What types of Wi-Fi cards are available?

Wi-Fi cards or adapters are available in two basic types: USB adapters and PCIe Wi-Fi adapters that support 2.4GHz or 5.0GHz networks. The USB adapters also come in two forms: small nano adapters and larger adapters with antennas. Both these types of USB adapters connect to 2.0 USB and have an average transmission speeds of 150 Mbps. PCIe Wi-Fi adapters attach to PCIe slots on desktops and laptops. Using their interfaces, PCIe adapters have faster transmission speeds of up to 1 Gbps.

Which Wi-Fi card type should I choose?

Desktop computers, especially those that you set up yourself, usually require Wi-Fi adapters. Gaming rigs benefit from PCIe Wi-Fi adapters especially for online gaming. Nano Wi-Fi adapters, on the other hand, work well with laptops that don't have Wi-Fi features because the adapters are inconspicuous. Some Wi-Fi PCIe adapters also give desktops and laptops Bluetooth reception and transmission, so this type is a smart choice no matter what computer you own.