IBM a/b/g card vs. Intel Card

Message

dlgandle · #1 Post by **dlgandle** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 8:45 am

I am awaiting delivery from IBM of a 2379DXU. While speaking with IBM customer service today about the expected delivery date, the IBM rep asked why I had ordered the IBM a/b/g card, since the 2379DXU already has the intel b/g card built in. He said that the "a" service is rarely needed and suggested that I remove the a/b/g card from my order. I was hesitant to do so, since my reading of the various entries on this forum seems to indicate that there is a consensus in favor of the IBM card. Any observations, opinions. etc.? Is the difference between the two cards sufficient to justify the additional cost of the IBM card ($89).

Regards,

David

Humpa · #2 Post by **Humpa** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:02 am

I've been following this issue since before I got my DXU in June.
From what I've read, there is no definitive answer as to which card is better. With current drivers/software and a correct configuration, neither card should have any issues. I've read people reporting the 2200BG has greater range (but I think I've read the same thing about the IBM a/b/g, too).

All I know is that my 2200BG works flawlessly(with SP1 or SP2, with IBM Access Connections or not), and has much better reception than my linksys or belkin pcmia cards.
I certainly wouldn't waste any time (or money!) by replacing one for the other.

hmphargh · #3 Post by **hmphargh** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 12:11 pm

same as what humpa said, but one thing to keep in mind is that if you decide to go with the intel version, your computer is certified centrino...but with IBM i dont think it is. I know centrino is just hype to a certain extent, but just thought id mention it....

lvlolvlo · #4 Post by **lvlolvlo** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 1:57 pm

hmphargh wrote:same as what humpa said, but one thing to keep in mind is that if you decide to go with the intel version, your computer is certified centrino...but with IBM i dont think it is. I know centrino is just hype to a certain extent, but just thought id mention it....

all centrino means is that your are using all three intel parts. being the intel pentium m processor, the intel graphics card, and the intel network cards. that's all it means. supposedly you get better battery performance but that's a different story....

DrMarco · #5 Post by **DrMarco** » Mon Sep 13, 2004 4:17 pm

The IBM card is much better supported under linux.

MrBeta · #6 Post by **MrBeta** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 3:54 am

lvlolvlo wrote:all centrino means is that your are using all three intel parts. being the intel pentium m processor, the intel graphics card, and the intel network cards. that's all it means. supposedly you get better battery performance but that's a different story....

No kidding on the battery life there!! I got two new T42p Thinkpads, one 14.1" SXGA with Intel b/g card (Centrino) and the other 15" UXGA with IBM a/b/g card (non-Centrino). The 14.1" lasts 7.5 hours on extended battery. The 15" lasts 4.5 hours on the same battery.

I also agree, the Intel b/g card has far fewer "issues" (scan this forum for numerous problems reported on the a/b/g card), has excellent range, and is super stable. I just spent 2 days myself trying to get my a/b/g card to work - it just stopped one night for no reason. I reloaded all software, re-configured my wireless access point, back and forth, wasted 2 days of my life. The b/g card was happily working all along. The a/b/g card finally came back to life after I installed XP SP2 on the Thinkpad... go figure. Nothing else has changed. I would say that unless you NEED 802.11a, go with the Intel b/g card - it's rock solid and works very well.

Leon · #7 Post by **Leon** » Tue Sep 14, 2004 11:54 am

has anyone tried both on the same size system (14" or 15").... is the battery life any different? also, can the Intel card do extended channels like the IBM can?

jpresto · #8 Post by **jpresto** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 10:43 am

Just wanted to post some firsthand experience concerning the two - it's not apples to apples, but a 2200 in my X41 shows better range compared to my a/b/g in a T42P, both practically and with measurement software like netstumbler. I was pretty surprised..

j

Steve007 · #9 Post by **Steve007** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 10:54 am

dlgandle wrote:I am awaiting delivery from IBM of a 2379DXU. While speaking with IBM customer service today about the expected delivery date, the IBM rep asked why I had ordered the IBM a/b/g card, since the 2379DXU already has the intel b/g card built in. He said that the "a" service is rarely needed and suggested that I remove the a/b/g card from my order. I was hesitant to do so, since my reading of the various entries on this forum seems to indicate that there is a consensus in favor of the IBM card. Any observations, opinions. etc.? Is the difference between the two cards sufficient to justify the additional cost of the IBM card ($89).

Regards,

David

I'd ditch the IBM a/b/g card if I were you. The 2200BG card from Intel is superb and the performance is excellent.

sktn77a · #10 Post by **sktn77a** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 12:31 pm

I have the Intel "b" card (T40), the Intel "b/g" card (T42) and the IBM "a/b/g" card (T41). The "a/b/g" has the edge on range over the "b/g" and both are quite a bit better than the "b" card. Having said that, the "b" machine is over a year old and has the original drivers/software, etc. Don't know if an update here would improve things any?

Daniel · #11 Post by **Daniel** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 4:03 pm

lvlolvlo wrote:all centrino means is that your are using all three intel parts. being the intel pentium m processor, the intel graphics card, and the intel network cards. that's all it means. supposedly you get better battery performance but that's a different story....

Just to nitpick, it's the Intel P-M processor, Intel (855) CHIPSET, and Intel Wireless. Having that slow Intel graphics chip doesn't make it Centrino.

If they let you, try out both and see how you like it. Return the A/B/G if you don't see a benefit using it. As you see, some people have better experience with one over the other and it varies.

gosha16 · #12 Post by **gosha16** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 5:29 pm

DrMarco wrote:The IBM card is much better supported under linux.

i think this is very far from the truth. support doesnt get better than when the manufactorer supports linux.

http://ipw2200.sourceforge.net/

#13 Post by **K. Eng** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 8:29 pm

I'm a fan of the IBM a/b/g card, but if your system comes with the Intel 2200BG card installed, I think you should try that out before replacing it. There's no reason to fix what isn't broken.

sugo · #14 Post by **sugo** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 8:47 pm

Is IBM still offering only the totally outdated 5001X+ chipset for a/b/g? Tabook says so but I have no way to confirm.

Being a long time Atheros fan, I almost got a 5004 based mini-pci even before I got my thinkpad. Then I decided to wait till 2200BG blue screen XP or do something crazy.

After one month I am still waiting ... netstumbler can make it up for not having ACU. I am very surprised that the intel actually worked well enough for me.

IBM a/b/g card vs. Intel Card

IBM a/b/g card vs. Intel Card

Re: IBM a/b/g card vs. Intel Card

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