this post was submitted on 25 Mar 2026
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How do I use my bt/wifi card with this gpu? (lemmy.world)
submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by Fafa@lemmy.world to c/buildapc@lemmy.world
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My mainboard is an msi b450 Mortar Max. Until recently, I used a pretty small gpu, which left enough space for my network adapter to fit in the pcie 3x4.

I upgraded my gpu this winter, but there was only space in the second pcie 2.0x16, which (probably) doesn't provide enough lanes. That's why wifi stopped working, and bluetooth started to become buggy.

Now I was playing around with the thought of picking up a 2in1 usb dongle, but I heard they aren't that good.

What's would be the best thing to do in this case?

Edit: The network adapter is a Gigabyte GC-WB1733DI

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[–] kboos1@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

A USB Bluetooth adapter is fine, you shouldn't have any problems with it.

WiFi on the other hand depends on what you use it for, the USB port will be a bottleneck. I'm hardwired but I have a USB dongle for testing wifi single and I wouldn't recommend it if you're doing anything other than basic browsing.

Maybe try a pci riser cable? You might have some issue with securing the card inside the case but maybe give some space between the cards could help

Is the GPU in the correct slot?

Are you sure the PSU can handle the new GPU?

Are you sure you didn't damage the wifi card when you installed the GPU?

[–] SpikesOtherDog@ani.social 3 points 4 days ago

A USB 3 Wi-Fi 6 adapter should be able to avoid the bottleneck. 3.0 should support speeds up to 5Gbps, and WiFi 6 can peak at 800Mbps.

Even if it runs at usb 2.0 speeds, the bottleneck is 480 Mbps, which is probably sufficient for many people's Internet connection.

It is better to get a device with an antenna on a cable that you can distance from your PC a little. It helps up get it away from the EMI.

[–] Fafa@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

Thanks for the info. I'm also on Lan so im not using wifi very often, but I like to have the option available.

The (gpu 9060XT)is in the correct slot but the psu and pcie 3.0 is definitely a bottleneck for it.

The network card is not broken just less functional. It worked fine in the other slot. There is some 9 pin usb on the network card. Im not sure what's that about since I didn't need it before.

I also thought about using a riser cable but I'm unsure how that would work. My first idea is to unscrew the Chip from the metal part that attaches to the case and turn it around so I can plug the cable in from Front side.

[–] SpikesOtherDog@ani.social 4 points 4 days ago

You should be fine with a USB Wi-Fi adapter. We use USB wired adapters professionally, all day day long.

The downside is that one of your USB 3 ports will be in use permanently.

[–] maniel@sopuli.xyz 3 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

most wifi pcie cards should work better than usb dongle (vastly better signal with external antennas), also bt on those cards works on usb (little cable you connect to your mobo), so it's weird it became buggy. It seems all pcie slots on that mobo except the main one are pcie 2.0, the last one (long one) has 4 lanes so it should work fine, comparing to pcie 2.0 x1 slot you were probably using before, BUT:

PCI_E4 slot will be unavailable when an M.2 SSD is installed in the M2_2 slot.

maybe that's why your card became buggy? wifi isn't working because there's no pcie signal in the slot and bt is buggy because there's less power form the slot? that's my guess

anyway what's your GPU? is it really taking 3 slots?

[–] Fafa@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

The card is only attached by pcie. Should I look into connecting the 9 pin usb?

I have a second m2 in the m2_2 slot but i have disabled it, since i didnt need it at the moment. That could be the causing problem with the network card. It's funny that bt kinda works though. Shouldn't both be unavalable in that case?

[–] maniel@sopuli.xyz 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

it's weird BT works at all, haven't tried myself, but apparently usb connection is essensial for BT to work, even the manual say explicitly to connect the usb cable: https://download.gigabyte.com/FileList/Manual/card_manual_gc-wb1733d-i_20241120.pdf

as for wifi itself i'd try to enable the M2_2 port and take the disk out of it

alternatively you could try using some risers to access x1 port under the GPU, but then using usb adapter would be a lot easier

[–] Fafa@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

Is there any resource on how to use a riser cable in a case like this? Do I unscew the chip and flip it upside down to connect it?

[–] Wahots@pawb.social 1 points 4 days ago

Hmm. I think your GPU would run in 8x mode, but it should be fine, even sharing lanes with the network card.

I've run cards off mobos with the same number of lanes, and a very similar gigabyte pcie network card, and it ran flawlessly.

I'd check the physical connection, look for damage to the antenna connectors where the wire meets the SMA connector, and try swapping in the old GPU as a control if you still have it. On paper, things should still be fine.