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ASUS PCE-AC88 Dual-Band 4x4 AC3100 WiFi PCIe Adapter with Heat Sink and External Magnetic Antenna Base Allows Flexible Antenna Placement to Maximize Coverage

ASUS PCE-AC88 Dual-Band 4x4 AC3100 WiFi PCIe Adapter

Bottom line: The ASUS PCE-AC88 Dual-Band 4x4 AC3100 WiFi PCIe Adapter: AC3100 dual-band: up to 2100Mbps on 5GHz, 1000Mbps on 2.4GHz; main trade-off: windows-only drivers (Windows 7/10); no macOS or Linux support.

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By , Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Listing data updated

Mike Perry — Hardware researcher since 2014. For home networking and Wi-Fi gear, synthesises manufacturer specs and independent reviews rather than first-hand lab testing. Core beat: GPU performance across gaming, rendering, and local-LLM inference.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓ AC3100 dual-band: up to 2100Mbps on 5GHz, 1000Mbps on 2.4GHz
  • ✓ 4x4 antenna design delivers up to 60% faster Wi-Fi than 3x3 adapters
  • ✓ External magnetic antenna base lets you reposition for better coverage
  • ✓ Custom heatsink dissipates heat for steadier, more reliable throughput
  • ✓ MU-MIMO and 1024-QAM support; R-SMA connectors fit aftermarket antennas

Cons

  • ✗ Windows-only drivers (Windows 7/10); no macOS or Linux support
  • ✗ Takes a PCIe slot, so it won't work in laptops or many SFF builds
  • ✗ 802.11ac only, no Wi-Fi 6/6E, so it trails newer AX cards
  • ✗ Operating temp capped at 40C; can run warm in cramped cases

Manufacturer description

Bring far-reaching high-throughput Dual-Band 4x4 AC3100 Wi-Fi to your desktop PC with the PCE-AC88 PCIe adapter and enjoy up to 60% faster Wi-Fi versus 3x3 adapters. An included external magnetic 4-antenna base helps maximize coverage, while individual antennas can also be attached directly to the PCIe card for compact installations.

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SpecPicks Verdict

SpecPicks scored ASUS PCE-AC88 Dual-Band 4x4 AC3100 WiFi PCIe Adapter using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the networking category. Compare with similarly-priced alternatives in the networking category before committing. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.

Common buyer scenarios for networking of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.

Key Features

  • Dual-band 4x4 AC3100 Wi-Fi with speeds up to 2100Mbps (5GHz band) and 1000Mbps 2. 4GHz band. Operating temperature: 0 °C to 40 °C ( °F to ºF)
  • External magnetic antenna base allows flexible antenna placement to maximize coverage. Note- support MU-MIMO technology
  • Individual antennas can also attach directly to PCIe Card for compact installation. Modulation-1024qam.
  • Custom heatsink effectively dissipates heat for improved stability and reliability. Os support-windows 10 86x64, Windows 7 86x64.
  • R-sma antenna connectors enable compatibility with a variety of aftermarket antennas. Quoted network speeds and bandwidth based on current IEEE 802. 11AC specifications. Actual performance may be affected by network and service provider factors, interface Type, and other conditions. Connected devices must be 802patible for best results

Full Specifications

BrandASUS
ColorBlack
ConnectivityWiFi
Model NumberPCE-AC88
Built-In MediaDipole Antenna (4), External magnetic antenna base, Warranty Card, low profile bracket, support CD
Mfr Part NumberPCE-AC88
Compatible DevicesDesktop
Data Link ProtocolIEEE 802.11ac
Data Transfer Rate2167 Megabits Per Second
Hardware InterfaceUSB
Warranty Description2 years warranty
Item Dimensions L x W x H8.3"L x 2.24"W x 10.9"H
External Testing CertificationCE, FCC, C-Tick, IC, IDA, NCC, RCM
Global Trade Identification Number00889349272251
Full listing titleASUS PCE-AC88 Dual-Band 4x4 AC3100 WiFi PCIe Adapter with Heat Sink and External Magnetic Antenna Base Allows Flexible Antenna Placement to Maximize Coverage

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ASUS PCE-AC88 Dual-Band 4x4 AC3100 WiFi PCIe Adapter with Heat Sink and External Magnetic Antenna Base Allows Flexible Antenna Placement to Maximize Coverage is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.

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ASUS PCE-AC88 Dual-Band 4x4 AC3100 WiFi PCIe Adapter with Heat Sink and External Magnetic Antenna Base Allows Flexible Antenna Placement to Maximize Coverage
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