Intel Pro/Wirless 3945ABG vs Atheros AR5006EX?

[donking!]

Does anyone have any thoughts about the two wireless options on the new T60 series? It looks like Lenovo is using two fairly new chips, the Intel 3945ABG and the Atheros AR5006EX.

In these forums I've seen that some people think that the Atheros chips in general have better reception. I've also read elsewhere that Intel's power saving (Centrino) claims are a bit bogus as far as the wireless chip goes.

But I've seen too that some people with the Z60t, which has the AR5006EX, are having a problem where when the signal gets weak the Atheros chip makes the CPU get caught in a loop where it's stuck at 100% usage (jamming up the whole computer).

(Actually I had a similar problem once with a crappy Linksys PCMCIA abg card--so maybe this is a more general problem with wireless chips?)

I've also seen that people have had connection problems with the Intel 2915 and 2200 wireless chips, but don't want to assume that applies to Intel's new chip.

Anyway, so anyone know much about this new 3945ABG chip vs. Atheros' relatively new AR5006EX? Thanks.

[donking!]

Well, to at least partially answer my question myself, here's some info I found about Intel's 3945 chip (from Toms Hardware):

"The 3945ABG (Golan) is the first Intel WLAN module that connects to the system using the PCI Express bus rather than the plain-vanilla PCI bus. The most noticeable thing about the 3945ABG module is its dimensions: at 1.181" x 2.01" (30 x 51 mm) it's visibly smaller than earlier such components. In fact, PCI Express Mini Cards are only about half the size of classic Mini PCI Cards.

To conform to the specification, a PCI Express Mini Card socket in a notebook must support both an x1 PCI Express link and a USB 2.0 link. The Express Mini Card itself may use the x1 PCI Express link, the USB 2.0 link, or both links to communicate with the system. By contrast, the substantially larger ExpressCard socket requires that the socketed device link to the PCI Express bus.

As did its predecessor, the 2915ABG, the 3945ABG module transmits using the well-known IEEE-802.11 a, b, and g standards. When used with Cisco access points (APs), the new unit is supposed to be able to load-balance communication among individual APs inside the broadcast range of the notebook, thereby increasing data throughput. The vendor claims that this also improves immunity to external interference, while reducing the amount of interference this device itself produces when compared to preceding models.

WPA2 and Cisco Extension V4 support are also built in, and the user interface for the Pro Wireless Software has been completely reworked. Intel couldn't yet substantiate for us whether the card actually supports wake-on-LAN as promised, and under which circumstances this feature actually works in practice. Pairing up Cisco AP softphone applications with the 3945ABG module is also supposed to improve voice quality, through the prioritization of bandwidth for VoIP calls."

From: Tom's Hardware on 3945ABG

Still wondering how it compares to the Atheros AR5006EX

[sbellon]

I'd like some more insight into this topic as well. The pros and cons of the two individual WLAN choices. Especially with GNU/Linux in mind, as that's what I'm going to install on the T60.

[christopher_wolf]

Well, there isn't too much of a difference between the two when it comes to a Linux install; you will, however, need the MadWifi drivers from the IBM/Atheros cards.

[sbellon]

Yes, and for the Intel PRO I will need the recently released drivers from http://ipw3945.sourceforge.net/

But why does IBM/Lenovo offer two solutions? What is the difference?

[donking!]

But why does IBM/Lenovo offer two solutions? What is the difference?

Yes, why indeed? It's interesting that no one has much to say about this. I've just been sitting around twiddling my thumbs waiting for responses to this posting.

From reading around, I'm getting more and more the sense that the Intel chips didn't used to be so great. Atheros is the big supplier to most other notebook makers. So I think IBM/Lenovo had to offer Atheros as an option for serious computer users who knew there stuff.

But now it seems like Intel has pretty much figured it out. So Lenovo is feeling comfortable with that and offers very few models with the Atheros option (just enough for the diehards). Also Intel, through it's whole Centrino thing, has fooled everyone into thinking there's a power use advantage to having the Intel chip for this (which apparently, as far as the wireless card goes, is a somewhat specious claim).

That's my latest guess on the question.

Of course, when the T60s start shipping and people start using these chips, who knows what kind of bugs will turn up and that could change the whole picture!

This Atheros chip does exist in the Z6x. I'm surprised more people over there don't have anything to say about it.

[astro]

*Bump*

Now that people have had their T60s for a (little) while -- 2 weeks -- is there any update to this question?

Or the "Horrible experiences with 3945ABG" thread?

Or is everyone hunky dory with their 3945 card?

[pundit]

Or is everyone hunky dory with their 3945 card?

Personally? I think the card is awesome. I didn't realise how many neighbours of mine had wireless connections until I switched on my T60p with the ipw3945. My older computer claims ~2, it's actually more like ~10.

Now I know.

[astro]

Cool... I think you may have convinced me!

Edit: Yes, I am getting the weird blacklist error too...

[meanestfish]

I was advised by a high level tech at ibm that the intel was "touchy." I got it, and am using it in a high interference environment (highrise in manhattan, currently 30+ hotspots visible) and it drops connections regularly. Got the atheros, so far no problems with dropping connection 2 weeks into use. Will update.

[astro]

meanestfish -- Thanks... I was hoping to hear from someone who had tried both. Though there is not that much interference where I work/play, it shows the weaknesses of the card...