Tech News Today
  • Hardware
    • Motherboards
    • CPUs
    • Graphic Cards
    • RAM
    • SSDs
    • Computer Cases
    • Monitors
    • Peripherals
    • Power Supply Unit
    • PC Builds
    • Computer Tips
  • Software
  • Operating System
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
  • Gaming
  • Mobile
  • Console
  • More
    • Internet
    • Networking
    • Security
    • Buyer’s Guide
    • Gadgets
    • Laptops
    • Reviews
    • How To
    • News
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Tech News Today
  • Hardware
    • Motherboards
    • CPUs
    • Graphic Cards
    • RAM
    • SSDs
    • Computer Cases
    • Monitors
    • Peripherals
    • Power Supply Unit
    • PC Builds
    • Computer Tips
  • Software
  • Operating System
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
  • Gaming
  • Mobile
  • Console
  • More
    • Internet
    • Networking
    • Security
    • Buyer’s Guide
    • Gadgets
    • Laptops
    • Reviews
    • How To
    • News
Tech News Today
Home»Hardware»USB Vs PCIe Wi-Fi—Which One is Better?

USB Vs PCIe Wi-Fi—Which One is Better?

Abhishek SilwalBy Abhishek SilwalMarch 31, 2023
usb-vs-pcie-wifi

Nowadays, many high-end motherboards come with built-in Wi-Fi modules. However, the older motherboards do not have such hardware components. So you will need to use an additional adapter if you want to get wireless capabilities on such devices.

Two types of Wi-Fi adapters are available on the market, USB and PCIe Wi-Fi adapters. Depending on the model, both types of adapters operate on different Wireless standards like Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), and so on. 

Apart from this, USB and PCIe adapters differ from each other in other features like speed, range, cost, etc. So how do you go about choosing the best one for your need, let’s find out!

Table of Contents

  • What is USB Wi-Fi Adapter?
  • What is PCIe Wi-Fi Adapter?
  • How Are They Different?
  • Which One Should I Buy?

What is USB Wi-Fi Adapter?

usb-wifi-adapter

As the name suggests, USB Wi-Fi adapters are Wi-Fi adapters that you can connect to the external USB port on your computer. They are smaller in size and usually come with a single wireless antenna.

However, many other types of USB adapters are also available on the market. Some do not have any antenna, and some come with a larger or even more than one antenna. They also offer different specifications and data speeds.

For instance, if we consider TP-Link AC1300 USB 3.0 WiFi Adapter (Archer T3U), it operates on Dual Band 802.11ac and provides a connection speed of 400Mbps on 2.4GHz and 867Mbps on 5GHz Wi-Fi.

What is PCIe Wi-Fi Adapter?

pcie-wifi-adapter

PCIe Wi-Fi adapters are 1x PCIe wireless connectivity devices that you need to insert into the PCI express slot in the motherboard. Unlike USB adapters, these are internal devices.

They are slightly bulkier and generally contain two or more antennas. But you will also find PCIe adapters with one antenna or extendable wires/antennas in the market. Some PCIe adapters come with dedicated heat sinks to prevent overheating.

If we look at the TP-Link’s AX3000 (Archer TX55E), it operates on 802.11ax and provides 2402Mbps on 5GHz Wi-Fi and 574Mbps on 2.4GHz Wi-Fi.

How Are They Different?

When it comes to connecting to Wi-Fi, none of these adapters has a complete advantage over the other. The only difference is between performance—ping rate and internet speed and convenience—ease of installation as well as portability.

Convenience

Since the PCIe Wi-Fi adapter goes into the PCIe slot on your motherboard, using the same PCIe adapter on multiple computers is not that convenient. It is because you’ll need to open the case for removing as well as adding this device.

You can easily carry a USB Wi-Fi adapter and then plug it into a free USB port on any computer to get Wi-Fi capabilities on that device. You can even use it on your laptop in case the internal Wi-Fi module gets damaged.

On the other hand, once you add the PCIe Wi-Fi adapter, you can just leave it there and forget about it. It also does not take up a USB port on your computer.

install-pcie-wifi-card-adapter

Performance

While USB Wi-Fi adapters provide more benefits in terms of portability, performance is where the PCIe adapters shine.

Since these adapters usually contain more antennas, the wireless signal reception is better. The signal strength depends on antenna length, so larger antennas are also helpful in this regard. In fact, when there are a few obstructions between the adapter and the router, the PCIe adapter will still catch the signal that USB adapters can’t catch.

If we consider a USB Wi-Fi adapter and a PCIe Wi-Fi adapter with similar specs, the PCIe one will always provide less latency and faster speed.

latency
Credit: Hoosier Hardware

The USB adapters may perform well if they are in a direct line of sight with the Wi-Fi router or modem. But even then, you’ll usually observe a slight drop in performance. Both of these won’t even come close to the speed of an Ethernet cable, though.

However, there are also differences between the USB Wi-Fi adapters of different USB versions. The USB 3.x ones provide about as good performance as PCIe 4 adapters if we don’t account for obstructions between the router and the adapter. But the USB 2.0 ones are generally slower.

Cost

Since the USB and PCIe Wi-Fi adapters are so different in regards to convenience and performance, they are usually suited for different purposes. As such, the difference in cost shouldn’t matter much. But if this factor affects your decision, PCIe adapters are more expensive than USB ones.

Bluetooth Capabilities

Another thing you should know is that many PCIe Wi-Fi adapters provide Bluetooth capabilities in addition to Wireless connection. But this feature is not available in a USB adapter.

So, PCIe adapters are more beneficial if you also want to use Bluetooth devices with your PC. However, keep in mind that these will provide slightly lower performance than the adapters that are dedicated to only Wi-Fi.

Which One Should I Buy?

If you are looking for a more permanent Wi-Fi option for a single PC or value performance over ease of installation, go for a PCIe Wi-Fi adapter.

And if you value portability or want to use the same device on multiple computers, get a USB one instead. 

For gaming purposes, I recommend using an Ethernet connection instead of both adapters. But if you want to use Wi-Fi, a PCIe adapter is more suitable.

X Vs. Y
Abhishek Silwal
  • LinkedIn

Abhishek Silwal is an Electronics Engineer and a technical writer at TechNewsToday. He specializes in troubleshooting a wide range of computer-related issues. His educational background in Electronics Engineering has given him a solid foundation in understanding of computers. He is also proficient in several programming languages and has worked on various robotics projects. Even in his early days, he used to tinker with various computer components, both hardware, and software, to satiate his curiosity. This experience has given him a breadth of experience that goes beyond his educational qualification. Abhishek has been writing articles on dealing with varieties of technical issues and performing specific tasks, especially on a Windows machine. He strives to create comprehensive guides on fixing many system and hardware issues and help others solve their problems. You can contact him at abhisheksilwal@technewtoday.com

Related Posts

how to clean usb c port

How to Clean USB-C Port Safely

May 17, 2023
how to forward ports

How to Port Forward on Router—Complete Guide

May 16, 2023
my computer wont connect to the internet but others will

Fix: My Computer Won’t Connect to the Internet But Others Will

April 28, 2023
astro a10 mic not working

Astro A10 Mic Not Working? 7 Ways to Fix It

April 23, 2023
powershell-get-ip-address

How to Get IP Address in PowerShell (Private & Public)

April 18, 2023
ethernet splitter vs switch

Ethernet Splitter Vs Switch—What’s the Difference?

April 17, 2023
Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Latest Posts
Best-1200W-PSU

8 Best 1200W PSUs for Extreme PC Builds in 2023

May 16, 2023
Best-1000W-PSU

10 Best 1000W PSUs in 2023

May 16, 2023
best-700w-psu

10 Best 700W PSUs for Gaming in 2023

May 14, 2023
You may also like
antimalware service executable high memory

Fix: Antimalware Service Executable High Memory

May 18, 2023
printer-printing-pink

Why is My Printer Printing Pink? 6 Ways to Fix It

May 18, 2023
how to clean usb c port

How to Clean USB-C Port Safely

May 17, 2023
Recommended
Cookie Clicker Garden Guide

Cookie Clicker Garden Guide to Unlocking Every Seed

September 26, 2021
monitor no signal

Computer Turns On But Monitor Says No Signal (9 Ways To Fix)

November 10, 2022
Facebook Twitter Pinterest
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Affiliate Disclosure
© 2023 TechNewsToday, editor@technewstoday.com | Tech Central Pvt. Ltd.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.