Intel AX1650 (Dell XPS 15 9510) Settings Advice?


mccmw

mccmw

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I have a Dell XPS 15 9510 with 11th Gen Intel processor...several years now obviously. The Wi-fi performance has been one of the biggest frustrations. It has a Killer 1650 soldered card in it...so I can't upgrade it (as far as I know). I have read lots of complaints about Killer products over the years. I have never been able to get it to perform well...speed and stability. Shortly after purchase I removed all of the Killer drivers and software (including services) and used a standard Intel driver. Still only OK.

I'm curious if anyone has found a configuration (software, drivers, and settings) that allow this card to perform better? Wi-fi card will definitely be a component I pay more attention to when I replace my laptop. Do most manufacturers still have BIOS whitelists that restrict upgrades, and is soldered components (Wi-fi, RAM, etc.) still common?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-7700K
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime Z-270A
    Memory
    32GB 2666Mhz (Kingston Hyper X Fury)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus Nvidia 1050Ti
    Sound Card
    N/A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung C27F390
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    1TB Western Digital SN770 (System) and 2TB Western Digital SN770 (Storage)
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Home
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell/XPS 15 9510
    CPU
    i9-11900H
    Motherboard
    Unknown
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Intel and Nvidia 3050Ti
    Sound Card
    Integrated (Realtek)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    None
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 (non-Touch)
    Hard Drives
    2TB SK Hynix P41 Platinum
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
mccmw said:
I have a Dell XPS 15 9510 with 11th Gen Intel processor...several years now obviously. The Wi-fi performance has been one of the biggest frustrations. It has a Killer 1650 soldered card in it...so I can't upgrade it (as far as I know). I have read lots of complaints about Killer products over the years. I have never been able to get it to perform well...speed and stability. Shortly after purchase I removed all of the Killer drivers and software (including services) and used a standard Intel driver. Still only OK.

I'm curious if anyone has found a configuration (software, drivers, and settings) that allow this card to perform better? Wi-fi card will definitely be a component I pay more attention to when I replace my laptop. Do most manufacturers still have BIOS whitelists that restrict upgrades, and is soldered components (Wi-fi, RAM, etc.) still common?
Click to expand...
I used the Dell XPS 15 9510 before my current System One. My wife is now using it. There are currently no Wi-Fi performance problems with it. It is updated every morning by first running the Dell utility Dell Command | Update, which loads all the required Dell drivers and BIOS updates. This utility is always run before doing Windows Update. That makes sure that the proper drivers for this laptop are in place.

You can download Dell Command | Update from the Dell website under Support.
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 16 DA16260
    CPU
    Intel Series 3 Core Ultra X9 388H
    Memory
    64GB LPDDR5x 9600 MT/s
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Arc graphics B390 Panther Lake
    Monitor(s) Displays
    16" 3.2K Tandem OLED Infinity Edge
    Screen Resolution
    3200 x 2000 16:10 236 PPI
    Hard Drives
    1 Terabyte M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
    Case
    Black Anodized Aluminum
    Cooling
    Vapor Chamber Cooling
    Mouse
    None
    Internet Speed
    942 Mbps Netgear Mesh + 2 Satellites
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    NPU delivering 67 TOPS
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    Macrium Reflect X subscription
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    Amazon Kindle for PC
    Lightroom/Photoshop subscription
    Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
    CPU
    Snapdragon® X Elite (12 Core) with Hexagon NPU delivering 45 TOPS
    Memory
    32GB LPDDR5x 8448 MT/s
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Adreno GPU
    Sound Card
    Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Atmos spatial sound
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.8″ PixelSense Flow touchscreen 120 Hz 600 NIT
    Screen Resolution
    2304 × 1536 (201 PPI), 3:2 aspect ratio
    Hard Drives
    1 TB PCIe NVMe Gen 4 SSD
    Case
    Black Anodized Aluminum
    Cooling
    Vapor Chamber Cooling
    Mouse
    None
    Internet Speed
    942 Mbps Netgear Mesh + 2 Satellites
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (Chromium)
    Antivirus
    Windows Security (Defender)
    Other Info
    Microsoft 365 subscription (Office)
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    Lightroom/Photoshop subscription
    1Password Password Manager
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Should have been rejected shortly after purchase as unfit for purpose, that applies in UK, no idea about anywhere else.
mccmw said:
Wi-fi card will definitely be a component I pay more attention to when I replace my laptop.
Click to expand...

Indeed...I have had to do that before on purchasing a Laptop. These days it is one of the essential checks on a new Laptop.

It is more than just drivers. It maybe the design/construction problems of the Laptops internals, placement of WiFi Card, poor internal shielding, aerials and so forth.
The WiFi Cards in mine have been socketed PCI-E mini on the old one ( 2 whitelisted), and M.2 on the 2022/2023 one, thus replaceable, also with 2 RAM slots and 2 x M.2 SSD slots.

The simplest solution now is an external USB WiFi dongle.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
Out of curiosity what driver are you on OP? Latest for that wireless NIC is 24.50.0.4
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus
    Motherboard
    GIGABYTE Z890 AORUS MASTER AI TOP
    Memory
    OLOy Blade RGB 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5 6000 @ 7200
    Graphics Card(s)
    Dell RTX 4090
    Sound Card
    onboard, PHILIPS Fidelio X2HR
    Monitor(s) Displays
    MSI MAG 321UPX
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Hard Drives
    Sabrent 1TB Rocket 4 Plus, Fanxiang S790 2TB
    PSU
    SAMA XP1000W
    Case
    Lian Li V3000 Plus (White)
    Cooling
    Custom water
    Keyboard
    ZUOYA GMK104 Wireless (white with blue switches)
    Mouse
    AJAZZ AJ159 APEX (White)
    Internet Speed
    1.4Gbps down / 45 Mbps up
    Browser
    FireFox / Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
    Other Info
    Both CPU and GPU are under custom watercooling with an Alphacool NexXxoS Monsta 480mm radiator handling the nearly 600W+ while gaming.
It's always possible that the older Wi-Fi card on an older Dell laptop might require an older driver to work properly. It's then possible that the way to get the proper driver might be to run the Dell Command | Update utility to deliver the proper driver.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 16 DA16260
    CPU
    Intel Series 3 Core Ultra X9 388H
    Memory
    64GB LPDDR5x 9600 MT/s
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Arc graphics B390 Panther Lake
    Monitor(s) Displays
    16" 3.2K Tandem OLED Infinity Edge
    Screen Resolution
    3200 x 2000 16:10 236 PPI
    Hard Drives
    1 Terabyte M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
    Case
    Black Anodized Aluminum
    Cooling
    Vapor Chamber Cooling
    Mouse
    None
    Internet Speed
    942 Mbps Netgear Mesh + 2 Satellites
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (Chromium)
    Antivirus
    Windows Security (Defender)
    Other Info
    NPU delivering 67 TOPS
    Microsoft 365 subscription
    Microsoft OneDrive 1TB Cloud
    Microsoft Visual Studio
    Microsoft Visual Studio Code
    Microsoft Sysinternals Suite
    Microsoft BitLocker
    Microsoft Copilot
    Dell Support Assist
    Dell Command | Update
    Macrium Reflect X subscription
    1Password Password Manager
    Amazon Kindle for PC
    Lightroom/Photoshop subscription
    Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
    CPU
    Snapdragon® X Elite (12 Core) with Hexagon NPU delivering 45 TOPS
    Memory
    32GB LPDDR5x 8448 MT/s
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Adreno GPU
    Sound Card
    Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Atmos spatial sound
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.8″ PixelSense Flow touchscreen 120 Hz 600 NIT
    Screen Resolution
    2304 × 1536 (201 PPI), 3:2 aspect ratio
    Hard Drives
    1 TB PCIe NVMe Gen 4 SSD
    Case
    Black Anodized Aluminum
    Cooling
    Vapor Chamber Cooling
    Mouse
    None
    Internet Speed
    942 Mbps Netgear Mesh + 2 Satellites
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (Chromium)
    Antivirus
    Windows Security (Defender)
    Other Info
    Microsoft 365 subscription (Office)
    Microsoft OneDrive 1TB Cloud
    Microsoft Visual Studio 2026
    Microsoft Visual Studio Code
    Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation
    Lightroom/Photoshop subscription
    1Password Password Manager
    Microsoft Sysinternals
    Amazon Kindle for PC
    Microsoft BitLocker
    Microsoft Copilot
mccmw said:
It has a Killer 1650 soldered card in it...so I can't upgrade it (as far as I know).
Click to expand...
If it is soldered you can use another wifi adapter....a usb wifi adapter. Something like this or this (there are many brands available.or if you want an antenna this.
All you have to do is disable your current wifi adapter in device manager and plug in a usb one.
I use one of each of the first 2 and have never had a connection probem.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    2x1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+2tb Kingston m2.nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.8457
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink Mini PC SER5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics card(s)
    integrated
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Crucial nvme
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    still too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    System 3 is non compliant Dell 9020 i7-4770/24gb ram Win11 PRO 26200.8457
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