Is the C720-3404 chromebook ZHN's motherboard compatible with a WI-FI 6 module?

H1M1
H1M1 Member Posts: 2 New User
in Chromebooks
and does it have has Intel 9560 CNVi or later? 

Best Answer

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,246 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓
    Any of the M.2 WiFi will have those tabs, which don't fit in the M.2 slots for SSDs, so you can't use that. If you need WiFi 6 it'll have to be an external USB adapter and likely won't run at full speed. Be sure to put it in the USB 3.0 port, not the 2.0.
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.

Answers

  • Leostat
    Leostat ACE Posts: 3,043 Pathfinder
    Looking at this chromium page it looks likely that the WiFi is soldered on:

    https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/developer-information-for-chrome-os-devices/acer-c720-chromebook
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,246 Trailblazer
    Yes, the WiFi module is soldered to the MB.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • Leostat
    Leostat ACE Posts: 3,043 Pathfinder
    Out of curiosity there looks to be a M2 on the board in the service manual as well, whereas on the chromium page it said it would be removed 🤔 could that be used do you think?  My guess is that it would be NVME / an exposed PCI lane intended for debugging or a second drive (judging by the gap between it and the pcb to the left) Which means if it was it may be possible to install one in that slot and move the wires across

    (Drivers on the other hand in chromium i think would be a bit of a problem)
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,246 Trailblazer
    WiFi cards and NMVe SSDs have different M.2 interfaces. The M.s slot you are talking about is set for a SSD, but with the shorter form factor than what's typically used these days. I doubt the C720 has support for an NVMe drive, I believe all the drives shipped with the model were M.2 SATA 3.0. Remember this machine was released for the 2013 Christmas season...
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • Leostat
    Leostat ACE Posts: 3,043 Pathfinder
    Ah ok, didn't click they were that old so yeh probably not then 😅 specially if it's a sata drive! 
  • H1M1
    H1M1 Member Posts: 2 New User
    CNVi not NVME a part of the protocol for the m.2 slot, so this wouldn't work in it? https://amzn.to/3nBpT7W
  • Leostat
    Leostat ACE Posts: 3,043 Pathfinder
    It wouldn't be, I was wondering if the non cvni would work but going on what billsey has said I really doubt it will I'm afraid :( if you can get away with retuning it it doesn't hurt to try but expect it not to work!
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,246 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓
    Any of the M.2 WiFi will have those tabs, which don't fit in the M.2 slots for SSDs, so you can't use that. If you need WiFi 6 it'll have to be an external USB adapter and likely won't run at full speed. Be sure to put it in the USB 3.0 port, not the 2.0.
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.

Categories