Swift Edge 16 - SFE16-43 - Wi-Fi 7, does the unit has Qualcomm WCN7851 wifi card

Chuck684
Chuck684 Member Posts: 6 New User
edited November 2023 in Swift and Spin Series

I am a bit confused about the Wi-Fi 7 spec for this laptop. Most of them appear to ship with Wi-Fi 6E. There are a few websites that list Qualcomm WCN7851. If we get a model that has the 6E version can the Wi-Fi card be swapped out later for a Wi-Fi 7 card?

[Edited the thread to add issue detail]

Best Answers

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,313 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓

    I believe the NCM865 is classified as a WiFi 7 ready device which is rated at WiFi 6E until sometime in the future. As you can see from Acer's spec they only say 802.11ax, not 802.11be. This type of thing often comes up as new standards are set. Here's what Acer says:

    image.png

    And here are the parts:

    image.png

    I expect the Qualcomm card will do WiFi 7 when things settle down, but we don't have any way to tell which specific units will come with that card installed. Since it's a normal M.2 interface, changing to a WiFi 7 card in the future should be just a drop in replacement if you get the 6E version.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,313 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓

    That is correct, Intel states the BE200/BE202 chips do not work with AMD systems. I assume that's why Acer is going with the Qualcomm option on those models.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.

Answers

  • brummyfan2
    brummyfan2 ACE Posts: 28,478 Trailblazer
    edited November 2023

    Hi,

    This model comes with WiFi 7 and WiF i6E, so I think both are compatible.

    If you have a MediaTek MT7922A22M which is a WiFi 6E card, if you have Qualcomm NCM 865 which is a WiFi 7 card.

    https://wikidevi.wi-cat.ru/Qualcomm

    https://fccid.io/J9C-QCNCM865

    http://en.techinfodepot.shoutwiki.com/wiki/MediaTek_MT7922A22M_Reference_Design

    Screenshot 2023-11-29 200744.png

    Acer Predator PT516-51s Performance Results - UserBenchmark

  • Chuck684
    Chuck684 Member Posts: 6 New User

    Thanks for the info. Does anyone know the exact model that has the Qualcomm one?

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,313 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓

    I believe the NCM865 is classified as a WiFi 7 ready device which is rated at WiFi 6E until sometime in the future. As you can see from Acer's spec they only say 802.11ax, not 802.11be. This type of thing often comes up as new standards are set. Here's what Acer says:

    image.png

    And here are the parts:

    image.png

    I expect the Qualcomm card will do WiFi 7 when things settle down, but we don't have any way to tell which specific units will come with that card installed. Since it's a normal M.2 interface, changing to a WiFi 7 card in the future should be just a drop in replacement if you get the 6E version.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • Chuck684
    Chuck684 Member Posts: 6 New User

    I just upgraded to the SFE16-43 from the SFA16-41. The latter definitely has an A+E key slot for the Wi-Fi card. It looks like the former has an E key slot for Wi-Fi. Intel's BE200 card is E-Key but from everything I've read it does not work with AMD systems. Both systems use the same 6E card.

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,313 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓

    That is correct, Intel states the BE200/BE202 chips do not work with AMD systems. I assume that's why Acer is going with the Qualcomm option on those models.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.

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