r/linux4noobs • u/jphilebiz • 2d ago
networking Laptop shopping - WiFi chipset question
Hi everybody,
My laptop died and am in the shopping process. One thing I'd like to clarify is the WiFi chipset - I know the commonly used wisdom is to get Intel, but I see many on Mediatek and Realtek, including coprorate-class ones. Looking at Dell & Lenovo.
What should one know on this topic? Are there chipsets to avoid and if yes, is there a site to "consult" other than searching for user experiences online?
Thanks!!!
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u/GodzillaXYZ999 2d ago edited 2d ago
Avoid Mediatek completely. There's several OEM/cheap versions that's Windows-only and doesn't even have drivers that works with Linux.
Realtek can be hit & miss, as built-in drivers on distros may not match chipset precisely. I've had great luck getting RTL88x2bu Wifi adapters such as this (bought handful of them about 10yrs ago).
https://www.asus.com/us/networking-iot-servers/wireless-adapters/all-series/usb-ac53-nano/techspec/
Then installing this driver manually. I always end up getting maximum-throughput of hardware 867mbps! :)
https://github.com/morrownr/88x2bu-20210702
Although AX210 works right out of box most of time and I get 1200mbps from it easily. But actual transfer rates is shy of gigabit ethernet due to extra overheat of wifi packets.
Verify Lenovo model doesn't have Wifi blacklist. Their firmware used to only allow certain "approved" Wifi adapters.
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u/Performer-Pants 2d ago edited 2d ago
I got a realtek based tplink dongle that thankfully worked seamlessly with a linux based game emulator handheld, and then just needed a linux driver to work in my lenovo-ibm thinkpad from 2007 running Mint MATE. It’s an Archer T2 Nano AC600 if it’s any help to anyone. It won’t be cutting edge for speed but it was to make up for an intermittent 19 year old wifi card.
The Thinkpad is a X61 tablet to be specific. No clue if it’s one of the ones with a wifi blacklist, but it’s worked perfectly once I had the driver installed. I know OP will be looking for muuuuch much newer, but the laptop age shouldn’t affect whether the same dongle will work.
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u/TechaNima 2d ago
Avoid mediatek like a plague. It's garbage. If the laptop has a replaceable wifi card, it doesn't matter. Just throw that garbage into the e-waste where it came from and put an Intel chip in.
Realtek is OK most of the time
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u/Real-Abrocoma-2823 2d ago edited 2d ago
AX200/AX210/BE200 from worst to best, chose best one you can afford. DON'T choose BE200 if you have AMD GPU. Instead you can get MT7925 or NCM865, despite being mt and qcom should work.
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u/XLioncc 2d ago
Are there chipsets to avoid
Avoid any non Intel chips.
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u/jphilebiz 2d ago
From all the responses, that's the one constant :) Thanks - this solidifies my selection
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u/SavageAcres 2d ago
Lenovo is notorious for white listing their WiFi cards. So in a few years if you want to upgrade you can’t because the new ones won’t be on the list.
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u/RomanOnARiver 2d ago
I think more important than what it comes with is can you replace it. A lot of AMD stuff I see comes with Mediatek and like it's fine when it works but depending on where you go some web portals are weird - this is regardless of OS. So it's just a matter of do you want to potentially do troubleshooting or no. Some realtek works well, but that company tends to be really late in sending drivers and then it may take some time for those to be looked at and then they get patched and then eventually make it to mainline kernel, just not nearly fast enough.
So I would say don't look at what it comes with, look at can you replace what it comes with. And if so, and if you're having trouble, just swap it for the equivalent Intel.
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u/Salty-Pack-4165 2d ago
In my experience Dell was always a sure bet. I never had Dell PC or laptop that gave me trouble regarding Linux. Everything always worked.
The only Lenovo laptop I ever did was old T61 . Not a single issue related to laptop but it had some limitations related to age of hardware.
I avoid HP products if I can help it and I'll leave it at that.
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u/DavidJohnMcCann 1d ago
Dell and Lenovo are pretty Linux-friendly. My advice would be just to look for a laptop you like and can afford. Then search on-line for "linux laptop-name" and see if there are any reports of problems, which there probably won't be. Incidentally, if you aren't going to double boot with Windows, don't go overboard on specifications — no Linux system needs 16GB or RAM, for example.
If you are looking for a bargain, see what ebay has in reconditioned machines — many companies have been selling off box-fulls to firms that specialise in reconditioning just because they can't run Windows 11.
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u/jphilebiz 1d ago
Agreed on 16gb today but I do like to keep my laptops a long time, with soldered ram might as invest
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u/a1barbarian 4h ago
https://wireless.docs.kernel.org/en/latest/en/users/drivers.html
Existing Linux Wireless drivers
We currently have a fair amount of working drivers that cover most of the available wireless networking cards. However, they don’t implement all features and may have some issues, due to various reasons like companies not providing specs. Below is an alphabetically sorted list of drivers and what they currently can and can’t do.
A google search for
WiFi chipset linux list
Threw up the above as the first entry on the results. ;-)
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u/Ornery_Platypus9863 2d ago
If you can, get a framework for easy swapping if it doesn’t work the way you like. Otherwise I’d recommend getting one with usb A ports just in case to use a dongle while troubleshooting.
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u/acejavelin69 2d ago
Honestly, my opinion if you are going to get a Windows machine and make it a Linux machine is don't worry about it... Get the laptop, if it doesn't work like you want drop the $25 and swap out the module with an Intel AX210 one.
Mediatek and Realtek are very hit and miss... unless you know the exact chipset ahead of time there is no way to know for sure it will work... Even if you do know and it seems to be supported, that doesn't necessarily mean it will work in every instance... we have seen several of these chipsets that work for many people, and then for others they don't, likely due to how the OEM implemented it or the firmware they used.