By Ki Grinsing

DWA-556 D-Link Xtreme N PCI Express (PCIe)Desktop Adapter and DWA-542 D-Link RangeBooster N® Desktop Adapter

PCI or USB

If you have desktop computers and would like to install a wireless adapter, what is your choice – a USB wireless adapter or wireless PCI card? Some people will choose USB type adapter since they don’t need to worry of opening the computer chasing and inserting the wireless card into the slot. Unfortunately you might run out of USB ports for other purposes such as for keyboard, mouse, USB storage, and so on. Besides, USB adapter is easy to loose and stolen. For you that manage a large scale network organization – wireless PCI card would be your choice, suitable for the offices where many people passing-by, more secure against stolen.

PCI and Express PCI

There are two types of PCI slot that can be supported by the desktop computers, computer with ordinary standard PCI slot and computer with newer PCI express slot. D-Link offers you two types of PCI adapters you can consider to buy for your wireless PCI adapter both for ordinary PCI and PCI express.

DWA-556 D-Link Xtreme N PCI Express (PCIe) Desktop Adapter

DWA-556 D-Link Wireless PCI Cards

The D-Link DWA-556 is a wireless PCI Express with draft 802.11n support for your desktop that is equipped with pci express slot can take advantage of this pci adapter to provide wifi performance that is almost ten times faster than your legacy wireless g devices. Surely must be connected to your wifi networks that are also packed with wireless N technology such as the popular DLink DIR655 router or from current generation of DLink routers such as DIR827 or DIR857 with USB 3.0 port.

PCI Express Benefits over standard PCI:

1. Up to 50% faster than legacy PCI cards
2. Fits any standard PCI Express slot – x1, x4, x8, or x16
3. Offers increased bandwidth, reliability, and more functionality than a legacy PCI card2

The Xtreme wireless-N PCI Express card is powered by Xtreme N technology and boasts three external antennas to provide superior wireless reception in your home or office. This adapter is designed for use in larger homes and offices, or for users running multiple bandwidth-intensive applications. This adapter enables you to simultaneously make or receive Internet phone calls – VoIP (basically without a computer you can make Internet phone calls using Wifi phones such as Netgear Wifi phone for Skype or Belkin Wifi phone for Skype), surf the Web, transfer files, and stream High-Definition (HD) media when connected to an Xtreme N Gigabit Router such as DIR-655 wireless router or DIR-660 D-link wireless router.

D-Link’s Quick Adapter Setup Wizard guides you step-by-step through the installation process. Configure this desktop adapter without having to call a networking expert to help you.

With unmatched wireless performance, reception, and security, the DWA-556 D-Link Xtreme N wireless PCI card is the best choice for easily adding (or upgrading) wireless connectivity to your PCI Express-enabled desktop computer using the D-Link’s new Quick Adapter Setup Wizard.

DWA-542 D-Link RangeBooster N® Desktop Adapter

For legacy PCI based- desktop computers, you can use the DWA-542 Wireless PCI Card. This wireless PCI card is a draft 802.11n compliant wireless client for your desktop PC that delivers up to 12x faster speeds1 and 4x farther range1 than an 802.11g network while staying backward compatible with 802.11g networks. Once connected, you can share a high-speed Internet connection, photos, files, music, printers, and more.

DWA-542 D-Link Wireless PCI Cards

The RangeBooster N Desktop Adapter is engineered by RangeBooster N technology, providing blazing wireless speed performance in the home or office. With this DWA-542 you can connect to a RangeBooster N Router (DIR-628) and experience smooth Internet phone calls (VoIP), responsive network gaming, secure Web surfing, faster file transfers, enhanced audio streaming, and greater wireless coverage in larger homes and offices.

Easy to Setup, Easy to Use

D-Link’s Quick Adapter Setup Wizard guides you step-by-step through the installation process. Configure this desktop adapter without having to call a networking expert to help you.

With unmatched wireless performance, reception, and security protection, the D-Link RangeBooster N Desktop Adapter (DWA-542) is a great choice for easily adding or upgrading wireless connectivity to your desktop PC.

Both the wireless PCI card types support WPA and WPA2 encryption that allow you to connect securely to your wireless network. And installation is easy using the included Quick adapter setup wizard. With both wireless PCI card adapters, allow you connect your desktop computers to the wireless network securely and access a high-speed Internet connection, transfer files, and stream media from greater distances around your home or office.