Any way to utilize Z390’s integrated WiFi on non WiFi board?

[AntDeek]

Is there any pcie solutions for making this work? Adding antennas to an Intel nic?

 

[tabascosauz]

As I understand it, Z390's integrated 802.11ac capabilities still require a "companion" M.2 card (what Intel calls the CRF, "companion RF module") that still looks identical to your average M.2 Wifi card, in order to be fully functional. So if your board doesn't have that, you'd still need to buy that.

The AC 9560 is the only one I'd really buy, as it actually makes full use of the AC Wave2 capabilities up to 1733Mbps. The other ones are shit. And the 9560 should only cost about $15 anyways.

That said, I have no idea where you'd route the antennas though. What Z390 board do you have?

 

[mstenholm]

As I understand it, Z390's integrated 802.11ac capabilities still require a "companion" M.2 card (what Intel calls the CRF, "companion RF module") that still looks identical to your average M.2 Wifi card, in order to be fully functional. So if your board doesn't have that, you'd still need to buy that.

The AC 9560 is the only one I'd really buy, as it actually makes full use of the AC Wave2 capabilities up to 1733Mbps. The other ones are shit. And the 9560 should only cost about $15 anyways.

That said, I have no idea where you'd route the antennas though. What Z390 board do you have?

ASUS Prime Z370-A? From sys spec.

 

[tabascosauz]

Is there any pcie solutions for making this work? Adding antennas to an Intel nic?

ASUS Prime Z370-A? From sys spec.

That's not a Z390 board, hence my question. Z370 does not have PCH-integrated Wifi components like Z390.

 

[mstenholm]

That's not a Z390 board, hence my question. Z370 does not have PCH-integrated Wifi components like Z390.

Ahhh, maybe OP think it does?

 

[AntDeek]

System specs are outdated. Now using a Prime Z390-A. Does this support CRF?

 

[tabascosauz]

System specs are outdated. Now using a Prime Z390-A. Does this support CRF?

I'm not 100% sure, but it doesn't look like it. Both of the M.2s on the Z390-A looked like they're keyed B/M for storage, while usually for wifi cards you're looking for an A/E keyed, usually vertical M.2 slot.

If you're using ATX, why not put one of your PCIe slots to use? Z390's wifi capabilities are advertised so that vendors can save a quick buck on mITX motherboards where they can simply leave the E M.2 slot in the board without the card, and sell it as a cheaper SKU as opposed to the wifi SKU of that board. But on mITX, we're constrained by a lack of PCIe slots, whereas you aren't.

 

[adcx64]

I just like cool new tech. What if I got a PCI-E to m.2 adapter and use a CRF adapter?

 

[tabascosauz]

I just like cool new tech. What if I got a PCI-E to m.2 adapter and use a CRF adapter?

I'm not going to say it's impossible, but your chances are slim. It also won't help you to ask on a forum, because no one has done this and next to no one will do this because it's not in the least bit practical; all you can do is experiment with it and attempt it yourself.

 

[EarthDog]

I just like cool new tech. What if I got a PCI-E to m.2 adapter and use a CRF adapter?

This is over complicating things.

Just get a pcie wifi adapter... they are cheap...and it's the same difference as you would have had to buy the m.2 wifi module if it had the key e slot.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Intel's "new" CNVi cards are a bit of a mess, as they use the M.2 physical interface, but aren't compatible with older platforms or non Intel hardware. They rely on some parts of the WiFi to be integrated into the chipset, so the CNVi modules are cheaper and technically are just the RF front end, not an entire WiFi card.

 

[Toothless]

I agree with EarthDog: get a pcix1 card and call it good. I got some Rosewill card with a red heatsink and three antennas and it works pretty good.

 

[eidairaman1]

Just get a dedicated pcie wifi card, TP-Link etc