Networking is a tricky thing, and manufacturers generally aren't super helpful when it comes to clarifying things. Reading the specs for just about any wireless router or Wi-Fi card is going to be a flurry of numbers, designations, and (very often meaningless) maximum bandwidth ratings. So before we delve into Wi-Fi cards let's clear the air a bit.
Just about any Wi-Fi 6 (also referred to as 802.11ax) compatible card you get from a reputable manufacturer is going to work just fine for all kinds of gaming. At the end of the day network traffic is just network traffic to your router, and in the case of a router that is able to specifically prioritize gaming-related traffic (a feature some higher end routers have) it's going to have nothing to do with the Wi-Fi card your PC is using anyway. To simplify things every Wi-Fi card included here is going to be Wi-Fi 6 compliant and ready to game.
ASUS PCE-AX58BT
First up we have the PCE-AX3000 from ASUS. It features all the standard Wi-Fi 6 bells and whistles along with dual adjustable external antennas. It also includes Bluetooth 5.0, so you can solve all of your wireless needs in one fell swoop. It's outfitted with an ASUS branded heatsink as well, although that's likely more for aesthetic reasons since it's unlikely your Wi-Fi card will overheat. It's a solid, affordable, and capable option.
MSI AX905C
The AX905C from MSI is on-par with the PCE-AX58BT from ASUS, but MSI helpfully lists the exact intel Wi-Fi module they're using: the AX200. That particular Intel chip is a M.2 module with full Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 support, putting it in line with the what you need to adequately game when connected to your Wi-Fi 6 compatible router. In includes a single-blade style antenna with a wide base. The big boon here is Bluetooth 5.2, which is going to perform just a bit better for compatible devices over the slightly older Bluetooth 5.0 specification.
TP-Link Archer TX3000E
The Archer TX3000E from long-time networking hardware manufacturer TP-Link is yet another solid Wi-Fi 6 PCIe card. Bluetooth 5.0, dual adjustable antennas, and an attractive whole unit heatsink that adds a bit of color and panache to the unit. Performance-wise it's similar to the other Wi-Fi cards listed here, but having a splash of color might be more agreeable to you and your build than yet another black component.
Intel Wi-Fi 6 Gig+ Desktop Kit
You may have noticed something about basically all PCIe Wi-Fi cards on the market today: they're just M.2 Intel Wi-Fi adapters slotted into custom PCIe boards and sold with manufacturer-specific warranties. The upside: having a PCIe card is more convenient than running antenna cables from your M.2 slot to the PCI ports on the back of your case. But if you're inclined to cut out the middleman and don't mind extra internal cable management then you can just buy this Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 desktop kit to install directly into an open M.2 2230 slot. For those of you keen to remove any point of failure it can be an attractive option.
GIGABYTE AORUS GC-WBAX210
The GC-WBAX210 from GIGABYTE and their AORUS line is just a very slim cut above the other cards listed here. It sports Intel's newer AX210 Wi-Fi 6E card, which utilizes the 6GHz band, offering a more interference-free spectrum (assuming your router supports it). It also has the usual AORUS branding with a nice plate covering the AX210 chip itself on the board. So if you need the absolute best tech and have the router to match then it's a good pick.
Manufacturers are prone to listing as many specs as possible when talking about networking because more numbers on the package make things seem more robust. If you're in the market for a Wi-Fi card for your new gaming rig then you want Wi-Fi 6 compatibility, a decent antenna, and (most importantly) a decent router to pair with it. Because a good Wi-Fi card is great, but it won't do much for you if you're connecting it to an ancient router.
For more hardware recommendations check out All Macbook M1 Pro and M1 Max Specs, Screen Size, and Dimensions and How to enable Blue Light Filter on Xbox Series X on Pro Game Guides.
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