


Internet bandwidth or speed is capped by the Internet Service Provider. Note that the fastest wired LAN cannot increase the speed of an Internet account. Drivers should come with the adapters, or in some cases they are available for download. The driver is the software interface that allows the system to utilize the hardware correctly. Regardless of the type of wired network adapter, a device driver will need to be installed in most cases.

A USB dongle plugs into the USB port, proving an Ethernet interface. These are made in a card-style format to slip into the PC Card® port where available or as USB dongles. The laptop's manufacturer should have information and recommendations.Īn easier route is to simply purchase an external wired network adapter. New machines might not have a bay for an internal adapter, and even if the machine has a bay, the footprint of the new adapter must be compatible with the laptop model. If your machine does not have an Ethernet adapter, or if the present adapter is inoperable, you have several choices.Ī new wired network adapter can be purchased to be installed inside the laptop, but this is sometimes more trouble than it’s worth. Due to the pervasive popularity of wireless networks, some new laptops are no longer including a wired network adapter by default.
