{"id":58099,"date":"2023-12-25T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-25T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/?p=58099"},"modified":"2024-10-03T09:05:51","modified_gmt":"2024-10-03T07:05:51","slug":"news-deep-dive-wi-fi-7-xmg-laptops","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/news-deep-dive-wi-fi-7-xmg-laptops\/","title":{"rendered":"Wi-Fi standards, Wi-Fi 7 and compatibility in XMG and SCHENKER laptops"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">In this article we would like to introduce a perennial overview of Wi-Fi modules and generations including Wi-Fi 7. In particular, we will of course be discussing which XMG and SCHENKER laptops are compatible with specific Wi-Fi standards. We will also provide an overview of the reasons for certain compatibilities and incompatibilities.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_79_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/news-deep-dive-wi-fi-7-xmg-laptops\/#overview-table\" >Overview table<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/news-deep-dive-wi-fi-7-xmg-laptops\/#pcie-vs-cnvi-interface\" >PCIe vs. CNVi interface<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/news-deep-dive-wi-fi-7-xmg-laptops\/#frequency-bands\" >Frequency Bands<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/news-deep-dive-wi-fi-7-xmg-laptops\/#rollout-of-wi-fi-6e-with-support-for-6-ghz\" >Rollout of Wi-Fi 6E with support for 6 GHz<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/news-deep-dive-wi-fi-7-xmg-laptops\/#introduction-to-wi-fi-7\" >Introduction to Wi-Fi 7<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/news-deep-dive-wi-fi-7-xmg-laptops\/#pending-regulatory-approval-of-wi-fi-7\" >Pending Regulatory approval of Wi-Fi 7<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/news-deep-dive-wi-fi-7-xmg-laptops\/#what-is-%e2%80%9cwi-fi-7-ready%e2%80%9d\" >What is \u201cWi-Fi 7 ready\u201d?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/news-deep-dive-wi-fi-7-xmg-laptops\/#how-about-wi-fi-7-support-on-amd\" >How about Wi-Fi 7 support on AMD?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/news-deep-dive-wi-fi-7-xmg-laptops\/#should-i-upgrade-to-%e2%80%9ckiller%e2%80%9d-wi-fi-modules\" >Should I upgrade to \u201cKiller\u201d Wi-Fi modules?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/news-deep-dive-wi-fi-7-xmg-laptops\/#intel-double-connect-technology-dct-for-wireless-vr\" >Intel Double Connect Technology (DCT) for Wireless VR<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/news-deep-dive-wi-fi-7-xmg-laptops\/#your-feedback\" >Your feedback<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"overview-table\"><\/span>Overview table<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We maintain a comprehensive table that clarifies the Wi-Fi support level of all recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">XMG<\/a> &amp; SCHENKER laptops. You can always find it behind this link:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/go.xmg.gg\/wireless-lan-overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">XMG &amp; SCHENKER Laptop Wi-Fi Recommendation Matrix (WLAN)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The table is also linked in our FAQ article:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Which Wi-Fi feature levels are supported by XMG &amp; SCHENKER laptops? <strong>(coming soon)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The left side of the table identifies the CPU and GPU generation of each laptop and their Wi-Fi platform support levels (i.e. what kind of frequencies are supported by the antennas). The right side of the table assigns a Wi-Fi module recommendation to each laptop, based on those platform support criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next few paragraphs will explain the technical terms used in our table in more detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"pcie-vs-cnvi-interface\"><\/span>PCIe vs. CNVi interface<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In XMG &amp; SCHENKER laptops, all Wi-Fi modules are provided in the form of an M.2 module. Despite their identical form factor, these M.2 modules come in two flavours:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td>CNVi<\/td><td>CNVi or CNVio is Intel\u2019s proprietary connectivity interface for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. In CNVi, the network adapter&#8217;s large and usually expensive functional blocks are moved inside the CPU and chipset. This may reduce the cost of some CNVi cards vs. their PCIe counterparts (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/CNVi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">read more<\/a>).<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>PCIe<\/td><td>PCIe (PCI Express) is a general industry standard that is used for all kinds of modules and add-in cards. In terms of Wi-Fi, PCIe is used to connect the Wi-Fi module to the host platform. In contrast to CNVi module, PCIe cards have all the radio-related functions located on the Wi-Fi module itself.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally, CNVi modules are only compatible with Intel laptops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Intel laptops also support PCIe-based Wi-Fi modules, although there have been a few exceptions in the past where the M.2 interface in some laptop models lacked the necessary pins for full PCIe support. Thus, for the sake of simplicity, we only recommend CNVi modules on Intel-based laptops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AMD laptops do <strong><em>not<\/em><\/strong> support CNVi, as CNVi is a proprietary technology by Intel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the hypothetical questions of future support by AMD, it would not only require supporting the necessary interface protocol, but also to incorporate the relevant radio-related functionality into the AMD chipset. Due to the absence of the necessary functional blocks in AMD&#8217;s current mobile platforms, it is technically impossible to offer retroactive support for CNVi in AMD. Furthermore, there is no available information whether AMD has any ambition to move to CNVi in future hardware platforms or if Intel has any ambition to make CNVi a shared industry standard in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"frequency-bands\"><\/span>Frequency Bands<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Wi-Fi started in 1997 in the 2.4 GHz band \u2013 a frequency band that Wi-Fi is sharing with Bluetooth, DECT telephones, baby monitors, wireless security cameras, and some remote-controlled toys. Many lower-cost Wi-Fi routers today still only support this one band.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A few years later, Wi-Fi added another optional frequency band in the 5 GHz range. When setting up higher-end Wi-Fi routers today, users usually have the option to maintain a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz network side by side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When operating side-by-side, the networks names (SSIDs) are often labelled as \u201cExample-2.4G\u201d and \u201cExample-5G\u201d, to differentiate them from each other. The usage of \u201c5G\u201d (5 GHz) in Wi-Fi is not to be confused with the \u201c5G\u201d standard in mobile telecommunication (phones), which stands for \u201cfifth generation\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The year 2020 saw the introduction of Wi-Fi 6E, which opened yet another frequency band, this time in the 6 GHz range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally speaking, higher frequencies allow for higher bandwidth, i.e. higher network speeds. The 5 GHz and 6 GHz band may also allow you to \u201cescape\u201d the 2.4 GHz band, which can be relatively crowded in dense urban environments due to the many aforementioned devices using it, aside from Wi-Fi. Operating in a crowded frequency range may reduce network bandwidth or increase latency (ping) for all operators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, lower frequencies can have higher ranges (as in: how far can your Wi-Fi network reach out) and might be better at penetrating surfaces (walls, doors) and bending around corners. Generally, higher frequency radio waves are more easily absorbed by air molecules and other materials. The same logic applies to analogue AM\/FM radio, where lower frequency AM radio (popular in the United States) have low audio quality yet very long range, while higher frequency FM radio (\u201cUKW\u201d in Germany) has high quality but relatively short ranges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"rollout-of-wi-fi-6e-with-support-for-6-ghz\"><\/span>Rollout of Wi-Fi 6E with support for 6 GHz<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As explained in the previous paragraph, the Wi-Fi 6E standard has, among other improvements, introduced the usage of a 3rd frequency band after 20 years of 2.4\/5 GHz dominance. This 6 GHz band is relatively broad and may stand for a number of different frequency ranges in different regulatory regions. In Europe, it encompasses all frequencies from 5925 MHz to 7125 MHz, so, despite its mere 6 GHz label, it actually goes up to over 7Ghz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally, each upgrade in Wi-Fi frequency range required an upgrade in antenna design, leading to larger and more complex antennas. These antennas are usually built into the back covers of laptop display lids. Sometimes they are also built into the base-units instead. The antennas are generally downward-compatible with the lower frequency bands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new 6 GHz-capable antennas were rolled out across the portfolio over a period of time. Generally, models that were already developed before or during the introduction of Wi-Fi 6E still had the old antenna design, even if the same model was refreshed later with new CPU\/GPU platforms. Models, that were later developed from scratch after the introduction of Wi-Fi 6E already had the space reserved for the 6 GHz antennas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is also a grey zone in between where certain models already had 6 GHz-capable antennas but lack the necessary certification (with regard to electromagnetic emissions and compliance with international standards). On those models, 6 GHz usage is disabled in firmware, despite theoretically being available in hardware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In our Wi-Fi support overview matrix, all laptop models that are advertised with Wi-Fi 6E support are fully capable and certified for Wi-Fi 6E, including the usage of the 6 GHz frequency band.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those, that do <strong><em>not<\/em><\/strong> support the 6 GHz band will remain labelled as &#8220;Wi-Fi 6&#8221; only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Please note:<\/strong> we understand that Wi-Fi 6E has brought more improvements over Wi-Fi 6 than only the additional 6 GHz frequency spectrum. But in the interest of avoiding to potentially mislead customers, we decided to only advertise Wi-Fi 6E on those models, where we can fully guarantee all its capabilities. We do not want to go the route of having to put asterisks such as &#8220;w\/o 6 GHz&#8221; into our spec sheets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"introduction-to-wi-fi-7\"><\/span>Introduction to Wi-Fi 7<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Disclaimer: according to our information, the Wi-Fi 7 standard is not approved for certification in the European Union yet. Further details two paragraphs below.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"630\" height=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/XMG-FOCUS-E23_GG_LP_Feature-05.1_WiFi.jpg\" alt=\"Wi-Fi 7\" class=\"wp-image-46166\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/XMG-FOCUS-E23_GG_LP_Feature-05.1_WiFi.jpg 630w, https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/XMG-FOCUS-E23_GG_LP_Feature-05.1_WiFi-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A new standard called Wi-Fi 7 is slated to be adopted in 2024. This standard requires newer, more advanced Wi-Fi modules that are not on the market yet (as of December 2023). Wi-Fi 7 is expected to increase network bandwidth by widening the channel width from the previous 160 to 320 MHz. You may wonder how these channel width relates to the 6 GHz frequency band explained in the previous paragraph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As indicated earlier, the 6 GHz band in Europe includes frequencies from 5925 MHz to 7125 MHz \u2013 by subtraction you see that\u2019s a band of 1200 MHz in width. The band is divided into channels. Traditionally, those channels were first 20, then 40, then 80 and recently up to 160 MHz wide. Now they can be up to 320 MHz wide. In a range of 1200 MHz, you can fit 3.75 channels of 320 MHz each. In reality, there is overlap between neighbouring channels, so you can fit more of them inside the band.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"pending-regulatory-approval-of-wi-fi-7\"><\/span>Pending Regulatory approval of Wi-Fi 7<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As indicated in the earlier paragraph, the Wi-Fi 7 standard is not approved for certification in the European Union yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without regulatory approval, we cannot apply for full system certification under the EU&#8217;s Radio Equipment Directive (RED). See also:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Radio_Equipment_Directive_(2014)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Radio Equipment Directive (2014)<\/a> [Wikipedia]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Therefore, even if we can achieve support on a technical level (hardware, firmware, drivers), we are not able to advertise Wi-Fi 7 support yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"what-is-%e2%80%9cwi-fi-7-ready%e2%80%9d\"><\/span>What is \u201cWi-Fi 7 ready\u201d?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In a situation of still pending regulatory approval and full system certification (at least in some global regions), manufacturers usually use terms such as &#8220;ready&#8221; to denote that their systems technically could support the standard, they are just not yet able to fully advertise it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To understand the definition of &#8220;technical support&#8221;, let\u2019s look at the raw technological requirements of Wi-Fi 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In terms of hardware, if your antennas are already certified for Wi-Fi 6E (with 6 GHz support), Wi-Fi 7 does not require new antennas. It does however need new Wi-Fi modules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Intel has already revealed specifications of their upcoming modules:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ark.intel.com\/content\/www\/us\/en\/ark\/products\/series\/230080\/intel-wi-fi-7-series.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Intel\u00ae Wi-Fi 7 Series<\/a> [intel.com]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In theory, a laptop that is 6E-capable should be able to support Wi-Fi 7, once the relevant modules become available. However, support may also require driver and firmware support, so it is currently unclear how many pre-existing Wi-Fi 6E laptops will actually be fully supported by Wi-Fi 7 modules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Currently, we expect the following support levels from Intel:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No official support on Intel Core 12th Generation and earlier<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Limited support on Intel Core 13th Generation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Full support on Intel Core 14th Generation and Intel Core Ultra series<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If a laptop is covered within this support range, upgrading a laptop from Wi-Fi 6E to Wi-Fi 7 will at minimum require to replace the M.2 Wi-Fi module. Instructions on replacing M.2 modules can be found in <a href=\"https:\/\/xmg.gg\/en\/faq\/maintenance\/#disassembly\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this article<\/a> (laptops in general) and <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/9j83rixFHxw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">thi<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/9j83rixFHxw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">s<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/9j83rixFHxw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> video<\/a> (Wi-Fi modules in particular).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It remains to be seen if firmware updates will also be required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>As we do not have samples of Wi-Fi 7 modules at hand yet and without the regulatory approval, we cannot yet formally guarantee compatibility with pre-existing laptop models.<\/strong> This applies especially to those laptops in the \u201climited support\u201d category listed above, for which even the hardware and firmware support remains unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how-about-wi-fi-7-support-on-amd\"><\/span>How about Wi-Fi 7 support on AMD?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, the modules so far announced by Intel are with PCIe interface, not with Intel\u2019s own CNVi protocol. There is likely a good reason for this: the CNVi protocol expects the relevant core functionality to be present already in the CPU platform. It can be assumed that current Intel CPU platforms do not have the necessary, wireless-related hardware-support for the features of Wi-Fi 7. Instead, Intel provides all of the required hardware discretely on the new PCIe modules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This means that future, yet to be announced \u201cWi-Fi 7\u201d CNVi modules may only be compatible hardware-wise with far future Intel platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The availability of PCIe modules may spawn hope for AMD-based laptop owners that they could upgrade to Intel Wi-Fi 7 relatively soon. However, according to information provided in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/thinkpad\/comments\/17gtq5v\/wifi_7_from_intel_seems_to_be_not_compatible_with\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this thread<\/a>, the BE200 module will be mechanically compatible only with those M.2 slots that have only the \u201cE-Key\u201d, while the slots in AMD-based laptops typically have \u201cA+E Keys\u201d, causing them to be incompatible. Until now, the A\/E-Key difference was used to make sure that AMD users don\u2019t try to install CNVi-based Wi-Fi modules, which wouldn\u2019t work anyway (and would likely result in a lot of trial &amp; error and subsequent refunds by DIY users). Starting with BE700, the A\/E-Key difference seems to be used in an even more restrictive manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>This means that the upcoming Intel Wi-Fi 7 modules are likely not mechanically compatible with commonly available AMD-based laptops.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(Going deeper into the meaning of \u201cA\u201d and \u201cE\u201d key is beyond the scope of this thread. A bit of background information can be found in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dell.com\/community\/en\/conversations\/inspiron-desktops\/dell-m2-wlan-card-keys-ae-a-e-caveat\/647f9da4f4ccf8a8de205228\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this thread<\/a> on the Dell forums and on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.delock.de\/infothek\/M.2\/M.2_e.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this info page<\/a> from Delock.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, since AMD has partnered with MediaTek to bring out their own AMD-branded Wi-Fi modules, AMD does not officially support Intel Wi-Fi modules anyway. This has traditionally not stopped us from offering Intel Wi-Fi modules (only PCIe, not CNVi) on AMD-based laptops. However, these sideway upgrades always require a bit of testing from our side as we cannot blindly rely on platform support from these opposing vendors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At any rate, it can be assumed that AMD will eventually present their own Wi-Fi 7 solutions. If and once these become visible on the horizon, we will update this article accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"should-i-upgrade-to-%e2%80%9ckiller%e2%80%9d-wi-fi-modules\"><\/span>Should I upgrade to \u201cKiller\u201d Wi-Fi modules?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Intel\u2019s \u201cKiller\u201d Wi-Fi modules, though based on the same hardware as Intel&#8217;s standard Wi-Fi modules, offer several unique features primarily through its software enhancements, which cater to specific user needs, especially in gaming and network management. This includes features such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Killer Control Center:<\/strong> monitoring network usage, adjusting priorities and setting bandwidth limits, ensuring that low-priority traffic doesn\u2019t interfere with key applications or websites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Advanced Stream Detect and Killer Intelligence Engine:<\/strong> automatic prioritisation of gaming and multimedia traffic, ensuring smoother online gaming experiences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Double Shot Pro Technology:<\/strong> When combined with a Killer Ethernet interface in the same PC\/laptop (not available in any current XMG or SCHENKER laptop), the system can use both Killer Ethernet and Killer Wi-Fi simultaneously, allowing for data to be routed through the most efficient network path.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite these advantages, Killer modules won&#8217;t inherently increase your maximum network bandwidth as they operate on the same hardware and in the same shared medium as the \u201cstandard\u201d Intel Wi-Fi modules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, there are some considerations regarding software and driver compatibility. While the Killer modules use Intel&#8217;s driver stack, there might be instances where the specific features and optimisations provided by the Killer software might not be fully compatible or optimised for all systems, leading to mixed experiences among some users. For more information, we recommend searching online for in-depth reviews of recent Intel Killer modules such as Intel Killer AX1650 and Intel Killer AX1675.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"intel-double-connect-technology-dct-for-wireless-vr\"><\/span>Intel Double Connect Technology (DCT) for Wireless VR<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A relatively recent feature in Intel Wi-Fi is Intel Double Connect Technology (DCT). This is supported in principle in Intel Killer 1690i, which is based on Intel AX401. These Wi-Fi modules are special in that they are basically two Wi-Fi modules in one. This allows them to be connected to two Wi-Fi networks at the same time. A potential advantage is in Wireless VR, where VR headsets are connected to the powerful gaming PC or gaming laptop. Intel DCT potentially allows for better image quality and may be able to avoid latency issues, as the two Wi-Fi streams (each located in slightly different frequency ranges) are able to cover for each other, should one of them experience momentary latency issues or other interruptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some backgrounds on this use case can be read in these articles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/communityforums.atmeta.com\/t5\/Talk-VR\/Intel-Killer-Wi-Fi-6E-with-Double-Connect-Technology\/td-p\/1028258\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Intel\u00ae Killer\u2122 Wi-Fi 6E with Double Connect Technology<\/a> [atmeta.com]<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.msi.com\/blog\/killer-doubleShot-pro-x3-and-wireless-vr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Killer DoubleShot Pro X3 and Wireless VR<\/a> [msi.com]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>However, our own testing with this technology was inconclusive. We suspect that the frequency ranges that are required to unveil DCT\u2019s potential are not available in Europe. We may revisit this topic again later in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because we cannot fully guarantee the advantages of DCT at the moment, we do not officially support upgrades to Intel AX401 and Killer AX1690i in our laptops. However, in terms of hardware and firmware, Intel AX401 and Killer AX1690i are principally compatible with any Intel-based laptop that supports Wi-Fi 6E.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Intel AX401 and Killer AX1690i are CNVi-modules, they are not compatible with AMD-based laptops. Intel does not offer PCIe-based variations of these modules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"your-feedback\"><\/span>Your feedback<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you for taking this deep dive into Wi-Fi standards and compatibilities with us. Please remember to check our general Wi-Fi overview table if you would like to find out which Wi-Fi standards are supported by your laptop. Let us know if you have any questions and feel free to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/XMG_gg\/comments\/18qgwwd\/psa_overview_of_wifi_standards_and_compatibility\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">post your feedback on reddit<\/a> or join our <a href=\"https:\/\/discord.gg\/xZykwQf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Discord server<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this article we would like to introduce a perennial overview of Wi-Fi modules and generations including Wi-Fi 7. In particular, we will of course be discussing which XMG and SCHENKER laptops are compatible with specific Wi-Fi standards. We will also provide an overview of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":58092,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-58099","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58099","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58099"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58099\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58099"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58099"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.xmg.gg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58099"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}