Question Computer won't recognize M.2 WiFi card ?

[DCW1999]

Hello,

My computer - MSI Z390-A PRO Motherboard - won't recognize or use my M.2 Wifi 7 Card Key E as a network adapter. I have downloaded the Intel BE200 Wifi Driver but am having no luck. Below are links to the hardware in question. Any advice? Thank you for your time.

Motherboard: https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/Z390-A-PRO/Specification
Chip: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CMM1QKTQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The following information is form the motherboard link above; I do not know enough to know if this is relevant to my question but I thought I would include it. Under slots, the following is written: "1 x M.2 slot with E key for Integrated Intel® Wireless-AC(CNVi) module only"

Thank you for your time! Sorry if I have formatted my post incorrectly.

 

[cruisetung]

Your wifi 7 M.2 adapter is not compatible with Intel CNVi spec

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000026155/wireless.html

 

[DCW1999]

Your wifi 7 M.2 adapter is not compatible with Intel CNVi spec

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000026155/wireless.html

Ah, I see. So I need to get an entirely different adapter? Do you have any recommendations?

 

[cruisetung]

Don't have any personal experience with these adapters.

It seems all Intel AX series

• Intel® Wi-Fi 6E AX411 https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...2/intel-wifi-6e-ax411-gig/specifications.html
• Intel® Wi-Fi 6E AX211 https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...7/intel-wifi-6e-ax211-gig/specifications.html
• Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX203 https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/229220/intel-wifi-6-ax203/specifications.html
• Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX201 https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...93/intel-wifi-6-ax201-gig/specifications.html
• Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX101 https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/203014/intel-wifi-6-ax101/specifications.html

are only compatible with CNVio2, which requires CPUs that are above 12gen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNVi

CNVi is not compatible CNVio2, your CPU is only compatible with AC series.

My suggestion: get external USB wifi adapter or PCIE based adapter.

Maybe
https://www.amazon.com/Herald-BE-802-11BE-Bluetooth-Multi-Link-Operation-Technology/dp/B0DFHRYRH6

 

[DCW1999]

Don't have any personal experience with these adapters.

It seems all Intel AX series

• Intel® Wi-Fi 6E AX411 https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...2/intel-wifi-6e-ax411-gig/specifications.html
• Intel® Wi-Fi 6E AX211https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/204837/intel-wifi-6e-ax211-gig/specifications.html
• Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX203 https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/229220/intel-wifi-6-ax203/specifications.html
• Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX201 https://www.intel.com/content/www/u...93/intel-wifi-6-ax201-gig/specifications.html
• Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX101 https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/203014/intel-wifi-6-ax101/specifications.html

are only compatible with CNVio2, which requires CPUs that are above 12gen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNVi

CNVi is not compatible CNVio2, your CPU is only compatible with AC series.

My suggestion: get external USB wifi adapter or PCIE based adaper.

Noted! I'll go ahead and do that. I appreciate your input. I shouldn't have a problem buying a network adapter as long as it accomodates a PCEi slot right? Thank you for all your help, this has been exceedingly frustrating and I am not very tech savvy.

 

[cruisetung]

I shouldn't have a problem buying a network adapter as long as it accomodates a PCEi slot right?

Right.

 

[bill001g]

I would not get too hung up on wifi7. It doesn't actually seem to be much better than wifi6e for most people. I suspect that is mostly because wifi6e is already massively faster than most people have a need for on mobile devices.

The largest issue for you is the drivers only work on windows 11 which of I suspect will not function on your motherboard. I have seen discussion on how to hack a windows 11 wifi driver into windows 10 but I never bothered since wifi 7 is very expensive for not much difference in performance.