XPS 8960, damaged M.2 wireless card, what are my options for repair?

Question

Hello,

You may have read some of my other threads regarding dropping a m2x3 screw under the system board. I have a new problem. (I did find the screw) So I was trying to reinstall the intel Killer wireless card when after a couple of hours attempt when I realized I had damaged the part of the wireless card that connects to the leads to the antennas. It looks like a bullseye with the “button” torn off the card. I can no longer attach it and Dell does not have the part in stock nor do they know if it ever will be in stock.

Now I have three questions regarding how to fix the problem.

1. Can I possibly use melted silver solder or such to connect the antenna leads to the card?

2. Dell sales suggested that I get a wireless receiver. So I need to figure out which one to buy. What is an exact or similar or better even, usb receiver to the wireless card. Any advice on how to go about this is appreciated. (The net is so HUGE!)

3. If I buy a new card, has anyone actually tried to reinstall this card? I think I have average dexterity but could not attach the wires to the card, it is microscopic almost. If you have been successful doing this on an xps 8950 or 8960, how did you get it on?!

Any other ideas would be appreciated as well.

Thanks

Tom_XPS_owner · Answer

By the way,  it is the 'intel killer AX1675i'  or 'l'?  I cant read the tiny letters.  Can anyone with better knowledge tell me how to find exactly what card from Intel this would be, on the XPS 8960.  I will look at a build your xps page on Dell, maybe its there.  Thanks

redxps630 · Answer

Re: If I buy a new card, has anyone actually tried to reinstall this card? I think I have average dexterity but could not attach the wires to the card, it is microscopic almost. If you have been successful doing this on an xps 8950 or 8960, how did you get it on?

attach antenna to card before you install card. it is a simple snap on but if the bull eye socket on card is mangled it would not snap on any more. I had mangled two cards before by forcing a snap. just use gentle pressure.

redxps630 · Answer

Re: Dell sales suggested that I get a wireless receiver. So I need to figure out which one to buy. What is an exact or similar or better even, usb receiver to the wireless card. Any advice on how to go about this is appreciated

a high speed USB wireless dongle on Amazon from TP link would do. 12-15 usd.

Tom_XPS_owner · Answer

@redxps630​ Thank You.  I did think of that but Just for anyone who will have a similar problem,  on the 8960, the wireless card will not fit through any of the holes where the leads to the antenna wind up.  It is underneatht the front cover and it ends in rubber part, which I don’t know what it is.

redxps630 · Answer

if you need to buy a replacement card. this is the part number

CRD, WRLES, KILLER, 1675I, WW

Intel(R) Killer(TM) Wi-Fi 6E A X1675, 2x2, 802.11ax, Bluetooth(R) wirelesscard

9PMPJ

https://www.ebay.com/itm/135196822451

ispalten · Answer

@Tom_XPS_owner, why settle for 'what you had'?

Intel makes WiFi 7 M.2 cards... future-proof yourself by getting one, and Amazon has them. BE200NGW and Killer BE1750X.

On my XPS8940 I put in the BE200NGW replacing the AX1650i which was a Killer card.

No problem putting it and it works great with my WiFi 7 router.

One doesn't really need the Killer S/W, so I opted for the BE200, only a few dollars less, but I didn't find the Killer s/w to be of any value to me. It seemed all functions it provided my router already had?

There are other options available to you as well. Don't feel 'stuck' needing to replace the M.2 card. You can buy USB Network adapter's for any 802.1 speed, and even a PCIe M.2 card holder (not sure all can handle WiFi 7?).

Tom_XPS_owner · Answer

Thank You all.  I decided to go with tp link wireless receiver and bluetooth both usb.  But if I should need to get a wireless card and help installing it,  I may upgrade or get same.  Why?  This is if I need the usb devices for another computer.  It was so much fun opening up and tearing down and rebuilding it…only the wireless card was a negative for me.

Tom_XPS_owner · Answer

@ispalten​ Hi,my future ISP, verizon fios does not support WiFi 7 yet but thanks for the great idea,  I’m researching right now

ispalten · Answer

@Tom_XPS_owner​  I assume the Verizon problem is the 5G Inhome one? That has nothing to do with the LAN itself. It is you WAN connection. If that Verizon 'box' outputs the WAN signal vs. and WIRELESS one, it should be able to go into a Router that would OUTPUT WIFI 7. Our daughter has a similar AT&T setup, Home 5G, and the output from its receiver is a WAN connection. Could plug directly into a PC or Laptop. Still need a ROUTER to get wireless around the home. They had an older router that our grandson said didn't work well in his bedroom, too slow for some games.... so I had a 2 unit Deco router sitting idle (Wifi 6) and took over and install the master where their old router was, the satellite Deco in his bedroom, and set it up. Worked like a charm. Now if the Verizon home unit is also a router, have them set it to BRIDGED, that way the output IS a WAN signal, and plug that into a Wifi 7 router and your wireless is then WiFi 7. You probably need 1Gpbs ISP speed though to be able to achieve WiFi 7 speeds, but Wifi 6 could also get close, but if your ISP speed is less than say 800Mbps, WiFi 7 'might' not achieve the highest speed possible, However, with MLO Wifi 7 capability (requires a Wifi 7 network device and router) it could produce higher speeds. That said, I can't tell the true difference between Wifi 6 and Wifi 7 with my 1Gbps ISP speed. Sending an email with either is basically the same time, as is most if not all actions. LARGE downloads I can tell the difference in Wifi 7 though usually. Opening a Web page and filling it in sometimes can be more a function of the web server and the Internet traffic vs. LAN speed.

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XPS 8960, damaged M.2 wireless card, what are my options for repair?

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