AC wireless: PCIe cards vs Media bridge

[ElShaddai Edwards]

In general, will using a PCIe card with an external antenna placement be equivalent to using a modest router in media bridge mode? I'm looking to upgrade my kids' wireless connections from N-only cards to AC to better support their gaming. I used a media bridge in the past when they were in the same room, but now they're not. Main router is an Asus RT-AC68U.

 

[L&LD]

It may be equivalent or slightly better, depending on many factors, but it would also cost about the same as an actual router.

The router's main advantages are that it can be (more) easily placed for optimum reception and that may make it even faster and/or more responsive than a solution that is tied very closely to the computer box it is used in.