If your computer has a Realtek/ralink/Mediatek wifi radio, you would probably benefit from upgrading to an Intel radio. Intel radios handle congested environments better than Realtek ones. In the suburbs it doesn’t matter, but in a college dorm it should be a noticeable improvement.
It has to do with the nuances of how the radios detect and decode 802.11 frame preambles. Realtek radios are less sophisticated, and will often fail to receive stronger signal frames that collide with weaker signal frames. Intel radios do a better job, and usually pick up the strongest signal frame even when there’s a collision. In a college dorm, there’s collisions pretty much constantly.
If your computer has a Realtek/ralink/Mediatek wifi radio, you would probably benefit from upgrading to an Intel radio. Intel radios handle congested environments better than Realtek ones. In the suburbs it doesn’t matter, but in a college dorm it should be a noticeable improvement.
It has to do with the nuances of how the radios detect and decode 802.11 frame preambles. Realtek radios are less sophisticated, and will often fail to receive stronger signal frames that collide with weaker signal frames. Intel radios do a better job, and usually pick up the strongest signal frame even when there’s a collision. In a college dorm, there’s collisions pretty much constantly.