Intel’s WLAN cards are without question the best on the market. These usually work very reliably and stably and have good performance.
With all of my AMD notebooks and systems, one of my first acts is to replace the “AMD” WLAN card with an Intel model.
This is not a problem at all with the Intel WLAN 6 and 6E models. But what about Intel’s new WLAN 7 models?
Do the BE200 and BE202 also work so smoothly in AMD systems? Why should there be a limitation here at all? After all, these are “normal” M.2 WLAN modules?!
However, I have heard rumors that this is not so easy in practice. In short, I ordered the Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200 and BE202. Let’s see if these work in AMD systems!
Results in short form, do the WLAN 7 cards work? (no)
I tested the WLAN cards in 6 systems, 5 with AMD CPU and 1 with Intel CPU. The following were the results:
CPU
Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE202
Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE200
ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
Not recognized
Not recognized
Geekom A5
AMD Ryzen 7 5800H
Does not start
Does not start
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15
AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS
Bootloop
Bootloop
ASUS ExpertCenter PN53
AMD Ryzen 7 6800H
Does not start
Does not start
Minisforum UM790 Pro
AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS
Bootloop
Bootloop
Geekom IT13
Intel Core i9-13900H
Functions
Functions
Let’s make it short, I couldn’t get the WLAN 7 cards from Intel to work in the AMD systems!
This result more than surprised me, especially since in many cases the systems completely refused to start (only a black screen) and therefore new drivers etc. would not help.
In the Intel-based system, however, both WLAN 7 cards worked without any problems after installing the drivers.
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X in ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E with Intel Wi-Fi
The ASUS ROG Strix X670E-E produced the most unspectacular results. Both WLAN cards were simply not recognized.
By not recognized, I really mean this. The WLAN cards do not appear at all in the device manager etc.
Geekom A5 and ASUS ExpertCenter PN53 with Intel Wi-Fi 7
The two mini PCs with AMD Ryzen 7 5800H and AMD Ryzen 7 6800H with built-in Intel Wi-Fi 7 cards completely refused to start!
After installing the WLAN cards, the picture remains completely black on both systems. Accordingly, there must be a significantly deeper incompatibility here that cannot simply be remedied with a new driver.
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 and Minisforum UM790 Pro with Intel Wi-Fi 7
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 and the Minisforum UM790 Pro reacted completely differently.
Both systems started but refused to load Windows. So they ended up in an infinite bootloop. Even Windows automatic repair refused to run.
Something loads briefly, but then the systems suddenly restart.
Intel Core i9-13900H with Intel Wi-Fi 7, it works here
To make sure that the WLAN cards really work, I installed them in the Geekom IT13, which uses the Intel Core i9-13900H.
Both WLAN cards were recognized well and worked without any problems after installing the appropriate drivers.
Fazit, Intel Wi-Fi 7 + AMD = Problem
Unfortunately, the first Intel Wi-Fi 7 cards (BE200 and BE202) really don’t seem to work with AMD systems.
The problem seems to be a lot deeper than just driver problems. Some systems completely refused to start with the Intel WLAN cards.
In an Intel system, however, the WLAN cards worked without any problems.
It’s a real shame that Intel has (apparently) “artificially” limited the compatibility here.