Intel 3945ABG upgrade to Intel 4965AG

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crispy517 · #1 Post by **crispy517** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:00 pm

My T60p currently has an Intel 3945ABG wireless card installed in it and I happen to find a Intel 4965AG card in a broken T61. I noticed that the 4965AG card has 3 antenna ports, if I wanted to install this into the T60p would I also have to take one of its antenna? or is that third antenna there just for the N possibility?

Is there anything else I would have to do extra instead of just installing the component/possibly adding 3rd antenna?

Also is there a huge performance increase if I performed this upgrade?

Thanks in advance for all the feedback

EOMtp · #2 Post by **EOMtp** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:01 pm

A few points:
1) The T60/p BIOS will not accept the Intel 4965AGN card.

2) Yes, the 4965AGN card's performance would be superior to the 3945ABG card's performance, but that's because the 3945ABG card is a particularly poor-performing device -- just about any card would outperform the 3945ABG with respect to sensitivity/connectivity.

3) If you want N-type wireless in the T60/p, then install the ThinkPad 11abgn card (FRU #42T0825), which the T60/p BIOS will accept. For maximum "N" speeds, you will need to connect the 3rd antenna; however, even absent the third antenna connection, the card will yield better connectivity than the 3945ABG.

4) If you don't need "N", then the ThinkPad 11 abg (FRU#39T5578) also will give you better performance than the 3945ABG.
Good luck!

Peak2Peak · #3 Post by **Peak2Peak** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:16 pm

EOMtp wrote:The T60/p BIOS will not accept the Intel 4965AGN card

Quite TRUE - however if you are prepared to modify your BIOS the Intel 4965AGN card can be made to work within your T60p.

crispy517 · #4 Post by **crispy517** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:19 pm

ahh great thanks for the info! is the Intel 4965AG same as the 4965AGN? as in they both will not work with the T60p's current bios?

Peak2Peak · #5 Post by **Peak2Peak** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 4:46 pm

Correct! you need to mod your BIOS - The only Lenovo certified BIOS friendly AGN card available for the T60/p is the Atheros/ThinkPad 11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter (as mentioned by forum member EOMtp).

crispy517 · #6 Post by **crispy517** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:11 pm

I think just buying the Atheros AGN (42T0825) is probably the safest route and the best performance.

Anyone have suggestions on where to get a good deal on one of these? I found some on ebay for 70 dollars + shipping.

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-Z61e-Z ... 18Q2el1247

Peak2Peak · #7 Post by **Peak2Peak** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 6:37 pm

Also try Lenovo/IBM (Toronto) Canada Maintenance parts retail - Phone#: 1-800-263-2769 (8:30 AM to 7:30 PM E.S.T Mon. to Fri.

DAH · #8 Post by **DAH** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:17 pm

crispy517 wrote:I think just buying the Atheros AGN (42T0825) is probably the safest route and the best performance.

Anyone have suggestions on where to get a good deal on one of these? I found some on ebay for 70 dollars + shipping.

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-Z61e-Z ... 18Q2el1247

Have you found something that suggest the performance of the Atheros would be equal or better than the performance of the 4965 AGN card by Intel? Everyone seems to agree that the Intel ABG card is poor, but I've not seen any comments from users switching between the Intel and Atheros cards have you?

#9 Post by **bill bolton** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 5:15 am

crispy517 wrote:I think just buying the Atheros AGN (42T0825) is probably the safest route and the best performance.

That was NOT my experience at all. A 4965AGN performs MUCH better for me in a T60 than the previous Atheros card did!

Cheers,

Bill B.

crispy517 · #10 Post by **crispy517** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:25 am

The Intel 4965 cards also appear to be cheaper... if this is the correct card.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Intel-Wireless-N-802 ... dZViewItem

Hey Bill, I noticed from the Zender thread that you had successfully gotten the Intel card to work with your T60...

I am not to concerned about damaging my BIOS and would consider trying that as well. After reading the whole thread I still don't really have a full/clear grasp of what the procedure to do this is.

Any chance you can give me a hand? or anyone for that matter!

crispy517 · #11 Post by **crispy517** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 7:39 pm

Question to anyone who has performed this upgrade... I managed to install the Intel 4965AG card + third antenna and it all works perfectly with Zender's BIOS mod. But, where did you guys manage to fit the 3rd antenna? I've tried a few places in an attempt to stay away from where my hands normally rest but there doesn't seem to be enough space anywhere other than where the second mini PCI slot is... any suggestions?

Intel 3945ABG upgrade to Intel 4965AG

Intel 3945ABG upgrade to Intel 4965AG

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