Tuesday, February 20th 2024

MSI Outs the Herald BE Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4 PCIe Adapter

by
btarunr
 Discuss (18 Comments)
MSI released the Herald BE NCM865, a PCIe wireless networking adapter that provides Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity in a convenient internal add-on card form-factor. The features a PCI-Express x1 and USB 2.0 host interfaces. Besides installing the card on a PCIe slot, you connect it to a vacant USB 2.0 header on your motherboard with the included cable, for the Bluetooth component to work. The base card features the two antenna jacks, the USB 2.0 header, and an M.2 E-key slot which holds the actual WLAN module.

The WLAN module in charge of this card is a Qualcomm NCM865. This provides Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) at a maximum throughput of 5.8 Gbps. The controller supports 320 MHz wide channels across the 6 GHz, 5 GHz, and 2.4 GHz bands. It also supports older Wi-Fi standards going down to 802.11n over the 2.4 GHz band. Its Bluetooth component supports the latest Bluetooth 5.4 standard. The controller features multi-link operational topology. A stylish magnetized base antenna module comes included—the kind that MSI includes with some of its premium motherboards. The company didn't release pricing information.

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18 Comments on MSI Outs the Herald BE Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4 PCIe Adapter

#1
Chaitanya
Whats the price of those mini PCI-e Wifi 7 cards? I remember seeing mini PCI-e to PCI-e 1x add-in cards selling for around 12-15$ which includes antena and USB cable and Wifi 6 mini PCI-e cards for around 20$ or so. Hopefully this MSI solution wont be overpriced making procuring components from ebay or aliexpress a tempting proposition.
Posted on Reply
#2
Ferrum Master
ChaitanyaWhats the price of those mini PCI-e Wifi 7 cards? I remember seeing mini PCI-e to PCI-e 1x add-in cards selling for around 12-15$ which includes antena and USB cable and Wifi 6 mini PCI-e cards for around 20$ or so. Hopefully this MSI solution wont be overpriced making procuring components from ebay or aliexpress a tempting proposition.
Just remember this is Win11 only, it does not use NDIS... you will be good with ath12k in Linux thou.

Wait till it becomes more popular in laptops, then those will be swapped around. I would still go for BE200/BE210
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#3
Quitessa
So this is basically a Laptop to Desktop wifi adapter with a wifi module?
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#4
TheLostSwede
News Editor
QuitessaSo this is basically a Laptop to Desktop wifi adapter with a wifi module?
Yes and no. WiFi modules are only made in M.2 type form factors these days and as most motherboards that don't come with built in WiFi (which also uses one of these modules in a special adapter), don't have a slot for an M.2 WiFi module, this is the only way to add a WiFi card. ASRock seems to be the only company that has slots for WiFi modules that are easily user accessible.
ChaitanyaWhats the price of those mini PCI-e Wifi 7 cards? I remember seeing mini PCI-e to PCI-e 1x add-in cards selling for around 12-15$ which includes antena and USB cable and Wifi 6 mini PCI-e cards for around 20$ or so. Hopefully this MSI solution wont be overpriced making procuring components from ebay or aliexpress a tempting proposition.
If you're too lazy to click the link, it's $46.33 on Amazon US.
www.amazon.com/MSI-Herald-BE-Bluetooth-Multi-Link-Technology/dp/B0CVJPCQFJ/
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#5
Chaitanya
TheLostSwedeIf you're too lazy to click the link, it's $46.33 on Amazon US.
www.amazon.com/MSI-Herald-BE-Bluetooth-Multi-Link-Technology/dp/B0CVJPCQFJ/
So not too overpriced when looking at prices for Wifi add-in card + PCIe adapter.
Ferrum MasterJust remember this is Win11 only, it does not use NDIS... you will be good with ath12k in Linux thou.

Wait till it becomes more popular in laptops, then those will be swapped around. I would still go for BE200/BE210
Be200(for card that seems to show in recomended for MSI card linked above) and Be210 both also seem to carry same limitation of being Win11 only compatibility.
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#6
kaktus1907
So are there any 4*4 MiMO WiFi6(E)-7 cards?
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#7
TheLostSwede
News Editor
kaktus1907So are there any 4*4 MiMO WiFi6(E)-7 cards?
Not for consumer use, no.
Posted on Reply
#8
Random_User
Great. But how about return to the roots and use old way, and not build-in the Wi-Fi into the motherboard at all?. Almost $50 for something, that's not that needed for most users. Just make the additional PCIE x1 slot on the MB for the Wi-Fi card, and make both versions, with and wthout the expansion card. So whoever needs Wi-Fi on their mobo can go and buy the more expensive one. I'd personally take the cheaper Wi-Fi-less MB, and exchange the wi-fi module in MB I/O for PS/2 and two USB2.0, or additional USB 3.2 cluster.

I mean, who the heck needs the wi-fi, if the MB, when already has one-two ethernet ports? And this is desktop product, nobody is goint to move that PC from place to place like a laptop. And it still required a Wi-Fi router in order for translate the ISP connection to the Wi-Fi APs. Maybe the exception is in case when ISP gives Wi-Fi-only connection only. But then, it still possible to use a router instead of AP, and make some wired home network. Still a lot more reliable and faster, even with solely wireless incomming connection.
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#9
TheLostSwede
News Editor
Random_UserGreat. But how about return to the roots and use old way, and not build-in the Wi-Fi into the motherboard at all?. Almost $50 for something, that's not that needed for most users. Just make the additional PCIE x1 slot on the MB for the Wi-Fi card, and make both versions, with and wthout the expansion card. So whoever needs Wi-Fi on their mobo can go and buy the more expensive one. I'd personally take the cheaper Wi-Fi-less MB, and exchange the wi-fi module in MB I/O for PS/2 and two USB2.0, or additional USB 3.2 cluster.

I mean, who the heck needs the wi-fi, if the MB, when already has one-two ethernet ports? And this is desktop product, nobody is goint to move that PC from place to place like a laptop. And it still required a Wi-Fi router in order for translate the ISP connection to the Wi-Fi APs. Maybe the exception is in case when ISP gives Wi-Fi-only connection only. But then, it still possible to use a router instead of AP, and make some wired home network. Still a lot more reliable and faster, even with solely wireless incomming connection.
No motherboard has built in WiFi, it's always a module (sometimes on a small PCB) that can be removed. The boards would require a lot of extra certification if the board makers didn't do it that way.

These days it's normally just a vertical M.2 module with a mounting plate and some pigtail wires.



Plenty of motherboard versions are available with and without WiFi.
The retail price difference is often $20 or less.

I've found it handy at several occasions, mainly for fault finding when I've had some hiccups with my WiFi, saves my pulling out the laptop.
Not everyone has their homes wired up for Ethernet and not everyone has the router right next to their PC and not everyone is allowed to drill holes in their walls, so yeah, there are plenty of use cases, regardless of your opinion.
Posted on Reply
#10
trparky
Random_UserGreat. But how about return to the roots and use old way, and not build-in the Wi-Fi into the motherboard at all?. Almost $50 for something, that's not that needed for most users. Just make the additional PCIE x1 slot on the MB for the Wi-Fi card, and make both versions, with and wthout the expansion card. So whoever needs Wi-Fi on their mobo can go and buy the more expensive one. I'd personally take the cheaper Wi-Fi-less MB, and exchange the wi-fi module in MB I/O for PS/2 and two USB2.0, or additional USB 3.2 cluster.
Yes, but Bluetooth is a very nice thing to have onboard a desktop computer's motherboard and generally Bluetooth and Wi-Fi go hand-in-hand.
Posted on Reply
#11
kapone32
TheLostSwedeNo motherboard has built in WiFi, it's always a module (sometimes on a small PCB) that can be removed. The boards would require a lot of extra certification if the board makers didn't do it that way.

These days it's normally just a vertical M.2 module with a mounting plate and some pigtail wires.



Plenty of motherboard versions are available with and without WiFi.
The retail price difference is often $20 or less.

I've found it handy at several occasions, mainly for fault finding when I've had some hiccups with my WiFi, saves my pulling out the laptop.
Not everyone has their homes wired up for Ethernet and not everyone has the router right next to their PC and not everyone is allowed to drill holes in their walls, so yeah, there are plenty of use cases, regardless of your opinion.
The MSI X570 Pro was as cheap as $149. While the Pro Wifi was as much as $220. This is not new MSI have been making these cards since WIFI 5. I bought the WIFI 6 card for like $39 new as well. Asus also does this. This is a reason why MBs include x1 slots.
Posted on Reply
#12
TheLostSwede
News Editor
kapone32The MSI X570 Pro was as cheap as $149. While the Pro Wifi was as much as $220. This is not new MSI have been making these cards since WIFI 5. I bought the WIFI 6 card for like $39 new as well. Asus also does this. This is a reason why MBs include x1 slots.
That's a rip-off. It's some time since I last checked, but ASRock and Gigabyte seems to charge a $10-20 premium for the WiFi models.
Posted on Reply
#13
Ferrum Master
kapone32The MSI X570 Pro was as cheap as $149. While the Pro Wifi was as much as $220. This is not new MSI have been making these cards since WIFI 5. I bought the WIFI 6 card for like $39 new as well. Asus also does this. This is a reason why MBs include x1 slots.
Holy batman, daylight robbery.
TheLostSwedeThat's a rip-off. It's some time since I last checked, but ASRock and Gigabyte seems to charge a $10-20 premium for the WiFi models.
They could have left the connector soldered... actually BIOSTAR does it and leaves up to you to populate it. I have a riser to put a M2 nvme too, you can cramp it inside the IO cover usually for super tight builds, no need for native AE keyed storage.

But all things aside... Swede... don't you think this thing needs to be encapsulated in a RF shield box? During the old days it was a norm for PCI cards... the MB integrated ones are... and this one... is cheaped out... you probably can guess my predictions...
Posted on Reply
#14
Random_User
TheLostSwedeNo motherboard has built in WiFi, it's always a module (sometimes on a small PCB) that can be removed. The boards would require a lot of extra certification if the board makers didn't do it that way.

These days it's normally just a vertical M.2 module with a mounting plate and some pigtail wires.



Plenty of motherboard versions are available with and without WiFi.
The retail price difference is often $20 or less.

I've found it handy at several occasions, mainly for fault finding when I've had some hiccups with my WiFi, saves my pulling out the laptop.
Not everyone has their homes wired up for Ethernet and not everyone has the router right next to their PC and not everyone is allowed to drill holes in their walls, so yeah, there are plenty of use cases, regardless of your opinion.
You're point is valid. And I didn't claim my opinion is ultimate. I even mentioned the Wi-Fi only situation, regardless of reasons. But there are cases, where Wi-Fi can be not welcome, or being distorted.
But my point was another. I meant Wi-Fi module still requires a slot, which occupies the space for the entire connector cluster. As there a re plenty of PCIE Wi-Fi cards, but the I/O space can be used for connections that benefit from being directly wired to the CPU.
There's no need in the drilling the holes in the walls. It's possible to run the wires surface mounted. Some may not like the end look, but it's still a valid way
Ferrum MasterBut all things aside... Swede... don't you think this thing needs to be encapsulated in a RF shield box? During the old days it was a norm for PCI cards... the MB integrated ones are... and this one... is cheaped out... you probably can guess my predictions...
I know the question was not adressed to me. But I think, that MB integrated ones still can do RF crosstalks not only with built-in audio, but to the discrete sound cards as well. Especially if the sound card is un-shielded either.
Posted on Reply
#15
kapone32
Ferrum MasterHoly batman, daylight robbery.

They could have left the connector soldered... actually BIOSTAR does it and leaves up to you to populate it. I have a riser to put a M2 nvme too, you can cramp it inside the IO cover usually for super tight builds, no need for native AE keyed storage.

But all things aside... Swede... don't you think this thing needs to be encapsulated in a RF shield box? During the old days it was a norm for PCI cards... the MB integrated ones are... and this one... is cheaped out... you probably can guess my predictions...
As Rock has some boards that come with an M2 module that only supports WIFI,
Posted on Reply
#16
trparky
My motherboard doesn't even have an m.2 slot for Wi-Fi, it's just embedded somewhere on the board with antenna connectors on the I/O shield.
Posted on Reply
#18
TheLostSwede
News Editor
Ferrum MasterBut all things aside... Swede... don't you think this thing needs to be encapsulated in a RF shield box? During the old days it was a norm for PCI cards... the MB integrated ones are... and this one... is cheaped out... you probably can guess my predictions...
All the consumer M.2 WiFi cards already have a metal can on on them, so there's no need for anything additional.
Random_UserYou're point is valid. And I didn't claim my opinion is ultimate. I even mentioned the Wi-Fi only situation, regardless of reasons. But there are cases, where Wi-Fi can be not welcome, or being distorted.
Sure, but there are already motherboards and have always been available, that don't have WiFi.
Random_UserBut my point was another. I meant Wi-Fi module still requires a slot, which occupies the space for the entire connector cluster. As there a re plenty of PCIE Wi-Fi cards, but the I/O space can be used for connections that benefit from being directly wired to the CPU.
But an entire PCB + rear bracket costs a lot more than making a small mounting assembly the way the motherboard makers are doing things today. I doubt people want to pay even more to get WiFi than they are today. Besides, this was how it was done before we got M.2 cards, as the mini PCIe cards couldn't be mounted like the M.2 cards are today.
Random_UserThere's no need in the drilling the holes in the walls. It's possible to run the wires surface mounted. Some may not like the end look, but it's still a valid way
Maybe in your home, but it doesn't work in all homes. Everyone have different homes and needs.
kapone32As Rock has some boards that come with an M2 module that only supports WIFI,
A type A/E NVMe slots supports anything, within the limitations of that type of M.2 connector, but if it's a CNVi type slot, then it's Intel WiFi only.
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