We have already seen WiFi 7 mini PCIe and M.2 modules from Compex for business customers, but I’ve recently noticed AsiaRF AW7991-AE2 M.2 module rated BE5000 offers an affordable alternative design for access points for just $58 plus shipping. But adding WiFi 7 to a consumer device can be cheaper than I expected as Intel BE200 or MediaTek MT7925-based M.2 modules can be purchased for around $20 to $30. Let’s have a look at some of the options available.
AsiaRF AW7991-AE2 dual-band WiFi 7 “access point” M.2 module
AsiaRF AW7991-AE2 specifications:
- SoC – MediaTek MT7991AV (Filogic 660?) with 32bit RISC-V MCU for Wi-Fi protocol and Wi-Fi offload
- Chipset – MT7976C WiFI 6 3×3 MIMO chipset
- System Memory – 8MB
- WLAN
- IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be compliant
- Frequency bands
- 2.4GHz – Bandwidth: 20/40MHz; 2T2R 2ss
- 5GHz – Bandwidth:20/40/80/160MHz; T3R 3ss
- Dual-Band Dual Concurrent (DBDC)
- Supports up to 4096-QAM
- Data rate of up to 688Mbps for 40MHz channel in 2.4GHz mode and 4323Mbps for 160MHz in 5GHz mode
- Integrated power detector to support per packet Tx power control
- Multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) for Tx and Rx
- Multi-user Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (MU-OFDMA) for Tx and Rx
- Support STBC, LDPC, Tx beamformer and Rx beamformee
- Support greenfield mode, mixed mode, and legacy mode
- Host interface – M.2 A-E Key edge connector with PCIe 3.0 x2 interface
- Security – WPA3, WPA2, WPA personal, WPS 2.0
- QoS – WFA WMM and WMM-PS
- Supply Voltage – 3.3V DC
- Power Consumption – Up to 11.5 Watts
- Dimensions – Module: 52x40mm; heatsink: 40x30x25mm
The AW7991-AE2 can be used as an access point running Linux. AsiaRF did not provide additional details, although they do offer a pricey development platform based on MediaTek MT7988A quad-core ARM Cortex-A73 processor and the AW7991-AE2 WiFi 7 module offering a 10Gbps SFP cage, 2.5Gbps and Gigabit Ethernet ports, and an additional M.2 slots for 4G/5G cellular connectivity.
Intel BE200 WiFi 7 module
I already tested the BE200 / BE200NGW WiFi 7 module when I reviewed the GEEKOM GT1 mega, albeit using WiFi 6 5GHz, since I don’t own a WiFi 7 router just yet. However, I never really looked at how much it costs and its features. It’s probably the safest way to add WiFi 7 to a machine with a spare M.2 socket that’s compatible.
Specifications:
- WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 compliant
- Bands – 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz
- Max Speed – 5.8 Gbps (320MHz, 4096QAM)
- Antenna – Two IPEX antenna connectors for 2×2 MIMO
- Host interface – M.2 Key-E with PCIe and USB signals
- Form factors
- M.2 2230 – 30 x 22 x 2.4mm
- M.2 1216 – 16 x 12x 1.7mm (+/-0.1)
- Weight
- 2230 model – 3.07 grams (+/-0.15)
- 1216 model – 0.75 grams (+/-0.04)
- Temperature Range – 0°C to 50°C
Intel provides Windows 11, Windows 10, and Linux drivers and I tested a BE200 module myself with the GEEKOM GT1 Mega mini PC in Windows 11 Pro and Ubuntu 24.04 up to “WiFi 6” speeds. This type of WiFi module is quite cheaper and sells for about $20 on AliExpress, $30 on Amazon, and it should be easy to purchase locally in most countries. What you can’t do is use those to create access points, so they are only for clients. You’ll have to consider whether you need antennas since they are not always included.
Azureware AW-EB600NF WiFi 7 M.2 module (MediaTek MT7925)
The MediaTek MT7925-based AW-EB600NF is an alternative to the Intel BE200 with the following specifications:
- Chipset – MediaTek MT7925 (Filogic 360) WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 network chip
- Tri-band support – 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6 GHz
- Data rates
- Up to 574 Mbps at 2.4GHz (80MHz)
- Up to 2400 Mbps at 5GHz (160MHz)
- Up to 2400 Mbps at 6GHz (160Mhz)
- Antenna – Two IPEX antenna connectors for 2×2 MIMO
- Host interfaces – M.2 Key-E with PCIe and USB signals (not compatible with M.2 CNVIO)
- Dimensions – 30 x 22 x 2.3mm
- Weight – 2.6 grams
Software support is clear as mud on AliExpress as we’re being told “Windows 11 (64bit) and Linux” are supported followed by “we don’t have any support for Linux system, you should know it when you want to use the card to word (sic.) for Linux system”. I suppose that means users are on their own if they want to use the module in Linux. It should work since the drivers for MT7295 were submitted to Linux last year. There’s also a datasheet with more technical details.
Price-wise, I could find the AW-EB600NF on AliExpress for as low as $16.29 with free shipping, but that’s a “welcome offer” and the normal price is $23.99 shipped. You’ll find plenty of other MT7925 WIFi 7 M.2 modules on AliExpress for around $20, and AW-EB600NF is also offered for $25 on Amazon. Most people should likely stick to the Intel BE200, although it might be possible to save a few dollars on the MediaTek models.
It’s good that M.2 WiFi 7 modules are now pretty cheap, so I’ll probably have to upgrade my Xiaomi AX6000 router with a WiFi 7 model in 2025, maybe a Xiaomi Mi Router BE7000, or something else… I’ll have to think about it… It would have to be something purchased locally in Thailand because Thai customs have started asking for an NBTC license (similar to an FCC license but with local lab testing) to import routers, and I already lost an OpenWrt One router that way…
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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Don’t have the hardware, but there seems to be support for the MT7925 in Linux mainline:
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/log/?qt=grep&q=MT7925
Yes, that’s what the article says.
Also waiting to see faster Wi-Fi 7 adapter USB dongles with 6GHz, as well as still waiting for 10GbE USB adapters using USB 3.2 GEN 2 (and USB 4.0 which both can have 20Gbps of total bandwidth).
There are USB<->10GBe adapters. They’re insanely expensive, however.
I have only seen Thunderbolt to 10GbE adapters. Then there are a few USB to 5GbE adapters as well as loads of USB to 2.5GbE adapters. I have not seen a single USB to 10GbE adapter. But would think they start to come soon as small 10GbE switches have dropped in price enough to call them affordable now.
A note of caution: The newest Intel WiFi modules such as the BE200 will only work on Intel motherboards and with recent CPU models (12th gen onwards).
I had the misfortune of dealing with this, and it is widely documented in hardware forums that I didn’t read before, they just worked in the past as long as they were not CNVio, but now the regular PCIe will not work either, the system will not post.
It seems AX210 is the newest WiFi Intel module that is still supported in AMD platforms and older Intel motherboards (There is a Mini-PCIe AX210 model for older systems, just got one, it work fine in an H77 motherboard!).
Is that not the old story of Intel wifi only working on Intel?
The AX201, AX211 and BE201 have a CNVio interface and work with Intel.
The AX200, AX210 and BE200 have a PCIe and should also work on Arm64.
(Source Intel ARK).
I did find some messages on the Radxa forum that the BE200 might work with a Rock5 (N=1, though)…
If I would need hostap intel is no option, therefore I have a slight preference for MediaTek for some applications. For a work station at home Intel just works.
Well, using a BE200 PCIe in a B550 AMD system didn’t work for me, googling around, is a common issue. Installed an AX210 and it works right away. Tried the BE200 in an 8th gen Intel system, didn’t work either. Some people say only Bluetooth will work on older Intel and in AMD platforms. I finally found someone with a 12th gen system to try the BE200, it worked right away, and so she got a new wifi adapter for free.
Just my $0.02.
Those adapters require Windows 11.