USB 2 Wireless Internet Adapters vs. PCI Wireless Internet Adapters on Older Computers Equipped with USB 1

    If you are considering buying a wireless adapter for your older computer that's equipped with USB 1 and PCI ports you may want to consider each option carefully before investing your money in these expensive, yet convenient devices. To find out what ports your computer is equipped with, you should consult your user's manual or contact the manufacturer. In addition, rescources can be found online that will tell you what ports your motherboard is equipped with. This guide will help you consider whether to buy a USB 2 wireless internet adapter or a PCI wireless internet adapter on an older computer equipped with USB 1.

    Older computers have Universal Serial Bus (USB) 1 (they are USB 1 standards compliant). This is considerably slower than newer computers that are equipped with USB 2. USB 2 adapters come in different speeds, but for explanation sake, lets consider a standard 54 mb/s USB 2 wireless adapter. What many people don't realize is that the 54 mb/s file transfer rate on your network is only obtainable with the use of USB 2. With USB 1, (which is what older computer's motherboards are equipped with) there is a slower transfer of data onto your computer so you can only receive files at a maximum of about 11 mb/s. This is a considerable difference to the 54 mb/s transfer rate that would be obtainable with the use of USB 2. I have used these USB 1 wireless adapters on my home network and the result wasn't only a much slower 11 mb/s transfer rate, but also lag throughout my entire network. If you transfer large files on your home network, I would reccomend not using these USB 2 adapters on older computers just for that reason. I would suggest using a PCI wireless adapter.

    PCI wireless adapters plug right into an open PCI port on your motherboard. To receive a signal, they often have a small antenna extending out the back of your computer. These PCI devices can take advantage of the 54 mb/s transfer rate of your router unlike USB 2 wireless adapters. This is a much faster rate than having a USB 2 adapter limits you to. For transfering large files or computer gaming I would reccomend this type of wireless device over a USB adapter. The only disadvantage I can see is that it takes up a PCI port. However, not using a USB adapter means more USB ports to use for mice, keyboards, etc. And there is a considerably less amount of USB ports on older computers.

    The use of a USB adapter might be more convenient and cost effective, because you can just unplug it and plug it into any computer in your home that you need to use the internet on. Then you don't need to buy PCI adapters for each computer. But if you need the speed, go with a PCI adapter.

    Whichever one you choose, you will still have the convenience of wireless internet and you can move your computer to any area of your house and use the internet (provided you have signal). It's a question of what speed you need to your network to run at, and how convenient you want your internet use to be. I hope this guide was helpful to you, and good luck with your choice.