Thinkpads Forum

What have been experiences with this card? I just ordered a T61 and wanted to get it relatively soon soon went for the Intel n card over the delayed Atheros n card but now I'm having second thoughts.

My T43 has an Atheros a/b/g card and it's been rock solid for years. My T40 had an Intel b card and it sucked -- weak signals, constant signal strength fluctuation and random disconnects. I'm worried that the 4965 will be as bad, too.

If I do stick with the Intel card I hope it will be easy to replace it with the Atheros n card down the line if necessary. Do they use the same antennae in the T6x series?

pipspeak wrote:My T43 has an Atheros a/b/g card and it's been rock solid for years.

My T43s have Intel 2915ABG cards and they have been "rock solid for years" too!

Cheers,

Bill B.

Good to hear... there seems to be a bit of "anti-intel" sentiment at times on these boards but my last Intel experience wasn't exactly great so its hard to tell what the real story is.

A couple of ppl over at the other site also complained about the weakness of the 4965abgn card on the T61, but not everyone! Nevertheless, when I configured a quote, I selected the old thnkpad 802.11abg which has proven strength. If I were configuring an X, i might chose intel on account of the heat of the atheros immediately below the X61 palm rest.

I have a T61 with the Intel 4965 ABGN.

It's my first wifi device what I really use, so I can't make real-life first-hand comparisons.

But I can tell you that it does not have that disconnectings you describe. (And if it has, it's only one in 24 hours)

I use my laptop to get the game started on our BF2 clanserver. So, when the connecting would be lost, my bf2 account would be immediately disconnect from server (connection lost). Every night I put my account in the server (10 PM) and when I get home the next day (5 PM) it's still in

I walked down the street and I think the range in what I have signal was very good. But again, I can't compare.

Disconnects and bad connections can also be router-sided. I have Linksys WRT54GL, no problems at all, but I know some cheap-[censored] brand routers have.

I think the consensus on the forum is that Atheros has the best range and link integrity, but can run a bit hotter and consume a bit more power than Intel.

My T60 has the Intel 3495 and my X41 has the Atheros abg. I cannot really comment on battery life or heat from either card, but the Atheros does see networks that the Intel doesn't. Is this an Atheros v. Intel issue or an X41 v. T60 issue?

Both computers hold on to signals very well, and both pick up every network that I need them to pick up, so I really have nothing to complain about with either.

I know the atheros is regarded to have better range. For that reaon, and the lower price, I chose the atheros for the T61p I ordered.

I think that given the choice, most on the forum will go for an Atheros card, but that doesn't mean that the Intel is unreliable or bad.

If you buy directly at Lenovo, the Intel is more expensive, but if you buy a pre-configurated modell, the Intel is all you can choose (in the most models it's the Intel)

Well I guess we'll see how it compares when I get my T61 and sit it next to my T43 with an Atheros a/b/g card. I'm hoping the Intel can compete on signal strength. If I knew it couldn't I might change my order. Thanks all for comments.

I have the intel 4965 and (after installing the newest drivers) it works great. Range beats any Mac fwiw.

For me, the main reason for intel over atheros is that intel has open linux drivers.

The 4965 linux driver is still in heavy developpement, but if you take a look at the IPW3945 driver for exemple... they did a great job with that... so what else to except, except a great open source driver

Yep, I recently tried getting my Wireless to work as well, and the driver is far from a finished state. In Windows, of course, it works like a charm... in fact, I have yet to have a problem with it--stable, powerful, and definitely receives a better signal versus my old 2915AGN card in my last laptop.

Can't really comment on power usage; however, it does not get NEARLY as hot as the 2915.

3945 ran cool as well.

I find Atheros does consume more power than Intel's... when it can see a network an Intel card can't. Atheros has excellent power management. When it's in an environment where Intel and Atheros can see the network, the Atheros will consume less power.

Atheros is overall a better card. Not saying Intel sucks(Actually I am), but Atheros is just better.

tebore wrote:Not saying Intel sucks(Actually I am), but Atheros is just better.

Which intel vs which atheros card?

And just "seeing" a nework is not a good benchmark, the question is when can you reliably connect. Thats hard to measure...

tebore wrote:I find Atheros does consume more power than Intel's... when it can see a network an Intel card can't. Atheros has excellent power management. When it's in an environment where Intel and Atheros can see the network, the Atheros will consume less power.

Have to agree with the above, bias and benchmarks do not mix well.

That being said, the old stereotype was, Atheros > Intel as far as power management and heat go; however, I honestly have not heard anywhere near as many complaints as I did 2-3 years ago, so my guess is that the gap has disappeared.