I've noticed that this (as well as many other wireless network cards) get many bad reviews on Amazon. I've also noticed that it's usually due to the component not working for people because of driver issues. It's been very surprising to see how many people in the last few months say that it does not work on Windows 10.
I just want to clarify something. It most definitely DOES work on Windows 10. I'm using this card on a new PC build, and it functioned properly from the beginning with nothing more than installing it into a PCIe 1.0 slot on the motherboard and hooking up the dual-band antenna. That's IT. The default drivers work. There is no need to go to the ASUS website to install drivers! I'm not sure if people are overthinking it and trying to manually install drivers or what.
To add to this, I can say that this card works perfectly on Linux Lubuntu 18.04 with nothing more than inserting the card and hooking up the antenna.
So, if you're looking for a wireless network card and are second-guessing the ASUS PCE-AC55BT B1 due to the nonsense you see about people having compatibility issues, then worry not! This card works great!
The integrated Bluetooth works great as well and makes the $35 price tag even better!
Thanks ASUS!
Initial review (first day):
It's literally plug and play for me. I run a windows 10 rig, and right as I plugged it in, started to recognize the device. I went to see if there are any driver updates (didn't use the CD but went into device manager) and saw no updates.
I tested the wifi connection and it was doing great (our connection is 50 but getting 60+). Bluetooth worked easily with my bose headphones. Quick connection, easy peasy.
My motherboard BIOS, windows, etc. were all up to date and that could play a part in how easy it was to use. If issues arise later down the road, I will update this post. If It's not updated, take it as it's running great :)
The good news - it's awesome.
I'm getting much faster load speeds with the AC wifi than with the USB AC dongle I was using prior to this. The Bluetooth seems to be working perfectly with my wonky Surface keyboard, which was skipping and lagging with even a hi-power USB dongle prior to this.
The install disk works perfectly with Windows 10. Performance is incredible so far, but it's only been in the box an hour. 4K streaming from a router about 20 feet away has about a 1-4 second start-lag and then is perfectly smooth on YouTube with no interrupts.
The only bad news - the manual is a joke. There is an illustrated section with four steps. At no point does it tell you to install the card, or connect the antenna, or any of that. The only useful information is to connect the cable to the internal USB port, and then to configure the Bluetooth.
So to make things simple, here is what the instructions should say. Install the card, and then connect the cable, and the antenna. Then boot it up, install the WiFi driver and do your password connection. It will want to reboot, so let it. Then install and test the Bluetooth driver. Close the case and clean up. That's it.
The instructions say: insert the disc, then run the software, then connect the internal cable, then install the Bluetooth driver, then aim the antenna.
It then translates that into 32 languages, in print too fine to read without a magnifying glass. The only real question with stuff like this is whether it wants you to install the driver before or after the hardware, and where to plug the cable on the motherboard.
Fix the piece of paper, and it's a perfect product.
The m.2 card on my shows as an Intel 8260. I works really well with both windows and Linux. For the price it is hard to beat.
Cons: The antenna assembly is very lightweight and feels very cheap. The cords to the antenna are too short. Even with this card in the top pcie slot the antenna only just barely reached the top of the case, and has to sit on the air vent. The included USB header cable is also a touch short, and needed creative routing to reach my motherboards USB 2.0 headers.
Pros: Everything else about this product is awesome. the antenna cable connectors feel well built, and are standardized so if you want to replace them latter it is easy to do.
Bottom line: Great value. The intel 8260 card alone is worth the price. The fact it comes with an antenna (albeit a cheap one) and the adapter card it an bonus. Sure there are more expensive fancy options out there, but for general use on a desktop this is hard to beat.
Needed to move my desktop into a different room from my router. Installation was easy: plugged into an open PCI-E slot, booted up, selected my WiFi.
I'm on Windows 10 Pro (1709 Fall Creators Update), no need to install ASUS drivers.
I did not however install the (included) USB cable to get Bluetooth support because I was out of USB headers on my motherboard. I don't really need Bluetooth at the moment, but if I do get it hooked up, I'll update the review.
My favorite thing is that, unlike a laptop, my desktop defaults to allowing both the built-in Ethernet and this WiFi card to be on at the same time. I'm not sure where this machine will be permanently, so it may sometimes be on wired, sometimes on WiFi. Having both on means I can permanently forward external ports to the WiFi, so that even if I do move it around / occasionally plug in Ethernet, I won't have to keep re-configuring my router.
Feature Product
- AC1200 high-speed wireless internet connectivity
- Wireless-ac Dual-Band for low latency streaming and high performance online gaming
- Bluetooth 4.2 and BLE connectivity
- External antenna base for optimum signal reception
- Operating Frequency: 2.4 GHz/ 5 GHz
Description
Bring powerful AC1200 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity to your desktop PC with the PCE-AC55BT PCIe adapter, which includes a coverage-enhancing external antenna base. For added flexibility, The Macie card can be removed from the PCIe adapter, enabling it to be installed in a variety of barebones Mini PCs.
Performance is fantastic...getting full speed from Comcast internet...I'm paying for 150mbs...easily getting that with this WiFi adapter.
...but NOT happy with Asus implementation of Bluetooth 😞...this cable they include to feed and convert data from the USB bus to Bluetooth transmitter does NOT fit any USB connector on my new MSI Arctic Ryzen board...saw how another customer ordered 2nd cable separately...WHY do we have to do that, why couldn't Asus include an alternate cable or 2 ?
...needless to say, I can't use it's Bluetooth function😭
But it's primary use as WiFi is excellent...
...and interesting construction detail...WiFi board is removable laptop WiFi adapter mounted on PCIe adapter board...you could unscrew this and install in laptop that has standard board connector. 😲
I have been a die hard ASUS customer since I built my first PC. I learned very quick that if a product of theirs is not working correctly out of the box, re check your installation because you probably did something wrong putting it in. I always know with them it’s going to work and it’s going to work very well. The antenna is picking up WiFi from neighbors I did not even know I had. The Bluetooth is completely seperate. Although it is mounted on the WiFi card it runs to its own USB header on your mobo. That would be one thing, I didn’t see anywhere the description saying you need an extra open USB header and if I didn’t I would be very disappointed. I have an older ASUS mobo that I built 7 years ago so it had more headers than I’ll ever need. If you have a manufactured PC you might not be so lucky so definitely check before you are dead set on purchasing this product. The only gripe I have is with Amazon and this new horrible delivery service. The first one I got was lost in transit. I live in south Seattle 3 miles from the warehouse this was shipped from. How is that even possible? Amazon definitely made it right and got me another right away but I’ve been ordering a lot of stuff lately and when an item ships and I see that AMZN delivery, my heart sinks because I know it’s a 50/50 chance it will get here on time or even get here at all. The ONLY time I have delivery problems is when it’s that service. Other than that everything is perfect. SCRAPBTHE DELIVERY SERVICE!!
Excellent. This is the first time in 10-20 years I have installed a wifi card and it worked the moment I booted the machine. No fussing, fiddling with parameters, fixing ports. Nada. I know some people had a problem from the reviews. But I suspect there's always 10-15% of the reviews on any product that are grumpy cats or weird situations where the electronics couldn't work.
I plugged it in and it worked. That was it. Performance is great on huge file downloads.
My only complaint is the wifi antenna cord needs to be 2-3 feet longer. As it is, it only reaches to the top of the small deskside PC. That limits my placement choices. And my wife keeps her OSU bobbleheads on the top of the PC. Sigh.
This product, especially given it's negative reviews which caused me to put off purchase for over a week, blows the door off the hinges!
It's truly 'plug & play', can get the latest drivers via Device Manager & right click 'Update Driver Software'. No downloaded software (or what came on CD with card) needed. Some here are obviously making a mountain out of a molehill, allow the OS to do the lifting & you're good to go.
The ASUS PCE-AC55BT runs on the 5MHz band quite well, in fact, that's my preferred one, less congestion as opposed to the more crowded 2.4 networks. Network speed is the same as my Intel Ethernet, tested with the popular OOKLA Speed Test (72Mbps download, 6Mbps upload).
Cons: This wasn't available for this price two years ago! I believe (in that computer) it's little brother is installed, the antenna is the same, only with BT4.0. This really isn't a con, more of a joke.
Neutral: Antenna cable could be longer, on the other hand, can replace the included one with a pair (two) of the Genuine Alfa 5dbi antennas & have a more powerful card. Or find a extension cable (may cost more than the pair of antennas). This may or may not be needed, so am calling it down the middle.
To sum it up, this was among the best wireless networking cash I've ever spent. A solid 5 Star product!
EDIT: Later on, discovered that the BT 4.2 was able to drive my 29" VIZIO soundbar, of course not as good as the TOSLINK cable from TV. Yet the fact I can reach that far (20 feet around some bends, no clear line of sight) is awesome! Rather than edit the above review, felt it best to add a comment to reflect what I later discovered. What I don't know & won't for some time to come, is if it'll drive BT speakers above the 4.2 spec of the card (I presume not until seen). I love this card, glad I purchased a 2nd while on promo, still in sealed box.
Nice PCIE Wireless card for when I take my desktop somewhere that doesn't have wired accessibility to a router (gasp)
wrapped the back of the card (top of the card as seen when its installed) in carbon fiber vinyl and sprayed the bracket black, both to tie it into the look of my build, because aesthetics is half of custom PC building B)
haven't done a speed test on it yet i'm generally wired up to the router, but i expect good results from the Intel chip.
Also, the Bluetooth is nice and reliable so far, where i had nothing but issues with the USB type adapters. You will need a spare 9 pin USB 2.0 header on your motherboard, or if you have a spare 19 pin USB 3.0 header on your MOBO, do what i did and order a male 9 pin to female 19 pin adapter, and away you go!
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