A wifi antenna on a motherboard is an integral part of any computer for improved wifi connectivity, as it provides a stable wireless connection to the internet. Most WiFi adapters require an antenna that is attached directly or indirectly to the motherboard. The question most people shopping around for the best motherboard with better wifi ask is whether motherboards with wifi come with an antenna?
In general, motherboards with built-in wifi do not always come with an antenna. Instead, they rely upon the strength of the gateway router signal to connect with the computer using the built-in wifi chipset. A separate external antenna device like a wifi PCIe card can be used where it’s needed. However, most motherboards will connect to wifi or an internet signal effortlessly with an onboard wifi chipset without needing a wifi add-on antenna.
Motherboards often come with two distinct types of antennas: one inside the computer case and an external antenna for better reception. Most of the time, the built-in antenna is situated inside a computer case and requires a direct line of sight to a wireless router or other devices that broadcasts internet signal. The onboard antenna also uses cables included in its packaging with which you can easily attach to your motherboard.
In some cases, if the wifi chipset is located next to the CPU, you must attach a metal plate on top of it. This helps to protect it from overheating and dissipate heat faster through the plate.
In some video cards with wifi, there may be a separate antenna that comes with its own cable where a 3rd party can plug into an available port or slot provided on the motherboard.
Motherboard with or without wifi
Motherboards sold on the market today have either a wifi or no-wifi version with the only difference being in the price of the motherboard in which you can buy a cheaper “no wifi” motherboard.
The most important factor in deciding if an add-on antenna is necessary for better reception is the signal strength from your router or access point, even when it’s located directly above it.
However, if you are looking at the best motherboard for gaming , chances are built-in wifi is usually not available in its specifications list since most gamers prefer to have the latest hardware to play games with better frames per second (FPS). Many high-end motherboards can be connected to an ethernet cable for faster speeds compared to wifi connection.
Most of today’s laptops and computer motherboards come with wifi as a standard feature built-in, where some manufacturers such as Acer and Asus don’t even make laptop models without built-in wifi.
If you are looking to buy a new laptop without wifi, usually it will be less expensive than those with built-in wireless LAN. Still, if you are looking to play games, you can always purchase a separate video card with wifi instead.
Wifi antennas that come with most motherboards are great for home use or light internet browsing, but they are also very easy to install where they don’t require much effort and time. They typically perform at their best and provide better reception in homes and offices where wifi signal is relatively good.
However, as the demand for better internet connectivity and streaming video continues to grow, many people choose to buy a separate antenna that can be attached anywhere outside their house or office to receive a stronger and more stable wifi signal than built-in antennas. However, if you don’t need it for any reason, there is no reason to buy a separate antenna.
What does built-in WiFi do on a motherboard?
If you are not aware of what a built-in Wifi do on a motherboard, it’s a small chip that receives the internet signal and transmits it to your computer. This is an alternative to plugging in wires where it doesn’t require any additional effort or time to set up, which you can do by simply attaching your antenna cable directly into its slot on top of the motherboard.
Is built-in WiFi on the motherboard good
Built-in wifi on the motherboard is good for streaming videos and browsing the internet. However, if you are looking to play games, it will be better to have a separate video card with a wifi antenna instead. Wifi PCIe cards are often used so that you get maximum frames per second where most laptops have built-in cards without this feature.
Thus, motherboards with WiFi include an antenna cable which you can easily connect to your motherboard. In some cases, a metal plate may be necessary if the wifi chipset is below the CPU.
In some video cards with WiFi, there is a separate antenna that can be plugged into an available port or PCIe slot provided on the motherboard.
Most of today’s laptops and computer motherboards come with built-in wifi as a standard feature, where some manufacturers such as Acer and Asus don’t even make laptop models without built-in wifi.
If you are looking to buy a new laptop without wifi, usually it will be less expensive than those with built-in wireless LAN. Still, if you are looking to play games, you can always purchase a separate video card with wifi instead.
Built-in wifi on the motherboard is usually sufficient for streaming videos and light web browsing, but it’s not recommended if you are looking to play games. It will be better to have a separate video card with built-in wifi instead since most laptops do not come with this feature.
Should I get a motherboard with or without WiFi?
If you are not looking to play games, it will be better to get a motherboard with built-in wifi. If you are looking to play games, you should purchase a separate video card with an antenna instead since most laptops do not come with this feature.
What is the difference between WiFi cards and antennas?
WiFi antennas are usually used for gaming whereas wifi cards are for streaming videos. They both work the same way, but antennas are often designed to be more powerful than cards where they can send and receive signals at longer distances, while cards tend to be more compact and may only have a range of 100 feet.
Can I attach an external antenna to my built-in wifi on the motherboard?
You should not attach an antenna to your motherboard’s built-in wifi since it will cause poor reception. You can always purchase a separate video card with wifi instead, even though laptop models only come with built-in cards.
Do motherboards need antennas?
Motherboards do not require antennas since they are already equipped with them as standard features. You can always purchase a separate video card with an antenna for better reception and performance if you are looking to play games.
Built-in wifi motherboard vs Pcie wifi card
There are subtle differences between the motherboard with built-in wifi vs a PCI WiFi card.
Motherboards with onboard wireless or “built-in” are usually included as part of the PC’s hardware whereas external cards plug into an available slot on your PC such as your PCIe x1, x4, x16, etc. slots.
External wireless cards require an open slot on your PC to plug in whereas built-in wireless cards are already pre-installed within the motherboard. There is no need to install an additional card for this feature.
Antennas are also included with both types of wireless cards, where it’s usually attached directly onto the card itself.
Built-in WiFi vs separate PCI-E card
Another difference between built-in wifi on the motherboard vs a PCI WiFi card is that cards usually come with removable antennas while motherboards do not.
Motherboard cards are usually installed in slots on your PC, whereas an external PC wireless card will be plugged into an available slot of your computer. The majority of quality motherboards manufactured by known gaming computer brands like ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, etc. are already equipped with built-in wireless LAN to save cost and space without the need for additional cards or antennas.
Deciding between a motherboard with or without WiFi?
If you are not looking to play games, it will be better to get a motherboard with built-in wifi. If you are looking to play games, you should purchase a separate video card with an antenna instead since most laptops do not come with this feature.
Conclusion.
Overall, motherboards without built-in wifi will not include antennas as part of the hardware. You can always purchase a separate video card with an antenna for better reception if needed. Otherwise, the built-in wifi on the motherboard will be more than enough to stream videos or browse the internet.
