3945abg replacement?

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th1 · #1 Post by **th1** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:06 pm

i consider replacing my current intel's wireless 3945abg card. yes, i know i'll need modified bios to do that, but that's not a problem.
is there wireless card model that you truly recommend for this replacement?
intel? atheros? i'll appreciate answers with a specific model. thanks

#2 Post by **Harryc** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:30 pm

Do you need wireless 'N' or is 'G' OK? What machine is this? Machine type/model from the bottom sticker?

th1 · #3 Post by **th1** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:42 pm

it's an x61s. sorry but i think i'll not be able to give you type of this machine, it just wouldn't match (it was x60s, and i've replaced motherboard to x61s with L7500 processor). yes, 'G' is enough, but 'N' would be also welcome. what about these: http://www.intel.com/products/wireless/index.htm#wifi ?

#4 Post by **Harryc** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:56 pm

Well, for wireless 'G" cards, the X61's came with the Intel 4965AGN with 'N' disabled. FRU# 42T0873

IvanAndreevich · #5 Post by **IvanAndreevich** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:16 pm

You can find a Lenovo 4965AGN (N enabled) and then you'll wireless N without a bios mod.

crashnburn · #6 Post by **crashnburn** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 3:34 am

I have an X61T with BIOS having SLIC with Whitelist cleared.

I am considering a non-Intel wireless card
- (I'd like ABGN... or something that has N also)
- That would work well with Win7x64 and MacOSX Snow Leopard (Since Intel ones dont work well with OSX) on my X61T and
- Be easy to replace.

Something that would be part of original Lenovo list of approved cards would be a bonus, but not necessary.

Please suggest some & mention if it was one of Lenovo approved cards.

PS: This PCI Express Mini Card removal and installation (LAN) - ThinkPad X60 Tablet, X61 Tablet looks pretty straightforward. I am wondering if there's any issues / stuff to be careful about?
Some people reporting some difficulty with them screws. Should I take it to the shop/ service center and have them replace it?

marYn · #7 Post by **marYn** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 6:35 am

I'm using Apple's Atheros AR9280 AR5BXB92 card with my X60s with no problem. It seems to emit less heat than the original card. I had to flash BIOS with Zender's, the green led light under the display doesn't work. On the other hand the card works fine even with n-networks and was not expensive.

ThinkRob · #8 Post by **ThinkRob** » Wed Mar 23, 2011 9:22 pm

You might be able to run a third party card without the BIOS mod if you tape pin 20. I've done that for WWAN cards, and IIRC it'll work for WLAN cards as well.

crashnburn · #9 Post by **crashnburn** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 3:44 am

marYn wrote:I'm using Apple's Atheros AR9280 AR5BXB92 card with my X60s with no problem. It seems to emit less heat than the original card. I had to flash BIOS with Zender's, the green led light under the display doesn't work. On the other hand the card works fine even with n-networks and was not expensive.

Which card did you have on there originally?

After looking a bit I found a IBM Atheros ABGN card.. I'll post the model number. Do let me know your thoughts on that one.

#10 Post by **bill bolton** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 6:31 pm

crashnburn wrote:After looking a bit I found a IBM Atheros ABGN card.. I'll post the model number. Do let me know your thoughts on that one.

I had that card in a T60 for a while..... I need to have multiple Bluetooth devices connected concurrently and found that the Atheros card killed my ability to do that.

For the T60 I installed a Zender BIOS and an Intel 4965AGN and have never looked back. For an X61, you wont need a Zender BIOS to use an 4965AGN.

Cheers,

Bill B.

kaede · #11 Post by **kaede** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 6:34 pm

is there any difference between ibm atheros card and normal atheros card? i find most of the review atheros better performance wise

crashnburn · #12 Post by **crashnburn** » Mon Mar 28, 2011 2:03 pm

crashnburn wrote:After looking a bit I found a IBM Atheros ABGN card.. I'll post the model number. Do let me know your thoughts on that one.

There were some of the part numbers from the Lenovo Compatibles list that I looked for online and liked as they were ABGN and found on Ebay.
42T0843 - Broadcom BCM94321MC BCM4321 - Buy
42T0825 - Atheros AR5BXB72 ar5008 - Buy
Note Also: Bunch of Atheros AR5BXB72 AR5008 on Ebay say they wont work in IBM Lenovo & HP machines.. Is that because of whitelist block or some other reason?

I hope one of these wasnt responsible for your issues Bill.
Which one of these is better?
Which one of these would work well with Mac OSX Snow Leopard?

bill bolton wrote:I had that card in a T60 for a while..... I need to have multiple Bluetooth devices connected concurrently and found that the Atheros card killed my ability to do that.

For the T60 I installed a Zender BIOS and an Intel 4965AGN and have never looked back. For an X61, you wont need a Zender BIOS to use an 4965AGN.

Cheers,

Bill B.

Bill which specific card did you have? Model / Part number?
Even I'd like to maintain Bluetooth functionality.

Now the BIOS I have has been cleared off Whitelist and SATA2 added.
Am I correct in guessing I can put a card that was not part of the original Lenovo list?

Thoughts? Suggestions?

tcone · #13 Post by **tcone** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 8:22 pm

AR5BXB72 (AR5008)and AR5BXB6 (54Mbit) work well under OSX, but both get quite hot. under heavy load the ar5008 gets so hot that you burn your fingers on the palmrest.

I would also recommend an Apple branded Atheros AR9820 (AR5BXB92)
pro:
- only 2 antennas (2x2 mimo, 300mbps n-draft), newer technology, works well under Win/Linux/OSX
- no heat problems, cheap!

con:
- needs a zendered bios (i have a 51nb-zender-slic2.1-sxga+-franken-bios on my x6x machines)
- no wifi-led (blinking all the time or no light at all)

#14 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Wed Apr 13, 2011 5:42 am

I run a generic Intel Advanced-N 6200 (2-wire) MiniPCIe in my X60s and T61 machines.
The X60s has a modded BIOS from TTAV134 on the mydigitallife forum, running Windows XP/SP3.
Windows automatically installed the correct driver for it.
The T61 has Middleton's BIOS in it (Slic2.1, SATA II, no Whitelists), running W7 Pro.
Again Windows automatically installed the correct driver for it.
In both machines the wifi-LED works correctly, and because these are only 1/2-size cards with a bracket, they don't run hot at all.

crashnburn · #15 Post by **crashnburn** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 5:50 am

tcone wrote:AR5BXB72 (AR5008)and AR5BXB6 (54Mbit) work well under OSX, but both get quite hot. under heavy load the ar5008 gets so hot that you burn your fingers on the palmrest.

I would also recommend an Apple branded Atheros AR9820 (AR5BXB92)
pro:
- only 2 antennas (2x2 mimo, 300mbps n-draft), newer technology, works well under Win/Linux/OSX
- no heat problems, cheap!

con:
- needs a zendered bios (i have a 51nb-zender-slic2.1-sxga+-franken-bios on my x6x machines)
- no wifi-led (blinking all the time or no light at all)

1st is the Thinkpad ABGN?
2nd is the Thinkpad ABG?

The 3rd..
The Apple Branded Atheros that you linked to (Cheap) - In the seller's listing says except / does not work for IBM, HP machines. Or is that due to the BIOS lock?
- I have the Middleton Slic 2.1 x61T - SATA2 + Whitelist removed BIOS.

Would this Apple Atheros work for me?

#16 Post by **Harryc** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 4:17 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:I run a generic Intel Advanced-N 6200 (2-wire) MiniPCIe in my X60s and T61 machines.

I wonder if that would work in a T60P? I am in the middle of rebuilding one, and it has the usual 3945abg card in it. It would be nice to find a reliable 2 wire N card for it. If you can also recommend a seller that would be grand.

#17 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 5:29 pm

Harry, check PM.
You'd also need the bracket for it, as it is only a 1/2-size card.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0476704568

tcone · #18 Post by **tcone** » Thu Apr 14, 2011 5:32 pm

crashnburn wrote: 1st is the Thinkpad ABGN?
2nd is the Thinkpad ABG?

correct

crashnburn wrote: The 3rd..
The Apple Branded Atheros that you linked to (Cheap) - In the seller's listing says except / does not work for IBM, HP machines. Or is that due to the BIOS lock?

Due to the bios lock, correct. But don't try any Dell branded Atheros cards, these won't work.

crashnburn wrote: - I have the Middleton Slic 2.1 x61T - SATA2 + Whitelist removed BIOS.

Uh, that sounds familiar to me.

crashnburn wrote: Would this Apple Atheros work for me?

Sure.

ParatoOptimal · #19 Post by **ParatoOptimal** » Sun Apr 17, 2011 9:10 pm

So which is the 11N 2-wire card to get for an X60s or if getting a non-IBM/Lenovo 4965AGN card with N enabled and pin 20 or 21 taped to get?

The 4965AGN has three connectors for three antennae. If using only two antennae, which are the two to connect?

#20 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Mon Apr 18, 2011 7:53 am

For wiring, see X6x HMM page 79 and further.

thinkaholic · #21 Post by **thinkaholic** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 6:29 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:Harry, check PM.
You'd also need the bracket for it, as it is only a 1/2-size card.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0476704568

Regarding the Intel Advanced-N 6200 (2-wire) MiniPCIe, would that also be compatible with my T60 (with adapter bracket for 1/2 size card)? I just installed an N-draft router and would like to bump up my network access speed.

TIA

Greg

#22 Post by **Harryc** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 6:35 pm

I bought the card and the bracket for my T60P. When it arrived I installed them and the card created a dead short and the laptop would not power up at all. I contacted the seller and he is sending a replacement. If you want to try them I'd be glad to sell them both to you.

th1 · #23 Post by **th1** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 9:50 am

Harryc wrote:I bought the card and the bracket for my T60P. When it arrived I installed them and the card created a dead short and the laptop would not power up at all. I contacted the seller and he is sending a replacement. If you want to try them I'd be glad to sell them both to you.

stock bios? tried and middelton's bios or any other modded version of bios?

#24 Post by **Harryc** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:08 am

th1 wrote: stock bios? tried and middelton's bios or any other modded version of bios?

I flashed to the latest Zender T60P BIOS before I made the switch.

Edit: The replacement card arrived today, and it did not work at all (period). Not recognized by windows or BIOS (nothing on FN-F5). At least it did not short out the machine.

So, this is my first and last excursion into non-IBM parts.

marYn · #25 Post by **marYn** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 8:08 am

crashnburn wrote:Which card did you have on there originally?

After looking a bit I found a IBM Atheros ABGN card.. I'll post the model number. Do let me know your thoughts on that one.

I apologize for my late answer. I had 3945abg before. The only disadvantage of that Atheros is that it doesn't work with the hardware switch on the front side of laptop. I also had some problems with n-networks, so I decided to try Intel 6200. I ordered it this week and I'm waiting for the delivery..

marYn · #26 Post by **marYn** » Wed May 11, 2011 10:09 am

Hello everybody, Intel Advanced-N 6200 AGN arrived

, so I've replaced Apple's Atheros AR5BXB92 in my X60s with it and here are some thoughts.

- Intel 6200 can be set in Win7 directly on the driver (it's quite inconvenient) to use 5 different power levels. I didn't find a way how to do that using Lenovo's Power Manager. Power levels are: Lowest (1mW), Medium-Low (2mW), Medium (5mW), Medium-High (13mW), High (32mW).
- Medium level works fine in a house and the palm rest is just warm
- the range seems to be similar to Atheros.
- Intel 6200 works flawlesly - the hardware switch can be used, the icon below LCD is lit.
- Atheros has some issures - is incompatible with HW switch, the icon below LCD is turned off all the time.

So what are your opinions? Which one to keep, which one to sell?

searing · #27 Post by **searing** » Tue May 17, 2011 2:28 pm

Can I repeat a question asked above, but the answer cannot be found in the hardware manual as suggested? I have an X61 and was going to try a 4965agn but it has 3 antennae connections and I only have 2 wires. Will it run on 2, and if so, which 2 (labelled 1 TR1, 3 RO 2 TR2)? Can I retro-fit a 3rd antenna? Or should I get a 6200? I am using the standard BIOS - UK PC. Thanks, Keith

kaede · #28 Post by **kaede** » Wed May 18, 2011 5:38 pm

it will run with 2 antenna. no worries. just make sure to used modified bios to whitelist all the wifi card

searing · #29 Post by **searing** » Thu May 19, 2011 4:03 am

Thanks! Which 2 of the 3 connectors should I use: '1 TR1', '3 RO' and '2 TR2'.
Also, earlier posts suggest that the X61 does not need a modded BIOS for the 4965agn - is this not the case? Mine is a X61 7673-5FG.
Regards, Keith

searing · #30 Post by **searing** » Sun May 22, 2011 7:51 am

X61 with 4965agn, Windows 7. Tried with '1 TR1', '3 RO' connected - no significant difference to the original 3945agn card shown by Network Monitor II gadget, although a large filecopy over the network was quicker.
Wireless mode under Adapter Properties only shows abg options, not n. Do I not have n capability, then? BIOS change required?
I'll try with the wwan antenna in third socket next.