Reddit reviews Intel Corp. 7265 Wireless 2x2 AC BT M.2

I replaced it with this

For those wondering, the wifi chip is removable in the xps 13. The standard version ships with broadcom (which sucks on linux), but you can buy an intel wireless adapter that works well for ~30 dollars. http://www.amazon.com/Intel-7265-IEEE-802-11ac-Bluetooth/dp/B00RCZ4I6S

Note that even if you plan to dual boot windows, you'd still want to scrap the broadcom adapter for something else as they are noticeably worse on windows too (although they at least function properly, most of the time...).

Your issue is hardware. You can pick up a intel 7265(or higher) wifi/BT m.2 module off amazon for $12. They are fairly easy to swap out.

https://www.amazon.com/Intel-Corp-7265-Wireless-2x2/dp/B00RCZ4I6S

https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/drivers/iwlwifi

For a stable distro with the latest drivers, I do mint with 2 repos and 1 kernel updater, like so:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HiIEPpPF9ycz7But8WafSO_Jaa_rS3wY53CURK9ciq8

My only rolling release part of the OS are the drivers.

Any m.2 2230 card should work. This one is probably the newest and cheapest: https://www.amazon.com/Intel-Wireless-Ac-9260-2230-Gigabit/dp/B079QH5KW1/

The 7265 is the high end one that came in the R1: https://www.amazon.com/Intel-Corp-7265-Wireless-2x2/dp/B00RCZ4I6S/

I used this one: http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Generation-Wireless-Computer-Notebook/dp/B00RCZ4I6S?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

Getting the laptop open is a bit of a pain though. I followed an online guide. The antenna wires from the laptop take a little care to attach to the card but not too bad. You need to make sure they don't come loose.

This one. I was trying to get linux mint 17.2 running but I ran into other issues and gave up for now.

While /u/javaking is right and I would try his solution first I ended up replacing my card with this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RCZ4I6S?psc=1&redirect=true&ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage

I have better coverage and support in other OS's.

here you go: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RCZ4I6S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I screwed up the first time and got the wrong size (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RB3PSHE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1); it was my first time working with laptop hw replacement and I really didn't know what was going on.

But this works perfectly in my Satellite C55-C5241 (5421? lol).

Just a quick post to give u the link.

Oh and hint if you're a noob like me: get a good set of tools. There was the teensiest screw with no discernable "lever" attaching the old card, and ended up spending hours shearing it off. My new card is taped in there... but it performs like a champ.

GL!

This is the wifi card of the laptop Intel ® 7265.NGWG.W https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00RCZ4I6S/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522865963&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65

They have different form factor so I won't be able to test it on the pc.

It depends on a few factors. The bluetooth devices you use have to be low energy devices in order to actually take advantage of Bluetooth Low Energy.

The Bluetooth 4.2 device is worth it for future proofing, because virtually all new devices will take advantage of this. So everything you buy from now on will run on low energy.

I am not sure where you are located, but I'm in the US. On Amazon, the price difference is just 6 dollars. It is even less if you don't care about Amazon Prime. (Just search Amazon for each device).

• Intel 7265 IEEE 802.11ac Bluetooth 4.0
  
• Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260

Hm, further reddit searching et cetera seems to also suggest Broadcom is a troublemaker and several others are suggesting the same, so might be what I end up doing. I guess this one would work just fine for the XPS 9350 (?)

The Z170M Mortar has an M.2 Key E slot for Wifi. So buy an M.2 Key E wifi module, something like this, slot it in, install the antenna and away you go.

(Antenna might not be supplied with the Wifi card, since they are often built into the case, so you might have to buy them separately).

Thanks for the input! Already have the research going and I think I'm going to attempt this DIY build! My friend still has all the other parts in his laptop, he upgraded his motherboard to one with a GTX 1070 and gave me the old one with the GTX 1060.

I think I can build an adequate desktop for around $650 based on the following parts and prices I found:

Heat Sink/Fan Assembly: $50 https://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=item&id=24584

Power Button Cricuit Board: $15 https://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=item&id=25014#video

DC Power Jack Cable: $13 https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-DC-Power-Jack-In-Cable-for-Dell-Alienware-17-R2-R3-P43F-T8DK8-DC30100TO00/371650335971?rt=nc&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D41451%26meid%3D181e940c80a24d109a2918f307744ffb%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D282574581355&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

Dual Wifi Antennas: $2 https://www.ebay.com/p/US-Universal-Internal-Antenna-for-Wireless-WiFi-Mini-PCI-Pci-e-Laptop-Computer/1348581337?iid=191583624395

180W Power Adapter: $70 https://www.amazon.com/BAY-Direct-74X5J-JVF3V-DA180PM111/dp/B0768F9T3J/ref=sr_1_30_sspa?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1510619852&sr=1-30-spons&keywords=alienware+15&psc=1

Corsair Vengeance 16 GB RAM: $180 https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-3000MHz-Desktop-Memory/dp/B0123ZC44Y?th=1

Samsung EVO 500 GB m.2 SATA SSD: $250 https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-960-EVO-Internal-MZ-V6E500BW/dp/B01M20VBU7

Intel 7265 WLAN Card: $25 https://www.amazon.ca/Intel-Network-7265-NGWG-W-WIRELESS-AC-Bluetooth/dp/B00RCZ4I6S/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_147_bs_lp_tr_t_1/130-6825905-9627626?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PMR6Q6H6XC654K801J6B

DIY Acrylic Casing: TBD

With a cheap custom acrylic casing for all these components, I think this may be an adequate and cost effective build!

Broadcom wireless card didn't work for me out of the box for Ubuntu, OpenSUSE, Arch, Fedora, or Mint. I'd recommend buying the Intel wireless card. It's like $20 here

Thank you!
This is the same card, right? Amazon link.

This one had better reviews.