Are all Intel 4965N cards the same?

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flypenfly · #1 Post by **flypenfly** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:12 am

Just scored a sweet X61s for an unbelievable price and would like to get N speeds from my N router.

Are all the ones I see on ebay the same?

Will this work in my X61s?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Intel-Wireless-N-up ... 240%3A1318

basketb · #2 Post by **basketb** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:34 am

A few rather general comments (not all may apply to your situation):

- make sure your Thinkpad has the third antenna built-in to use N in the first place.

- wireless cards need to be "whitelisted" in the Thinkpad BIOS; i.e., if you don't get an original Thinkpad 4965N card, it may not work in your machine (there are probably threads about this around here).

- some Intel 4965N cards actually had the N capability (permanently) disabled with no way to enable it.

flypenfly · #3 Post by **flypenfly** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 4:54 pm

How would one check for the third antenna?

What's the probability that my BIOS doesn't have it white listed?

rek · #4 Post by **rek** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 7:02 am

flypenfly wrote:How would one check for the third antenna?

Take the palm rest off, and check near the mini PCIe card slots (under the right palm rest) for a third antenna connector dangling about. Usually the connector part of the spare lead has a small plastic cover over it, to prevent it from shorting out on anything.

What's the probability that my BIOS doesn't have it white listed?

If the card doesn't have a Lenovo FRU part number written on it, odds are about 100% it won't be whitelisted

As you haven't bought a card yet, I'd recommend spending the extra effort trying to find a proper Lenovo "branded" card.

flypenfly · #5 Post by **flypenfly** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 9:32 am

Right I guess the question is more like, if I buy a Lenovo branded card, is there still a possibility I might need to load a modded BIOS?

basketb · #6 Post by **basketb** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:19 am

I don't have an X61T, so I can't give you a definitive answer. But was the X61T ever sold with such a card? If so, chances are it will work with the the latest BIOS.

flypenfly · #7 Post by **flypenfly** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 12:52 pm

Sorry, I have an X61s not a T?

basketb · #8 Post by **basketb** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 1:27 pm

So, in my post above replace "X61T" with "X61s".

flypenfly · #9 Post by **flypenfly** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 2:35 pm

Ok thanks, it seems like you still configure an X61s with an N card so I should be good to go.

rek · #10 Post by **rek** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 9:32 pm

An X61/s/t should work with either the Lenovo 'branded' Intel 4965AGN and Atheros-based cards, without any BIOS trickery.

It's the X60/s/t series that can't use any 4965 card without a modded BIOS -- but they will work with the Lenovo branded Atheros card with a standard BIOS.

flypenfly · #11 Post by **flypenfly** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:24 pm

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lenovo-Thinkpad-Int ... 286.c0.m14

$50, I guess not bad.

flypenfly · #12 Post by **flypenfly** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 2:01 am

Interestingly, I noticed next to the RAM slots, there's a GSM SIM Chip holder in there. Looks like the laptop is pre-wired for Cingular/AT&T mobile broadband.

Are all Intel 4965N cards the same?

Are all Intel 4965N cards the same?

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