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What Is a Wireless Network Adapter?

In order for a computer to connect to a WiFi network, it needs a wireless network card, sometimes known as a network adapter, connected to its motherboard. A wireless card picks up wireless signals from a router or access point via its antennas, allowing the user to create a wireless connection to the internet.

If you have never seen or heard of a wireless adapter, it is probably because most of todays motherboards come with onboard WiFi cards built in. Thus, you usually won’t need to buy a separate WiFi adapter when you purchase a new computer. However, if you are building a desktop PC, some motherboard models require you to install your own wireless network adapter instead.

You might also use an adapter if your PCs built in card doesn’t support the latest WiFi technology, such as dual band 2.4GHz / 5GHz or the WiFi 6 standard. If your PC currently doesn’t support Bluetooth connectivity, you might also be looking for a so called combo card that also adds Bluetooth functionality.

Which Wireless Network Adapter Should I Choose?

These are some of the most important factors to consider when you are evaluating the specs of a wireless network adapter:

USB vs. PCIe: USB WiFi adapters connect to your computers USB port, typically via a USB-A connector. They are convenient to install and easy to move from one computer to another. Take note of the supported USB protocols if you are looking for the high speeds of USB 3.0. PCIe adapters connect directly to your motherboard through its PCIe slots. They are slightly more complex to install, although still relatively simple, and they tend to provide faster performance than USB adapters.

Form Factor: Some USB wireless adapters use only a fingernail sized dongle. Others, including most PCIe based models, use multiple external antennas to provide improved signal strength.

Connectivity Standards: Some wireless adapters also include Bluetooth compatibility, allowing you to connect Bluetooth devices to your computer. If your router uses popular speed boosting standards like MUMIMO or dual band WiFi, make sure your wireless adapter is compatible with these standards so you can enjoy the full advantages of their improved speeds. Finally, with more people making the transition to the WiFi 6 standard, it can also be a smart idea to look for WiFi 6 compatibility - so long as your router also supports it.

Operating System: Some adapters only support Windows or macOS, or in some cases, certain Linux distros).

Find The Best Wireless Network Adapters at Micro Center

Shop Micro Centers selection of wireless network adapters here and find the perfect connectivity solution for your PC. We offer industry best pricing on top networking tech brands like TP Link, Netgear, ASUS, and more. Setting up WiFi for your home? See our full lineup of wireless networking devices, including routers, range extenders, and more.

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Community Article Alan Wake 2 Build Guide: A Budget-Friendly Build for a AAA Release — Micro Center Written by Sean Mekinda In a month jam-packed with launches, Alan Wake 2 is looking to be the game that pushes computers to their limits - and with good reason. Community Article [Solved] Atari RetroPi card fails to download at 15% to 45% — Micro Center Assembled and booted my new Pi 3+ with my new Atari RetroPi card, connected to my wifi and happily started downloading just to reboot after about 15%. Community Article Price of building fee? — Micro Center AMD Ryzen 7 3800X 3.9 GHz 8-Core Processor NZXT Kraken X73 73.11 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler MSI MAG X570 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX AM4 Motherboard Community Article Upgrading my PC — Micro Center I am currently looking for a wifi adaptor and new grapics card for my PC. I currently have a Asus Sabertooth Z87 LGA 1150 Motherboard. what are my options Community Article NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Build Guide — Micro Center Introducing the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, offering a graphical step up from the GeForce RTX 3070 without making a full-priced jump to the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. Community Article The Infinite White PC Build Guide - Making the Most of the Meta Quest 3 — Micro Center Written by @Julia_V While the new Meta Quest 3 is designed to be an entirely wireless, portable VR headset, it can connect to computers for PC-based VR experiences. Community Article AMD's New Radeon RX 7800 XT: A Sub $1500 1440p Build Guide! — Micro Center Written by Sean Mekinda AMD's newest GPUs launched just last week and they are very exciting for budget-minded 1440p builders! Community Article How to find your Wi-Fi password in Windows 10 using Command Prompt - Micro Center If you are not sure what your Wi-Fi/wireless password is for the network you are currently connected to, that can be found directly using Command Prompt on your Windows 10 PC. NOTE: This would not allow you to get password information for networks which you do not already have the password. 1. Open the Start Menu and type… Community Article How to find your Wi-Fi password in Windows 11 using Command Prompt - Micro Center If you are unsure what your Wi-Fi/wireless password is for the network you are currently connected to, that can be found directly using Command Prompt on your Windows 11 PC. NOTE: This would not allow you to get password information for networks for which you do not already have the password. 1. Open the Start Menu and… Community Article On-Board WiFi/Bluetooth dies frequently - Aorus B450 Pro WiFi — Micro Center About a year ago, I built a PC using a Gigabyte Aorus Pro WiFi B450 MoBo.  I had problems with bluetooth staying connected almost immediately, but the PC was built, and I wasn't going to tear it down again to replace the MoBo because I'm lazy AF.  I use a Microsoft Surface keyboard and mouse, and have no connection issues on my work laptop with the same peripherals, though my bluetooth headphones almost never drop connection..  I have checked for driver updates continuously, but it says it's always up to date.  Is this a problem with a specific frequency of bluetooth, or a protocol?  Can I resolve this by adding a PCI Network card to the board? 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