Thinkpads Forum

Can the INTEL 3945's performance be improved? Instead of going to Atheros, is there a way to adjust the 3945?

There are settings in device manager for this. There isn't too much tweaking that can really be done.

what are you hoping to get tho is the question i guess.. there are some options from throughput options.

I've always found the intel cards to be quirky in some way or another... but they run cooler than others.

I personally prefer atheros-based cards. Never had a problem with connectivity with those.

I was wondering if I can make the 3945 recieve a stronger faster and more stable WIFI signal.

well mine is stable and fast here. What's "stable and fast" for you? How often does the connection drop? How fast are you getting?

Copying data wirelessly gives me up to 3MB/s so what are you getting?

I'm stuck with a broadcom card in my dell ... not so much fun.

I have the Intel 3945ABG, and it's been working well, but my recently purchased 2nd T60p was upgraded to the Atheros a/b/g/n card, and it is definitely better in both speed and range, and I am not even using the N part of the card yet. Atheros-G works better than Intel-G using the same router.

This will be one of my last upgrades for my main T60p, upgrading the Intel card, so you can always do that. You don't even need the BIOS whitelist "fixed" unless you want to put another Intel one in, the 4965AGN, which I don't, so I won't need to mess with that.

Crunch,, how is the heat and battery life with the Atheros?

I have an atheros a/b/g in my T42 and the heat produced by the thing is not that much more than the intel 2200 gave out - I can't speak for the 3945 or the 4965. The palmrest is warmer but definitely not hot nor is it anywhere close to being uncomfortable, one reason being that the casing is large and the heat dissipates better in the voids of the computer.

I could see this heat issue being more of a problem on a tiny X61(s) - the case is so small compared to a T that there's not much room for the heat to dissipate and hence the much warmer palmrest.

On my T42 I get approximately 3hrs40m with wifi most of the time - browsing, mailing and doing other work on a 6-cell battery.

I PICKED UP AN ATHEROS MINI PCI CARD FROM xenocide ON THIS FORUM. HE SAYS THAT HE HAS OVER 80 OF THESE LEFT. HINT HINT

FOR 30 BUCKS, INCLUDING SHIPPING, I COULDNT GO WRONG.

ANYWAYS, I'LL GENERALLY BE USING WWAN WHEN USING MY BATTERY, SO I DONT CARE ABOUT ANY EXTRA POWER USAGE FOR WI-FI.

I DIDN'T REALLY NEED IT IN MOST PARTS OF THE HOUSE, BUT I AM SETTING UP AN OFFICE DOWNSTAIRS NEXT MONTH, AND MY SIGNAL DROPS TO 60% IN MY BEDROOM.

THE INTEL 3945 SEEMS VERY TEMPERMENTAL. DROPPING THE CONNECTION WHEN IT SHOULDN'T BE.