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Is late2013’s 802.11ac airport card fully compatible with mid2012? I have a new airport time capsule, and I’d like to see backing up faster.
So basically someone needs to get the 3 antenna AC card and test it to see if it works and how good/bad is the throughput.
Hi, Everyone. ^^ As you know, RMBP 15" Mid 2012 had installed Airport card, BCM94331CSAX (Support 802.11a/b/g/n) RMBP 15" Late 2013 has installed Airport card, BCM94360CSAX (Support 802.11a/b/g/n/ac) BCM94360CSAX has same demensions(? looks same), 3-antenna ports, and interface connection between BCM94331CSAX. I just installed BCM94360CSAX in RMBP 15" Mid 2012 basic model, last weekends. Wi-Fi Link speed is 1Gbit/s with ac mode, right now. (450Mbit/s with n mode, past) It works very well and still using AC mode without problems. As a results, RMBP 15" Late 2013’s 802.11ac airport card is compatible with RMBP 15" Mid 2012. But, I don’t know there are any technical issues.
No, its not really workable. The issue is more than the ability to plug the unit in (slightly different sizes). The issue is the antennas the way 802.11ac works requires waveform shaping to gain the throughput your systems antennas can’t offer this as they are designed to support different bands. Testing has proven there is no benefit swapping it out (in fact it tested out worse throughput) Techctrir - Does it work?
I have just upgraded my network card to ac on my rMBP 13 inch (A1425) I am getting ac connection with my 6300v2 and Airport Capsule and link speed is 1 Gbit/s :D
This actually looks promising. The physical dimensions of the cards seem to be exactly the same. They could be using the same interface, so it is highly likely to be compatible. And both models have 3 dual band antennas, so the performance benefit will be significant, from 450mbps to 1350mbps
my chinese friends have already replaced it, correct card model: BCM 94360csax (FOR NEW PRO 2013 late) BCM 94360cdaX (for IMAC 2013 LATE) BCM94360cs2 (for new air) bcm94360CSAX have already swapped to BCM 94331CSAX (mid 2012 RMBP) my friend told me the dealer contact way QQ: 1669665064 (liky skype, chinese most popular chat tool, free download) email: 1669665064@qq.com it’s cheap for this card, about 40Usd, but the problem is the delivery charge, maybe more than 70USD. pls see http://bbs.weiphone.com/read-htm-tid-734… a japanese friend got it from chinese taobao… Update i try to contact that dealer, she said she have several BCM94360csax, but how to make this deal, i cannot register chinese taobao chat tool that need chinese tele No, only way is i transfer $ to her account, than she deliver it to me, oh…god, high risk. Update look at this test info, tools: newest Time Capsule test approach: compare time that copy files beteen time capsule and NB through wireless， old card VS new card the speed is truely faster, but the guy said the there is some limites on SSD under TC mode (30M/S max) http://bbs.weiphone.com/read-htm-tid-732… another guy: using NAS, and AC routing, download speed is up to 60M/S http://bbs.weiphone.com/read-htm-tid-727… iam confused, if i do so, what is the difference between new RMBP (late 2013) and my old book? it’s faster on newest pro?
Fishy you’re bring up a few different issues here: For now lets put aside the WiFi part of the question. We use the term ‘Link’ to denote the connection between two systems {System A the interconnection between it and System B}. In this Link the slowest part of the link is the limiting factor of the entire link. So if System A & B are equal but I have two connections to pass through and one connection is slower than the other, the entire link is limited to this slower connection. Hopefully that makes sense ;-} OK, now lets expand this, When System A is sending it is Faster than what System B can accept (again both systems are equal). This is a factor on how HD’s or even SSD’s work. So in order to do any testing you need to have un-equal systems where one is able to accept the data flow faster than the other system is able to sent it. OK, lets tackle the next issue, the transmission of the data flow can’t be competing with other data flows over the ‘Medium’ or slowed by transmission conversion. So as an example an Ethernet cable you plugged directly between two systems back to back can’t be interfered with by other competing data flows and there is no conversion taking place (i.e. WiFi to Ethernet). Now the hardest point here the effective data rate of a device and the standard it complies with does not need to be the same. So as an example if you look at the SATA connections of hard drives you’ll note none of the current drives achieve a sustained rate of the standard (i.e. SATA III 6.0 Gb/s). This last point may or may not effect you. Here in the states our cable providers offer asymmetric services so the data rate is different depending on the direction. So our download speed is what they brag about in the media as being the fastest but in truth the send speed is pitifully slow! often a 100 to 1 ratio! And to add to this they don’t offer you this fast rate only the node your neighbors share with you (maybe 50 or more houses). Talk about bate and switch! So lets put this together the 802.11ac standard offers a data rate that is faster than the interfaces currently on the market. The best one can get though is a burst of a few milliseconds of data that the receiving system can cache as the storage it has can’t possibly handle a stream of data that is longer. In the real world competing data flows across the Internet will prevent even the fastest web site to send the data at you at this rate, let alone the limits of the connection your provider offers you locally. Even if you have your own server locally you still have to contend with others around you stepping on your WiFi band so your interface needs to alter its signal and the limits of your own AP also become a factor. I still didn’t get into the limits of the system its self here or even the OS and TCP/IP protocol. Bottom line here: While its a nice check off when your buying new equipment so you have future head room, our current needs and offerings can’t support it yet. Will it? Sure, but thats still 3 ~ 5 years from now. And upgrading ones WiFi card in todays systems doesn’t make much sense. While its a fun thing to do its not on my list of things I need today. Not trying to be a downer here Fishy, I’ve been in this business for over 30 years. Yes, there were times when a new standard made me gleeful as I was hitting the wall of the previous standard and the equipment could leverage the new standard (i.e. 802.11g to 802.11n). I do still get a thrill when I hear of something new that I didn’t expect. Sorry this is not one I was hitting or see others hitting.
why so many guys intresting in it？i got one from china taobao. but i dont feel much faster…if you actually need this card.contact seller skype:qingyijian126 i got it from him…
That’s why nobody buys Porches, eh? Maybe you don’t have to run it at FULL speed for it to be worthwhile? Look at it this way, Dan: Apple and others are selling AC routers, obviously for improved LAN speeds by and large, and the new Macbook Pro comes with an AC Airport card. So someone like myself, with the latest, AC equipped Time Capsule and a recent generation MBP (mine’s an “early 2013”, not even a year old) that can support that card are interested in the possibility of upgrading to it. I would agree that it’s not worth spending a lot of money on at this point, and, not being Chinese, I don’t see a way to get it at a low enough price at the moment, so I’m not jumping on it.
Hi all I got the ac card from Taobao. Some professional contacts in China ordered it for me and sent them out for me. So I installed it, The form factor is exactly the same as the previous one. It’s recognized as an ac card without a problem. Now I had to bring the mac back to the apple store because f some strange coating peeling off the screen. They agreed to change the screen (after over 2 years of ownership) for free. The tech man called me at some point telling me the wifi card wasnt recognized. I explained why and he didnt make a fuss about i, wich is great. He just told me to watch out : The card I have isntalled doesnt have the thermal insulator the original had, and it could be a problem if the wifi cards started to heat and could damage the motherboard. So I guess I’m going to peel off the insulator from the original card and put it on the new one… Just be warned.
would this work on an iMac 2010 i7 2.93 ghz 27" or 2010 MBP 13" C2D 2.4 ghz Looking at ifixit teardown of the iMac yes in a sense they look the same compared to the new 2013 model teardown i hope some one can let us know asap and then were to get the new ac wifi card. i know that the new wifi card has bluetooth 4.0 in it and my model has it separate which i dont really care for the luetooth stuff
Tom Chai said the card is available in China for $15 - anyone know of the vendor he is referring to ? Wouldnt mind buying a couple and doing some real-world tests …
So Tom, you seem to be saying that the 802.11ac airport card from the latest Macbook Pro is available on Taobao for $15 (and should work in the previous, late 2012/early 2013 model - I have an A1398), but the link you provided is for the Macbook Air card, which you say is not the same. ? Could you please post a link to the Pro card? And, what are the chances of finding an English speaker if one contacts Taobao or a seller on it? Thanks!
I found a friend who knows Chinese and ordered off of taobao. I will try it out and see if the antenna from the a1425 model is compatible with the a1398 model. Cheers! Update The part is here on taobao if anyone else is interested… http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230…
Someone (cc941201 - Tom Chai perhaps?) sent me a link to the right card on Taobao. Thanks! I followed the link and found the card, but couldn’t see any way to work with Taobao or contact the seller without signing up, which apparently requires a mainland China telephone number. ?! And when I just tried the link again, it no longer took me to the right page. Would you be willing to help me out with this? I would certainly appreciate it greatly! Rick
anyone who knows where to buy a BCM94360CSAX? I don’t understand the sites that are linked above. If they work, could someone explain how to order one?
Managed to get one BCM94360CSAX from Taobao last week for my 2012 MBPR, had trouble to get a screwdriver for bottom case before, so I haven’t had chance to post a result. Anyway, just got a screwdriver today, and done the replacement. This is what i got: Current Network Information: Airport Extreme: PHY Mode: 802.11ac BSSID: 90:72:xxxxxxxx <- hide Channel: 36 Country Code: AU Network Type: Infrastructure Security: WPA2 Personal Signal / Noise: -49 dBm / -92 dBm Transmit Rate: 1300 <———- it was 450 before MCS Index: 9 Yeah!!!
But the link between the computer and a current model, 802.11ac Time Capsule will be at that rate, will it not? Anyway, MrZxy, zenchong, what’s the secret? How do you get it? And how much was it? Please!
Anyway, I just change my RMBP 2012 to 802.11AC BCM94360CSAX. feel like the internet speed faster than b4… Transmit Rate up to 878 ( of coz I know max is 1300 ).
@zenchong where did you get the card? I don’t see a PM button anywhere :) I can test the card with extreme internet speeds. Ofc only if I could get my hands on one. Thanks in advance
I can feel it’s faster. I m using TC 2T now. Anyway Jacky, I have the seller contact . Pm me @ zenchong@outlook.com if u need a unit .
I think anything that proves that this card is worth buying would be fantastic Georg. I’m debating buying it also, but only if it actually brings this bad boy to gigabit.
hi..guys. i find a new source to buy it www.aliexpress.com that much cheaper than ebay. if you need it ，you can buy it on that web
Here is one for sale. I bought one of these and works great!! http://www.ebay.com/itm/AC-Airport-Card-…
Dan you must be really bored lol. I’m sure everyone here knows what you are talking about so repeating won’t be necessary. People are not stupid as you may think and there is distinctive benefit over the “limitation” you are talking about. it still gets better than the old 802.11n card in every way :D
Recently got 500mbs download speed from ISP. Have a 2012 MBPr. I also have a Zenbook that has wireless AC but it caps at 867. I reached 420 via wireless on the Zenbook (wrt1900ac router) yesterday. But mostly it’s between 200 and 300mbs via wireless on the Zenbook or the MBP. My question is would anyone know if the 1300mbs link (maybe the card being discussed) would draw closer to the full 500mbs down that I receive when plugged into the router? Really thinking of returning the Zenbook for a newer MBPr and giving the wife the 2012 instead.
Interesting. I often still find buffering on Netflix and wonder about this issue. At times it’s pristine, but other times it fights to brings full hd picture which means connection is suffering. Believe me, it’s not an issue particularly with my speed, but when Youtube and anything else opens INSTANTLY, it’s weird that Netflix still is “congested”.
I have just upgraded my router to the Asus AC3200. My MacBook Pro with Retina only had N WiFi card and I was getting about 50 MB / sec ( yes MegaByte ) on local file copy transfers. Once I purchased the new AC card and installed it I am now able to copy at OVER 90Mb / sec. Not only did it make a difference it almost DOUBLED my speed over wifi. I now have Gigabit speed over WiFi. So I can verify that this upgrade IS worth it.
Chance, where did you get the card?
I just replaced my airport wireless card on my mid 2012 MBP retina with airport wireless card AC standard and works GREAT !!!!!!!!! With out any problems,just make sure that you have AC ROUTER to take full advantage of higher speeds.
I did the same thing just now, here are iperf tests using Linksys EA6400: http://i.imgur.com/3UkpN0N.png
Yes it works but you’ll lose the ability to connect to Wi-Fi in recovery mode as well as with Apple diagnostics. The baked and kext in the EFI partition is The older airport extension and these a AC based cards Use a new or extension so the computer won’t be able to recognize this card from recovery mode. The issue is easily solved by using the thunderbolt to ethernet adapter which will allow you to connect to the Internet in recovery mode as well as with diagnostic mode and then when you go back into the OS everything will work just fine. You’ll also get the benefit of some continuity features as well as the ability to unlock the MacBook with an Apple Watch which wasn’t available because of the type of Bluetooth that the 2012 version originally came with versus the newer ones. It’s well worth the upgrade how often do you really use recovery and diagnostic mode And require Wi-Fi specifically in place of ethernet? The card I used was Broadcom BCM94360CSAX
is there a difference between: BCM94360CSAX (653-0029) MacBook Pro 13" and 15" Retina (Late 2013-Mid 2014) Airport/Bluetooth Board and BCM943602CS (653-0194) MacBook Pro Retina (2015) Airport/Bluetooth Board
Hi there! This is a really interesting thread I have to say! I just managed to order a BCM94360CSAX card from zenchong (thanks again … :-). As soon as it is built into my mid 2012 MacBook Pro I will post some testing results here. I am using an AVM FRITZ!Box 7490 which offers 802.11ac on the 5GHz band. The testing I will do with HELIOS LanTest. I will create some screenshots and post them here. Any other suggestions regarding tools to use? Best, Jeeosch
