Learn to install expansion cards in an assembled computer. In this Eniun PC Lab exercise, you will install a PCIe x1 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth card. Choose an available slot, remove its rear cover and secure the card. Then attach the antennas and connect the Bluetooth cable to USB 2.0 before closing the case.
Components in this lab
- PCIe x1 Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth card. With two antennas and a USB cable for Bluetooth.
Safety and preparation
- Shut down the computer, turn off the power supply using its rear switch (the “O” position) and unplug the power cord.
- Wear a grounded antistatic wrist strap, as in the previous labs.
- Prepare the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth card, its antennas and the mounting screw on the table.
- Keep the motherboard manual nearby: it identifies the available slots and connectors.
What expansion slots and cards do
An expansion card adds or extends a computer function. It can provide a connection the computer lacks, extra ports, or capabilities beyond those already built into the motherboard.
In a desktop PC, these cards plug into expansion slots on the motherboard. This lab uses PCI Express (PCIe): the card’s gold edge contacts enter the slot to make the electrical connection. A screw secures the metal bracket to the case; it does not replace the PCIe connection. Any external ports on the card are accessible at the back of the case.
Where to install the Wi-Fi card
The Wi-Fi card is PCIe x1 and has a short connector. In this build, we install it in the upper short slot because it is free and easy to reach. The graphics card blocks the other short slot.
Other types of expansion cards
- Graphics cards process and generate images for displays. The dedicated graphics card already installed in this computer is also an expansion card.
- Network cards add Ethernet or Wi-Fi connectivity. Some models, like the one in this lab, combine Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
- Sound cards provide extra audio inputs and outputs or specific playback and recording features.
- Port expansion cards add USB, USB-C or serial ports, depending on the model.
- Video capture cards receive video from another source for recording or streaming.
- Storage controllers and adapters connect additional drives or provide storage interfaces compatible with the card and motherboard.
What to check before installing a card
- Read the card and motherboard manuals: check the physical connector, available PCIe lanes and supported generation. Two cards with the same function may require different slots; do not choose by connector length alone.
- Check the space inside the case, the rear expansion positions the card occupies and whether it could collide with the graphics card or other components or block their fans. Some small cases require a low-profile bracket.
- Check whether the card needs additional power from the PSU or an internal cable. Connections vary: on this card, PCIe carries Wi-Fi and the internal USB cable carries Bluetooth.
- Windows Update can install drivers automatically. If you need to install them manually, choose the drivers for your card model and operating system. Always work with the computer shut down and unplugged, following the antistatic precautions from the previous labs.
The Wi-Fi and Bluetooth card
- The same card provides Wi-Fi and Bluetooth through two different connections. PCIe carries Wi-Fi. The internal USB cable supplied with the card carries Bluetooth: its small four-contact end connects to the card and the other end connects to an available USB 2.0 motherboard header. It is not a fan cable or an external USB cable. Without it, Bluetooth will not work even if the drivers are installed.
- The TP-Link Archer TX55E guide says to connect the small end of the Bluetooth cable to the card before inserting it, then connect the other end to an internal USB motherboard header. In the simulator, the small end is already prepared: you connect the motherboard end and attach the antennas.
- The antennas go outside the case. To improve reception, avoid obstacles between them and the router.
Lab sequence
- Prepare the computer. With the power disconnected and the antistatic wrist strap in place, remove the side panel.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Choose the PCIe slot, remove its rear cover, then insert and secure the card, which already has its Bluetooth cable attached. Attach the antennas and connect the free end to a USB 2.0 motherboard header.
- Close the case. Check the cables and replace the side panel.
The components are generic. Their connectors, dimensions and assembly sequence follow manuals for equivalent components and the motherboard. The 3D representation is an educational approximation.
Assessments
Test: installing expansion cards
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