to test the AX210 transfer rates on the 3530.
But with an Asus AX Wi-Fi 6 AiMesh router setup with one node and the most distant that I could get in my home from the node (maybe 40 feet), I got 150 Mbps to 285 Mbps transfer rates over about 20 Speedtest.net tests on each laptop.
No clue if the 3530 and the 6E AX210NGW card (and with a 6E router) would actually connect to the 6GHz band and achieve those higher transfer rates.
But both work nicely at 5GHz in the 3530.
ejn63
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August 13th, 2025 11:51
If you have a Wifi 6 router, the new card will give you that speed. If you have an older router that doesn't support Wifi 6, it won't.
PembertonMike
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August 13th, 2025 14:46
@ejn63
Much thanks.
I want to be sure that I understand your reply:
So you know for a fact that the Precision 3530 is compatible with an AX Wi-Fi card, and that it will run at AX speed, and not downgrade to AC?
I ask that because I'd rather not order an AX card and just have to return it.
ejn63
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August 13th, 2025 14:53
As long as you buy a card that is not CNVio (the less expensive modules that offload computations to the CPU) AND you connect the system to a Wifi 6 router, it will run at it full rated speed.
Intel has the AX200 (which will work) and the AX210, which will not (it requires CNVio support, which in turn needs a newer CPU than you have). Be sure you remove the existing network drivers before shutting down to replace the card. Then install the drivers for the replacement card.
PembertonMike
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August 13th, 2025 15:14
@ejn63
Excellent!
I have a number of 3530s left over from a now-sold software development business, am running an AX AIMesh network, and wanted to upgrade the cards on a few of them, if that was possible.
Couldn't find an exact answer anywhere re the 3530 and AX.
So, thanks very much for your expertise, and your prompt, precise answer!
PembertonMike
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December 14th, 2025 07:45
@PembertonMike
Actually, now with Spectrum 1GB service, that transfer rate with the AX210 card in the Precision 3530 is 500 - 700 Mbps.
That's more than enough for my needs.