What is a network adapter in a notebook

WARNING! Always download drivers only from official sites of developers. This will allow you to avoid viruses and harmful programs to penetrate into your system and use the most recent version of software. As for the physical malfunction, there is nothing you can do. Especially if the card is built-in. The only thing left is to buy a new external or internal one. If you have your own experience in installing and operating or configuring network cards, you can share it in the comments.

What does a laptop adapter do?

An external power adapter doesn't just supply power to your laptop, it converts the mains voltage from 220V or 110V to the 18-24V your computer needs. Modern manufacturers produce adapters that work on the principle of pulse conversion, for the user this means the most efficient conversion with minimal losses. Simply put, it saves energy without losing power.

A laptop is much more vulnerable to power surges than, for example, a normal computer. Even a small surge can burn out important circuit boards so that the device cannot be repaired.

Technically, it is not economical to install the power supply directly in the case, so the power adapter is also a power supply that protects the laptop from power surges. On average, depending on the model, the laptop charger can withstand a surge of 5-15% over the normal operating voltage of the network.

Video: universal laptop power adapter

If your charger fails, by no means throw it away. The original power supply always has parameters and service codes on it that make it easy to find a replacement. At the very least, you should take a picture of the specifications and plug to show the service center exactly what you are looking for.

The replacement power adapter can be original or non-original.

The original adapter is usually made directly by the manufacturer of the laptop and fully meets all the necessary technical specifications. The original power supply unit is of high quality and reliability, and, accordingly, a higher price.

Non-original power supplies are made for a particular brand of notebook, but most often you find a universal, equipped with a set of connectors and voltage switch. The quality of the device can guarantee only the company which produces it, and unfortunately among the non-original adapters often come across cheap and low-quality models.

When buying a universal charger, the parameters and the plug suitable for your laptop will have to be set independently. The capacity of the universal charger is not manually set, so the power supply indicated on the power supply must be greater than or equal to that needed for your laptop. Find out in advance if the plug set is suitable for your model, be prepared for possible incompatibilities. Some laptop brands, for example, do not work with non-original and universal devices at all.

Parameters that determine the matching laptop charger:

plug type. Most often, each laptop manufacturer produces its own, specific connector, so chargers and laptops of different brands are not compatible;

Definition and explanation

A power adapter is a device that allows you to receive byte packets of information and convert them into a readable form for the operating system installed on your computer. Not too clear? – Let's get into the details now.

See, all computer hardware can only communicate by means of a language of zeros and ones, or in another way, by means of a "Binary Code". With the advent of networks in our world, computers have learned to talk and communicate with each other. Two kinds of connection are used for this purpose:

But you can't just connect a computer to a network. It has to have a certain device that can not only receive and send signals in the right encoding, but also check them for errors.

That's what the network adapter or "Network Adapter" was invented for. It essentially translates the electrical pulses from the same adapter into a code that the computer can understand. There can be a huge number of switches, routers and other network devices between the two end devices.

How it works

Let me give you an example. Here you have two receiving devices at home: a notebook computer and a personal desktop computer. The provider has installed a wire to your apartment, through which the Internet is streaming. Usually you buy a router or a router (these are the same thing) so that several devices can use the Internet at the same time.

It receives the signal from the Internet and must send it to the connected devices. They are connected by addressing and routing tables. After all, the router must know exactly where to send certain data. Therefore each device has its own address. At the moment, the most popular addressing standard is IP version 4. You have probably already seen these numbers – 192.168.1.45.

The network adapter receiving the signal sets its address. The address is usually provided by the router itself if the DHCP server is set up. This function allows the router to give the address itself. Otherwise you have to enter them manually.



The computer is connected to a network card. This is usually built into the motherboard. A special Internet wire is used to connect. When connected, if there is a signal from another device, which can be a home router – the connector starts to flash or light up. Which signals the transmission of information in the network.



If the network card burns out or does not meet certain requirements of the user – he can buy an additional embedded card. Now let's move on to the laptop. As you probably know, it also has a similar connection by wire, with a similar connector.

But more often than not, laptops, tablets, phones, and even TVs, are connected via Wi-Fi. That's why the laptop also has a WiFi adapter. It receives a signal from the router in the form of radio waves according to IEEE 802.11. It then converts the signal into a understandable signal for the laptop.

Network adapter – what is it in a computer?

Immediately the short answer: The general name for the devices by which a computer gets the Internet.

In other words: A PC contains various devices, a processor (CPU), a graphics card (GPU), a hard disk drive (HDD), and a device for receiving Internet signals, which are converted into understandable data for the operating system and installed applications.

Without such a device, the PC is almost useless – you can't browse the web, you can't download movies/games, you can't watch YouTube videos, and you can't use e-mail.

Network adapter – the general name for devices capable of receiving the Internet. It can be divided into two types:

• Network card. Standardly it receives the Internet via Ethernet RJ-45 cable. A distinctive feature – stable connection, high speed, availability. Ordinary Internet on the PC – often precisely wired. It may be implemented as a built-in motherboard chip (usually Realtek) or as an external PCI-E card.
• Wi-Fi module. A device that allows to receive a signal over the air, more precisely – to catch the Wi-Fi network. The essence – it scans the space around (the radius is limited) for the presence of Wi-Fi networks and displays a list, after selecting the network you must be authorized, specifying a password and login (the network can be passwordless). The network (or rather access point) is distributed by other equipment – a router, another computer or even a smartphone. The motherboard may contain a module of two variants: built-in (usually a Realtek chip) or external (PCI-E expansion card).

Network Adapter – Appearance

Appearance of the PCI-E wired Internet adapter (installed on the motherboard):



Built-in type (the chip itself is unsoldered on the motherboard, from which the contacts go to the connector):





Installed in the motherboard (similarly put and ordinary network card):



There is a universal option that can be connected to a laptop/computer – USB-adapter, this is a device to which the RJ-45 Internet cable is already connected:



About the same there is a variant with a Wi-Fi module, which also connects to the USB port and can look like a flash drive.

Types of network cards by connection method

Earlier we briefly touched the subject of connecting adapters. Let's analyze it in more detail. We can divide all such devices into three big types: integrated, internal and external.

Integrated or built-in

Probably the most common type. These are chips that are mounted on the motherboard. Accordingly, the back panel has all the necessary connectors. Most modern motherboards come with this type of network adapter. It is worth noting that Wi-Fi modules are also network cards for the computer, however, they are usually so called – "Wi-Fi module", of course, if it is not integrated.

Internal PCI and PCI-E network cards

These devices are individual cards that are mounted in specific slots or buses. The most common are PCI and PCI-E. The first form factor is gradually becoming obsolete and giving way to PCI-E. But still these cards can be found on the market. PCI-E can have different lengths. But this parameter is usually ignored when specifying specifications, since it is standardized. PCI and PCI-E can easily be differentiated It is worth mentioning the PCMCIA standard separately. This specification was developed as an expansion module and was very widely used in laptops of yesteryear. With its help it was possible to connect not only network cards, but also many other types of equipment. To date, this standard is practically not supported.

External USB NICs

A relatively new trend in the adapter market. Is an external device, connecting to the USB port. Outwardly it looks like a flash drive. All chips are hidden in a neat casing. In the simplest case it can have one RJ-45 connector. A very convenient and compact kind of network card.

What does the network card look like and where is it located in the computer?

To find the built-in network card in the computer is not so difficult. The board, which has a RJ-45 connector, a standard connector for almost all Internet service providers, and will be a network card. In addition, many devices are equipped with LED indicators. How to know the network card of the computer, if it is integrated?

It also has a RJ-45 connector on the back of the system unit, but the chip itself can be soldered anywhere on the motherboard. To find it, you'll have to refer to the schematic card that usually comes with the motherboard.

What is a network card in a laptop computer? In most cases it is a separate Wi-Fi chip and a separate Ethernet chip. If the first stands out noticeably, the second may be a very tiny chip somewhere in the back of the motherboard.

How do I connect network adapters on computers/laptops?

• Built-in network adapters are easy to use. When you buy a computer and install "WindowsWindows", the network adapter was already ready to go. You just plug the cable into the "EthernetEthernet" socket.
• A discrete wired network adapter is connected in the same way. You just have to pre-install it on the motherboard, usually in the PCI slot.
• Connecting wireless adapters is different only in that you don't have to run an Internet cable to them. Set up your Wi-Fi according to its manual.

The network adapter may not work for the following reasons:

In the latter case, you will have to replace the network adapter. If there are problems with drivers, they should usually be installed by default when the computer reboots, or you can install them yourself from the disk. Such a disk comes with the computer when you buy it. It is a motherboard disk.

How to choose a network adapter?

Network adapters, of course, are chosen according to taste. But we can give some advice:

• The most convenient option would be an internal network adapter. Its specifications are quite suitable for you, even if you use a fairly fast Internet.
• It is better to buy a wired adapter. Wired connection is the most reliable and qualitative.
• All other questions you should definitely ask a specialist or a salesperson. Although network adapter is not as complicated as, for example, video card. Therefore, you will not have to undergo any special consultation.

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