Thinkpads Forum

Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 (3x3 AGN)

versus

Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250

Can someone opine on what is the difference? Advanced is "better" than Ultimate plus you get WIMAX? TimeWarner is marketing WiMAX on the Island so interested.

Of the 6300 is a better card. $15 buck difference enough for two local plate lunches but want to know what is the difference. Thanks.

http://www.intel.com/network/connectivi ... /index.htm
http://www.intel.com/network/connectivi ... /index.htm

Basically the 6300 requires a 3x3 antenna vs. 2x2 for the 6250, plus the 6250 adds WiMax. Otherwise I can't pick out anything that would put one over the other for wireless 'N' use.

Edit: The 6300 is 'dual band". So that would be an advantage under certain conditions.

Hi Harry, under what kind of conditions?

GrandMasterKhan wrote:Hi Harry, under what kind of conditions?

In an environment where there is a lot of interference on one frequency you can switch to the other. Your router has to also support dual band N.

I don't know if it helps because I have nothing to directly compare it to other than my old T60, but I if you look in this photo I took of my apartment, where my fairly run-of-the-mill netgear router is located, I can get wifi in my garage, which is across the street from the red car in the distance with my X201 with the 6300 wifi, but not with my T60 which has the intel pro 3945abg wifi. http://davidson.smugmug.com/photos/8899 ... UB5-XL.jpg

Wow, that is long range. Actually a great thing to have when traveling and need to find a hotspot to send a quick email for free.

I researched some more. Am I wrong to conclude the 6300 has higher bandwith but the same range as the 6250. That is what the lit seems to imply.

GrandMasterKhan wrote:Wow, that is long range. Actually a great thing to have when traveling and need to find a hotspot to send a quick email for free.

I researched some more. Am I wrong to conclude the 6300 has higher bandwith but the same range as the 6250. That is what the lit seems to imply.

Not sure. When I ordered my Thinkpad the guy on the phone said the 6300 has more range than the 6200 on a computer with 3x3 antenna (and I think the 6250 is just a 6200 + WiMax), but that could be completely wrong so who knows. I'm guessing it has something to do with Intel saying of the 6300 "3 spatial stream technology enables a more reliable and predictable connection" http://www.intel.com/network/connectivi ... /index.htm

After more careful reading of the links, you are correct the 6300 has 3 antenna connectors. But on the config site, if one chooses the camera, can only get 2x2 actual antennas, so effectivey would get a 6300 operating like a 6200. Anyway, I didn't know this until now. Ordered one with a camera since really wanted a portable with it and the 6250 with the 2x2. So I guess I'm good to go. Will be interesting to test WIMAX.

Here are pics of the 6300 and 6200 cards showing the antenna connectors:
http://www.xoticpcforums.com/showthread ... 7&page=787

Harryc wrote:http://www.intel.com/network/connectivi ... /index.htm
http://www.intel.com/network/connectivi ... /index.htm

Basically the 6300 requires a 3x3 antenna vs. 2x2 for the 6250, plus the 6250 adds WiMax. Otherwise I can't pick out anything that would put one over the other for wireless 'N' use.

Edit: The 6300 is 'dual band". So that would be an advantage under certain conditions.

AFAIK, there is no 6250, this is evidently referring to the Intel Centrino N-Advanced 6205 wifi card.

And the info above implies that it is not dual band, however the 2nd link above indicates that it is dual band.

Seems like you need to improve doing your homework: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ ... -band.html

RealBlackStuff wrote:Seems like you need to improve doing your homework: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ ... -band.html

I'm sure it's true. Somehow my investigation didn't reveal the existence of the 6250. However your link does indicate that it is dual band, so I was 1/2 right, sort of...

Anyway, what I've been wondering for a couple of days and been unable to determine is whether or not I can use the Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6205 wifi card in my T60. Perhaps with a modded BIOS? I'm running 2.26 in my 1953CTO. My searches and prodding in a thread here haven't come up with much.

I have a few APs... from an AC1750 thingo to a typical 2x2 and 3x3 5ghz APs.

I also have a slew of cards from the 5100 to the 7260 and BRCM Atheros units.

From what I've seen the difference is largely academic.

The 6200 taps out at 300 on 5ghz.

The 3x3 cards can burst from 300 to 450 and while it sounds nice being a 50% boost in speed, the real world isnt noticeable.

If you're transferring large files the speed will not pin 450Mbps on the clock.

ALso you find many of us are very disappointed in the 7260 and the lack of viable options for 3x3 in the older format cards for our banger Lenovos.