Thinkpads Forum

Have experience issues--namely connection drops--with my Intel 5100 AGN (on WinXP Pro SP3, driver version 13.4.0.9, driver dated 2010-10-18) wifi card in my T400. Symptoms persist across a variety of wireless-ethernet access points (Linksys E2000, and a couple of diff D-Link's).

Seeing lots of complaints about this 5100 card in various posts/discussion threads around the web. Thinking it may be easiest just to avoid any problems with this card and replace it with a card with a more-solid reputation...if one exists? (And the Intel 5100 "problems" aren't just a bit of heresy?)

Do folks here have recommendations to replace or not replace? If replacing: recommendations for substitute cards?

I have this card in my T400s and have had no problems at all. I have heard rumors of problems, but have not seen it. This is at home with my Netgear dual band router, and traveling and connecting in many situations. I can't explain my success.

Mike

T400 with a 5300 and the same driver. Not having any issues with it. The router I use goes wonky occasionally, but that affects everyone equally.

Thanks all for the feedback above.

Experienced temporary outage with T400's wireless today. (Other wireless clients worked, but mine didn't.) Think it's time to order a replacement card for me Intel 5100 AGN. Any suggestions for specific models?

If you are planning to replace your Intel 5100 with a card that is not whitelisted for your T400, then you will need to modify your BIOS - Currently I have installed an HP Broadcom 4322MC / BCM94322 - 802.11a/b/g/n, which works great with a variety of routers and seems to pull in distant AP's and hold stable connections be it near/far.

I also have a T60 with an Intel 5100 installed running on XP-SP3 with Intel Utility/Driver package 13.2.1.0 - it's working ok - seem's to be quite stable as it has not dropped a connection yet! - but does not seem to capture as many AP's the Broadcom though.

Peak2Peak wrote:If you are planning to replace your Intel 5100 with a card that is not whitelisted for your T400, then you will need to modify your BIOS - Currently I have installed an HP Broadcom 4322MC / BCM94322 - 802.11a/b/g/n, which works great with a variety of routers and seems to pull in distant AP's and hold stable connections be it near/far.

Excellent, very helpful, thanks. How does one determine if a card is whitelisted? And exactly what BIOS settings/values need to change?

(Edit: found the T400 self-service movies, including wireless-LAN card:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-71461 )

hydrostarr wrote:How does one determine if a card is whitelisted?

Generally check out the T400 Hardware Maintenance Manual - Parts list section - No.7.

hydrostarr wrote:And exactly what BIOS settings/values need to change?

See this post: ThinkPad BIOS whitelist (error 1802/1804) *READ 1st MSG*