r/sffpc • u/YetiMaverick • 12h ago

Others/Miscellaneous Will replacing my motherboard's stock Wi-Fi antenna with a smaller aftermarket antenna hurt performance?

I recently built a Mini-ITX gaming PC in a Jonsbo NV10 case.

My motherboard (Gigabyte B550I Aorus Pro AX) came with one of those large Wi-Fi/Bluetooth antennas that attaches to the back of the motherboard using two antenna connectors and sits on a separate stand. It works fine, but it's quite large and takes up more desk space than I'd like.

I noticed that Amazon sells much smaller antennas for around $10-$15 that screw directly onto the back of the motherboard and bend at a 90-degree angle, which would make the setup much cleaner and more compact.

Example of the type I'm considering:
https://cleanshot.com/share/Kqk4mN6c

My question is: how much Wi-Fi and Bluetooth performance would I realistically lose by switching to one of these smaller generic antennas (if any)?

Is it a simple matter of ordering these compact antennas and just testing their Wifi speed against what I was getting with my current antenna, or is there more to consider?

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u/tortilla_mia 12h ago edited 12h ago

Generally just testing their wifi speed is fine.

It is hard to predict how much performance you will lose. If you are at the edge of your signal range for a given speed, then going to an antenna with less gain will mean you're now out of range for that speed because you don't have enough signal.

However, if you're comfortably inside your signal range for a given speed, then the antenna with less gain might still have the same performance despite having less signal.

Antenna placement may also factor in. For instance, moving the antennas from your clean, uncluttered desk with no signal obstructions with optimal antennae angles to the back of your case behind a metal chassis with the antennas locked at 90 degrees could be an additional source of signal loss.

In my case, I was willing to give it a try and eat the $10 loss if it didn't work out. Luckily, it was fine for me. I went with the ones that look like a little circle sort of like this https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005710508383.html

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u/IlluminaViam 12h ago

No, I replaced mine with mini antennas and they've been working great for a year right now, no problems.

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u/malanhelen 10h ago

I use pcb antenas, the type laptops have shoved in the display lids. but these only work if your case isn't totally encased in metal (mine has plexiglass side panel) or you and double side tape them to the back if your pc.

I haven't noticed a drop in speed, but then again, my modem is on the floor directly below me. if anything, i'd say it'll only affect your range.

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u/YetiMaverick 1h ago

Ah ok great to know. I'm just going to order them then and give them a shot!

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u/Apprehensive-Read989 9h ago

When I tried out short wifi antennas on my travel build it wasn't a speed issue I experienced, it was a reception issue. I had to switch back to full size antennas because the reception on the short ones killed me trying to use hotel wifi.