My laptop (A Sony Vaio Flip 15, model SVF15N2ACXB) has an Intel Wireless 7260 wifi adapter, which is "N" speeds only. I'm hankering for "AC" speeds.

Does anyone know if it's a simple task of replacing the adapter and installing new drivers?

Attached is a screen shot of the adapter. It's from a youtube teardown video of a prototype of the same laptop. So the video capture says "engineering sample" on the sticker, but I'm pretty sure that what I've got inside is the final version of the same thing.

If it's just a simple card swap, what is the correct type of card to put in this place? Is this a "Mini PCI-E"?

Like, would this one work do you think?

Intel 7260 Dual Band AC

Looks like what I really want is the 7260.HMWG.R revised version.

Amazon has a listing here but the reviews say that this vendor has sometimes shipped them the Non-R non-revised version. I should shop around to find a .R version.

So my research is telling me that some laptop manufactures have a BIOS-based Whitelist of allowed adapters. But for just 30 bucks, it's almost easier for me to just order one of these to see if it works than to try to determine if my laptop has this issue.

Interesting. I'm going to leave this here for posterity:

https://communities.intel.com/thread/44149?start=0&tstart=0

"You don't have the whitelist or else you won't even get past the BIOS screen if you have it."

"Well, it is solved now. I found out that some people was having this same issue with the 6235 cards too, so I look around some more and I hit the solution. Turns out that with this pinout layout, #51 pin turns BT off via HW, so the device is not detected at all. It was just as simple as taping out that pin and volià, I now have BT working as it should. I hope this helps more people with this same issues with 7260 cards as much as 6235 ones."

Okay, I ordered one. We shall see!

Every laptop I've owned with Intel wireless, has benifitted from scrapping the drivers supplied with the laptop, and installing the ones from Intel's support site.

Lol, Tony, I love looking at the timestamps in this thread. From question to semi-resolution in about half an hour

I don't see why it shouldn't work and I can't wait to see the results! I definitely like when those adapters are replaceable. The number one thing that I see fail in laptops is wireless adapters, and sometimes all I can recommend is that they get a compact USB adapter to replace it (or get a new computer).

Well you've already bitten the bullet but everything you said is basically right and it should just work. They should be fairly similar driver wise (if not the same driver) but I'd try and remove any/all old drivers and start as clean as you can though.

Whilst it's Mini PCI-E you'll probably find they are actually a USB type connection so fairly generic and even brand to brand shouldn't be much problem.

Presume this is under Windows? *nix/BSD drivers can be a a bit lagging on the newer models?

Hmmm. Part received seems to be 7260HMW instead of the advertised 7260.HMWG.R revised version. Trying it out anyway to see if maybe it's just that the revised version numbrer isn't printed on the label or something. Dunno.

Chip seems to work. Existing drivers worked but were a few months out of date. Updated to latest Bluetooth and WiFi drivers, everything seems to be working. Still can't tell for sure if I really got the Revised chipset or not. Not sure how to tell from the drivers panel, or what the difference even is.

Have to re-pair all my bluetooth gear.

I actually did the same for my 2012 MBP; got an 11ac card, dropped it in, done. Now see ridiculous speeds when on 11ac (at home & in the office). Definitely worth the $40 on eBay for the new card.

OTOH, my laptop is now 4 years old and the 750GB SSD is pretty much full. Frustrated by the lack of new MBP from Apple... friends I have who work there on these things just smile enigmatically and say it'll be worth the wait. Grrr.

I among many others also await the next generation of MacBook Pro laptops.

Making do with existing maxed out machines, I still had to buy a new 27" iMac to do photography editing, just could not wait any longer. Of course, not portable so will still need the new MacBook Pro for field work.