Confused - Internet/Desktop question

The Scop · 24 Mar 2009 at 10:34

hi guys,

Just a simple quetion i don't understand. I intend to purchase a prebuilt machine from Overclockers UK, and it'll be going upstairs in my room (i'm 19 and still ling with the parents for the time being). To be able to use the internet and activate half the new games i own I need to access the wirelss router downstairs, as my dad won't let me drill a whole tthrough the floor to put a cable through, lol I was wondering, If i bought one of those usb wirelss access thingys by just plugging that into my comp and installing whatever will i be able to access the internet with just that and the comp?

Cheers in advance

~The Scop

reflux · 24 Mar 2009 at 10:36

Erm....yes....a USB wireless stick will give you WLAN capability, just like what most laptops have these days

J.B · 24 Mar 2009 at 11:26

Thats as simple as it is really, just plug in the USB card. Alternatively OcUK might fit a PCI internal card for you if you ring them up and are especially nice to them!
Or you could just buy one and fit it yourself, personally I dont like USB dongles, take up a USB port and the performace never seems as good as a PCI one.

Guardsmon · 24 Mar 2009 at 12:08

get a PCI card if possible, much better choice, often more realiable in terms of lifetime, distance and access speed + they don't get knocked about and are hidden.

Otherwise you could annoy your family, buy a WAP and bridge the connections

The Scop · 24 Mar 2009 at 12:20

cheers for the replies guys, i'd fit a pci express wi fi card thingy, but i wouldn't know how difficult it'd be and what software, drivers (do pci wifi cards have drivers, lol) i'd need to install. The only thing i'd really use it for would be activated annoying modern games that seem to require the internet to do so, browsing facebook, etc and occasional online gaming

J.B · 24 Mar 2009 at 12:23

If you have an interest in computers then installing a PCI wireless card would be a good first step on the way to upgrading and modifying your own rig.

Its as simple as plugging the card into the slot. A monkey could do it.

And yes it will come with drivers, best to download the latest ones off the internet firs though.

Guardsmon · 24 Mar 2009 at 12:34

J.B is right. All it requires is taking the side panel off your case (normally 2 cross head screws, depends on the case) That the screw holding one of the back panel plates off the back of the case which lines up with a PCI slot (or PCI-E 1x if you get that type of card). Push the card in. Put the screw back in to hold it. Attach the aerial. Put side back on. Boot up and install drivers from the disk.

Though as previously said, its best to get the newest drivers from the company site before you install it. You can find the drivers at the manufactures site.

Or if you really aren't confident. Ask OCuk guys to do if for you.

errata · 24 Mar 2009 at 12:39

or stuff wifi and just get 2 homeplug ethernet over the mains adapters, no configuration required no wifi or router configuration headaches

J.B · 24 Mar 2009 at 12:43

errata said:
or stuff wifi and just get 2 homeplug ethernet over the mains adapters, no configuration required no wifi or router configuration headaches

There is that, but not as cheap as the WiFi route. you pay for the simplicity and slightly higher speeds

Guardsmon · 24 Mar 2009 at 12:48

if you can get it to work... We bought some for our house we are renting and couldnt get them to work between upstairs and downstairs as the electrics were on 2 different loops, but we couldn't even get it stable between 2 rooms next to each other either... personally I think its a risky investment at that cost unless you know your house's electrics.

The Scop · 24 Mar 2009 at 18:11

Cheers for the advice guys, if its a simple as plugging in the pci card to either pci slot or pci x1.0 slot and then installing drivers which you say get off the internet then i'll probably try giving that a go (making sure i have a spare slot on the mobo in the pc i buy). Another reason i wanted wireless is because i've used my lappy wirelessly on i-net a lot upstairs, works well, and because on the family downstairs desktop they use broadband, and thus the pc has loads of broadband files, etc on it and i personally would choose just to connect to the router wirelessly and not have to have any of the broadband browser and files, as i'd just use Internet Explorer or Firefox as do with my laptop.

~The Scop

dtokez · 24 Mar 2009 at 18:57

yeah id go for a pci card bro

neon.uk · 24 Mar 2009 at 19:30

The Scop said:
(making sure i have a spare slot on the mobo in the pc i buy).

All mobos have plenty of PCI slots - dw you'll have space.

Wireless can be hit and miss (especially if you plan to do online gaming). I had a total disaster with a belkin card, but bought a cheapo one and it's now working great - no problems at all for gaming. It can certainly get frustrating. But if all you want to do is browse etc. wireless is fine.