PCIe vs USB WiFi Adapters, Which One Is Better for Your Gaming PC?
So you’ve finally finished building your gaming PC so you decide to install a fresh copy of Windows and test out some games from Steam. But when you open your browser hoping to download Steam, you’re puzzled as to why you don’t have an internet connection.
After a little troubleshooting and a search on Google you find out that your motherboard doesn’t include built-in WiFi. So, where do we go from here? Well the best option would be to use an Ethernet cable, apart from being “plug and play” it also provides a faster and more stable connection than any WiFi based system out there.
But let’s say using Ethernet is somehow out of the question. If that’s your concern then the only sensible option would be to go for either a USB or PCIe WiFi adapter — that being the case which one is better?
So if you’re talking solely about performance and stability PCIe WiFi adapters usually better compared to USB WiFi adapters. Why? Because PCIe adapters have direct access to the motherboards’ PCIe bus, which inherently has a faster transfer rate than USB, thus resulting in a faster internet connection.
Additionally, PCIe adapters can be installed on the motherboard itself much like a graphics card placed within your PC case and is commonly held by a screw. This secure placement provides and stable connection, whereas USB adapters that are placed on the outside of the case could be easily disconnected when nudged.
On the other hand USB WiFi adapters are more portable and easier to install compared to PCIe WiFi adapters. The reason behind this is that because PCIe WiFi adapters are confined within the case, they are in turn somewhat “semi-permanent”, meaning you wouldn’t take it out regularly unless for cleaning or maintenance purposes — similar to your graphics card.
Now one of the reasons why USB WiFi adapters shine is because they can be plugged into any available USB port on your computer, which is perfect if your PC has limited expansion slots. Another perk is how most USB WiFi adapters are hassle-free and work right out of the box.
Depending on what chipset your USB WiFi adapter is using the majority of modern operating systems such as Windows and Linux automatically detect your adapter without the need of installing a third party driver.
Another important aspect to note is that PCIe WiFi adapters may have compatibility issues with some motherboards and a broken driver installation could be the cause frequent freezing or BSOD especially when paired with older motherboard models.
Bottom line
The last thing to keep in mind (maybe the most important) is to factor in your ideal budget. A good rule of thumb is that PCIe WiFi adapters are (for the most part) more expensive than their USB counterparts, as they offer faster WiFi connection, especially for gaming or heavy data transfer.
Although if you’re on a tight budget or your PC comes limited or unusable PCIe slots, a USB WiFi adapter could be a viable option. Just remember that you should always find a USB WiFi adapter that comes included with an antenna as it outperforms the ones that don’t.
