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Would my video card interfere with my WiFi adapter?

3K views 31 replies 5 participants last post by  juanitox 
#1 ·
Hey guys,

I got this motherboard ASRock FM2A55M-VG3+



I'm about to buy a new videocard, the MSI AMD Radeon R7 265, the videocard takes 2 slots and prolly the fan would get too close to my PCI wireless adapter. Do you guys have any experience with this? I want to know if I would have problems fitting the videocard, so I would order an USB wireless adapter.

Thanks for your help!
 
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#3 ·
A 2 slot video card wil either have a custom cooler with dual or triple fans typically, or a blower cooler which will take in air well past the pci wireless card. Care to link which graphics card you're getting so we know what to comment on? I think you should be fine as long as the graphics card and pci card are securely mounted so that the pci card does not rub any fans.

EDIT: is this your card? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127790&cm_re=MSI_AMD_Radeon_R7_265-_-14-127-790-_-Product
If so, its a rough guess that the fan will have plenty of overhang to take in air past the pci card, assuming your wirless pci card is not too bulky. could you either link or snap a pic of your wireless card?
 
#4 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by XanderTheGoober View Post

A 2 slot video card wil either have a custom cooler with dual or triple fans typically, or a blower cooler which will take in air well past the pci wireless card. Care to link which graphics card you're getting so we know what to comment on? I think you should be fine as long as the graphics card and pci card are securely mounted so that the pci card does not rub any fans.

EDIT: is this your card? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127790&cm_re=MSI_AMD_Radeon_R7_265-_-14-127-790-_-Product
If so, its a rough guess that the fan will have plenty of overhang to take in air past the pci card, assuming your wirless pci card is not too bulky. could you either link or snap a pic of your wireless card?
Hey, thanks for answering. Yes, that's the videocard and this is the PCI adapter I got

http://www.encore-usa.com/mz/product/ENLWI-NX2
 
#5 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by juanitox View Post

Hey, thanks for answering. Yes, that's the videocard and this is the PCI adapter I got

http://www.encore-usa.com/mz/product/ENLWI-NX2
That wireless card looks to be really low profile, I would not worry one bit about airflow for the graphics card, granted if your case has good cooling. Only worry i would have is having it rub the fan, and even that is a very minimal worry as long as everything is mounted properly.
 
#6 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by XanderTheGoober View Post

That wireless card looks to be really low profile, I would not worry one bit about airflow for the graphics card, granted if your case has good cooling. Only worry i would have is having it rub the fan, and even that is a very minimal worry as long as everything is mounted properly.
Yeah, I was worried maybe about the airflow, will see if there's any physical contact once the videocard arrives. My case is a Thermaltake Commander ms-i and got 4 x 120mm fans, 2 as intake and 2 as exhaust, so prolly would be okay.

Thanks for your answers guys. I will update if something comes up.
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by juanitox View Post

Yeah, I was worried maybe about the airflow, will see if there's any physical contact once the videocard arrives. My case is a Thermaltake Commander ms-i and got 4 x 120mm fans, 2 as intake and 2 as exhaust, so prolly would be okay.

Thanks for your answers guys. I will update if something comes up.
Should be plenty sufficient. Good luck and let us know if you have more issues or questions.
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#8 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by XanderTheGoober View Post

Should be plenty sufficient. Good luck and let us know if you have more issues or questions.
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Got my videocard installed and working. Could fit it in that space, it's very close to the PCI card tho.

I was checking temps while playing Borderlands 2 @ 1366 x 768, maxed out settings. It uses around 50% of the GPU according to GPU-Z and the temps were around 56° C, and 32°C while idle.

I noticed the fan was always at 18% so I used MSI afterburner to set the curve. After that, while idle with 40% fan speed I get the same temp 32°C and around 55% fan speed in Borderlands 2 gave me 51°C.

It didn't drop temp while idle tho the fan speed was higher, also it dropped the temp by 4° C when playing Borderlands 2 with higher fan speed. Don't know if this means the PCI card is being an issue. I got as case a Thermaltake Commander MS-I and it has 4 x 120mm fans (2 intake, 2 exhaust).

Should it be cooler? Or are these temps are alright? Since well I supposed it should drop the temp more in idle with higher fan speed but it didn't happen.

Thanks in advance for your help
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#9 ·
Temps seem decent to me. And your idle temp would not change much being as how this depends on the ambient temp in the room. Load temps is mainly what matters in comparison to fan speed. As long as the fan is not rubbing, your temps are excellent.
 
#10 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by XanderTheGoober View Post

Temps seem decent to me. And your idle temp would not change much being as how this depends on the ambient temp in the room. Load temps is mainly what matters in comparison to fan speed. As long as the fan is not rubbing, your temps are excellent.
That's great then. Thanks!
 
#11 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by juanitox View Post

That's great then. Thanks!
My pleasure, don't hesitate to make another thread if you have issues.
 
#12 ·
A friend of mine had a similar situation, and his WiFi signal strength was bad. When I saw the title of this thread, I thought you meant electromagnetic interference, actually.

While I'm here, I thought I would suggest a solution before the problem even occurs. I ended up fixing his problem by replacing the rabbit ears on the wireless adapter with antennas that had long cables on them. They actually came with my Maximus V Formula motherboard but I wasn't using them for naything.
 
#13 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by YawMawn View Post

A friend of mine had a similar situation, and his WiFi signal strength was bad. When I saw the title of this thread, I thought you meant electromagnetic interference, actually.

While I'm here, I thought I would suggest a solution before the problem even occurs. I ended up fixing his problem by replacing the rabbit ears on the wireless adapter with antennas that had long cables on them. They actually came with my Maximus V Formula motherboard but I wasn't using them for naything.
Hmm actually I've been having issues with my WiFi connection, signal seems alright, I'm like 3 - 4 meters aways from the router in another room, but my net drops randomly saying connection is limited then it takes connection again. I have tried playing around with the settings, beacon interval and stuff also called the ISP and they changed my router, but it doesn't seem to be better. Prolly I got a bad quality wireless adapter, so I will try getting a new one.
 
#14 ·
#15 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by XanderTheGoober View Post

Looking back at the link you have, that seems like a relatively cheap adapter. and a few years old on top of that.
newegg product page > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833180058
sounds like what you are describing is complained about in the first couple reviews.

Need assistance selecting a new card?
This one seems decent. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166021&cm_re=PCI_wireless-_-33-166-021-_-Product
Thank you very much again. I will check it out, prolly I will have to replace it.
 
#16 ·
I just use a simple usb wireless adapter, ASUS N-10 i think. (this one http://www.amazon.com/USB-N10-wireless-N-Transmit-Interface-software/dp/B003E6493G). There are many of this type available. Those work well, especially that close to the router, and you can move it to the front of the case if needed. I have never had issue with interference though and ive installed quite a few of these nano style adapters. It would also get the pci card out from in front of the gpu. Just something to think about.
 
#17 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ultisym View Post

I just use a simple usb wireless adapter, ASUS N-10 i think. (this one http://www.amazon.com/USB-N10-wireless-N-Transmit-Interface-software/dp/B003E6493G). There are many of this type available. Those work well, especially that close to the router, and you can move it to the front of the case if needed. I have never had issue with interference though and ive installed quite a few of these nano style adapters. It would also get the pci card out from in front of the gpu. Just something to think about.
I have had hit and miss driver support for these. Some of the Tenda adapters actually have the driver bundled with windows. I would stay away from the edimax brand. Asus nano wireless adapters are ok but just don't lose the driver disc. the drivers listed on the site are not very intuitive to install properly.
 
#18 ·
#19 ·
Is your router even dual band capable? If so get the internal pci express card and attach to the 5GHz frequency for less interference. if your router is only 2.4, then you may want to consider the usb one if it is cheaper, and then place closer to the router. OR if your router is close enough, just get a cable
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EDIT: just re read previous comment, would need to be a 25foot or longer cable.
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#20 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by XanderTheGoober View Post

Is your router even dual band capable? If so get the internal pci express card and attach to the 5GHz frequency for less interference. if your router is only 2.4, then you may want to consider the usb one if it is cheaper, and then place closer to the router. OR if your router is close enough, just get a cable
smile.gif
The router is kinda close but messing with cable would be kind of annoying since the router is in another room and I can't leave the cable just going thru the floor, so it would be lots of extra work. Also I have to check the specs of my new router, my ISP changed it a few days ago because the old Thomson was failing, now they dropped some Huawei HG532e router with an internal antenna (prolly not the best thing), but even with this new one I still get the problem.
 
#21 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by juanitox View Post

The router is kinda close but messing with cable would be kind of annoying since the router is in another room and I can't leave the cable just going thru the floor, so it would be lots of extra work. Also I have to check the specs of my new router, my ISP changed it a few days ago because the old Thomson was failing, now they dropped some Huawei HG532e router with an internal antenna (prolly not the best thing), but even with this new one I still get the problem.
Either you have really bad interference or your current wifi card is going to crap. Both of which can be solved by using the 5GHz frequency if the router supports it.
 
#22 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by XanderTheGoober View Post

Either you have really bad interference or your current wifi card is going to crap. Both of which can be solved by using the 5GHz frequency if the router supports it.
I think it only supports 2.4GHz and yeah might need dual band >.< I see lots of nets from my neighborhood. Tho I started having problems with this new PC, I had a latop that died a few months ago and the WiFi worked just fine.
 
#23 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by juanitox View Post

I think it only supports 2.4GHz and yeah might need dual band >.< I see lots of nets from my neighborhood. Tho I started having problems with this new PC, I had a latop that died a few months ago and the WiFi worked just fine.
Then what would probably be best is just get the pci express adapter, connect it to the 2.4GHz and if you continue to notice issues you already have the adapter for 5GHz band, and you can get a wireless ap/router capable of that 5GHz band as well. why waste time getting the 2.4 only if you are suspecting interference already?
 
#24 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by XanderTheGoober View Post

Then what would probably be best is just get the pci express adapter, connect it to the 2.4GHz and if you continue to notice issues you already have the adapter for 5GHz band, and you can get a wireless ap/router capable of that 5GHz band as well. why waste time getting the 2.4 only if you are suspecting interference already?
That's true. Thank you very much. Prolly the router might have to wait since at the moment I'd be getting the new wireless adapter and also have plans on getting a better motherboard, I'm already having enough problems with the layout of this one, because the GPU is blocking the audio and usb headers, also the audio is getting interference when the GPU is under load, so might need a better isolation for the audio.
 
#25 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by juanitox View Post

That's true. Thank you very much. Prolly the router might have to wait since at the moment I'd be getting the new wireless adapter and also have plans on getting a better motherboard, I'm already having enough problems with the layout of this one, because the GPU is blocking the audio and usb headers, also the audio is getting interference when the GPU is under load, so might need a better isolation for the audio.
What motherboard is it again?

EDIT: oh yeah the ASRock FM2A55M-VG3+
hang on a sec

EDIT 2: get this bad boy
smile.gif
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131883&cm_re=fm2_micro_atx-_-13-131-883-_-Product
 
#26 ·
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