Broadcom to bring 5G WiFi to the masses with entry-level combo chips

Broadcom bringing 5G WiFi to the masses with entrylevel combo chips

As we've mentioned before, 5G WiFi, aka 802.11ac is a good thing, unless you hate speed and range. After launching its integrated BCM4335 chip on flagship handsets like Samsung's Galaxy S 4 and the HTC One, Broadcom has announced new 5G WiFi combo chips for lower-end smartphones, PCs, notebooks and tablets. Budget handheld devices can now be equipped with the BCM4339, which Broadcom says brings the same performance as its top-end mobile chip while integrating power and low-noise amplifiers for easier integration. Meanwhile, the BCM43162 is targeted at desktop and notebook PCs with direct support for the Microsoft's Windows OS. Customers are now sampling both chips, and Broadcom expects volume production in the second half of the year -- another possible reason to put off that notebook purchase a bit longer.

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Broadcom promises triple-speed 5G WiFi for mobiles in early 2013

Broadcom promises triplespeed 5G WiFi for mobiles in early 20135G WiFi, aka 802.11ac, aka muy rapido. We don't just want it in routers and laptops, we want it everywhere -- which is why Broadcom's firm date of Q1 2013 for its BCM4335 mobile chip is good news. The add-on belongs to a mainstream line of 40nm combo radios that handle WiFi (including regular 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands), Bluetooth 4.0 and FM, which means there's every likelihood it'll appear in numerous smartphones and tablets soon after production starts. Broadcom promises tripled transfer speeds, "dramatically" improved range and "six times greater" power efficiency compared to Wireless N, but then again, so does the competition -- and a company like Qualcomm may be able to deliver it in even fewer nanometers.

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Broadcom promises triple-speed 5G WiFi for mobiles in early 2013 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jul 2012 07:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS G75VW is world’s first notebook to sport Broadcom 802.11ac WiFi, we go hands-on (video)

ASUS G75VW is world's first notebook to sport 900Mbps Broadcom 80211ac WiFi, we go handson at Computex video

In the back corner of ASUS' brightly lit Computex booth there's a simulated gamer's lair, complete with dim LED lighting, the sound of frequent gun fire and a small handful of nondescript gaming notebooks. The G75VW is one such device, but in addition to the Ivy Bridge Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GTX 670M and massive 17.3-inch LCD, this otherwise standard portable rig includes one very important distinction: it's the very first of its kind to pack 802.11ac WiFi. Approaching gigabit Ethernet speeds, this 5th-generation WiFi-equipped notebook supports up to 900Mbps of wireless throughput -- though we certainly wouldn't expect to see such speeds smack in the middle of a tech trade show exhibition hall. Instead, the device performed within the 200-400Mbps range, only jumping beyond that upper limit for a second or two during our demo.

You can't get 802.11ac without a properly equipped router, so we weren't surprised to see an ASUS RT-AC66U positioned an inch away from the lappy's rear. Computex may be an appropriate venue to launch the first 802.11ac-capable computer, but it's certainly not the best place to demo any flavor of wireless technology, so we look forward to putting the new spec through its paces in a slightly less saturated setting. For now, you can get a closer look at the router and G75VW gaming system in our gallery below, followed by our hands-on video just after the break.

Continue reading ASUS G75VW is world's first notebook to sport Broadcom 802.11ac WiFi, we go hands-on (video)

ASUS G75VW is world's first notebook to sport Broadcom 802.11ac WiFi, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jun 2012 02:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ASUS first out the gate with 802.11ac laptop according to Broadcom

ASUS first out the gate with 802.11ac laptop according to Broadcom

Oddly, ASUS has been mum on this particular Computex announcement, but we're going to take Broadcom at its word for now. According to the wireless chip manufacturer, ASUS's G75VW gaming laptop will have the honor of being the first machine on the market with an 802.11ac radio inside. During a press event, Broadcom's Michael Hurlston dubbed the PC the "World's first 5G Wi-Fi laptop," saying that it would be available "very shortly." Our cohorts over at Engadget Spanish got hands-on with the lappy last month, but found it's spec sheet decidedly lacking in next-gen WiFi brags. The G75VW had Ivy Bridge under the hood, a 1080p display and a GeForce GTX 670M -- but no 802.11ac. Presumably the discrepancy is due to a planned product refresh, and not to an error on Broadcom's part. ASUS also has an 802.11ac router on deck, and Hurlston claims a desktop motherboard is in the works too. For more, check out the watch on your wrist... it's waiting time.

ASUS first out the gate with 802.11ac laptop according to Broadcom originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 18:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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