802.11ax or WiFi 6 is now the current wireless standard that most new hardware, be they smartphones or laptops, now take advantage of. It brings a new standard that aims to tackle the problem that we are now facing: WiFi signal density. Coming with this latest standard are new spanking brand new routers that tout the benefits of 802.11ax. But what if you have the latest router but can’t use it with your current PC? Again, ASUS has you covered with the add-on PCIe board, the ASUS PCE-AX58BT. Is it something worth adding to your rig? Let’s find out in this review!
| Model Name |
PCE-AX58BT
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| Network Standard |
Bluetooth® 5.0, WiFi 6 (802.11ax)
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| Product Segment |
AX 3000 (2402Mbps+574Mbps)
|
| Bluetooth | 5 |
| Data Rate |
802.11a : up to 54 Mbps
802.11b : up to 11 Mbps
802.11g : up to 54 Mbps
|
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WiFi 4 (802.11n) : up to 300 Mbps,
|
|
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WiFi 5 (802.11ac) : up to 1733 Mbps
|
|
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WiFi 6 (802.11ax) (2.4GHz) : up to 574 Mbps
|
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WiFi 6 (802.11ax) (5GHz) : up to 2402 Mbps
|
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| Operating Frequency |
2.4 GHz / 5 GHz
|
| OS Support |
Windows® 10 64-bit, Linux
|
The whole package pretty much contains the above image. Accompanying it are manuals and a bracket for low-profile cases. Also note that you can opt not to use the included magnetic stand and instead directly attach the antennae to the card itself.
While it does not have that too many parts, installing the ASUS PCE-AX58BT can be a chore if you’re not careful or if you haven’t tried perusing the included manual. Installing the card is easy, but plugging in the parts without minding the sequence may set you back a bit. It may sound easy as plugging in the add-in card to the motherboard but also note that you need a vacant 9-pin USB motherboard socket to fully take advantage of this device’s features.
Once you have the add-in board snugly attached to the motherboard, you can then proceed to add the wires and the antennae to complete the ASUS PCE-AX58BT. As the base is magnetic, you can place it on any side of your PC case for better coverage.
Installing it on a Windows 10 system may not require the user to download the drivers for the card to perfectly run. However, just to be on the safe side, you can download the drivers here to install it.
Having tried the device with the WiFi 6 router, the ASUS RT-AX53U (read our review and numbers here), the performance is not that surprising given that it doesn’t promise speed but stability. You can check out our data on the review itself to see how it performs with a mid-range WiFi 6 router.
No. In terms of speed, wired is still far superior than going wireless. But depending on your situation, a wireless 802.11ax or WiFi 6 compatible device might be more appropriate rather than investing on clean wiring.
The ASUS PCE-AX58BT is an upgrade that is highly recommended for existing systems to take advantage of the more powerful 802.11ac or WiFi 6 standard. It also grants Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, granting you connectivity with most mobile devices without the need of a wire. The Bluetooth capability further opens your PC with
If you find yourself in an environment that’s filled with WiFi signals, the ASUS PCE-AX58BT can be a godsend given that WiFi 6 promises more stable connections. While not exactly a worry-free solution, it is an improvement to the previous standard. Not only that but the PCE-AX58BT provides a solution for for home servers or for multimedia PCs that lack wired connections to take advantage of latest home or office routers.
All in all, the ASUS PCE-AX58BT is a great product that delivers. You get Bluetooth connection and you also get to enjoy WiFi 6 speeds and reliability. Sure, you can get the same thing with USB dongles but the nature of it being a PCIe add-in card adds to more reliability and less bottlenecks. With that said, the ASUS PCE-AX58BT gets high marks as it is easy to setup and is compatible with most builds.
The ASUS PCE-AX58BT is available in the Philippines and has an SRP of PhP 3,670. You can know more about its technical specs here.
For WiFi 6 routers, check our review of the ASUS RT-AX53U and the TUF AX3000.
