Intel Wireless-AC 9461NGW M.2 network connector

Purpose and fit

The Intel Wireless-AC 9461NGW is an M.2 CNVio Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module built for laptops that already use this exact part. It requires an 8th- or 9th-generation Intel processor, a Key E M.2 CNVio slot (not CNVio2 or regular PCIe), and a 64-bit Windows 10, Windows 11 or Linux installation. It is not a desktop adapter and will not work with AMD platforms. Buyers who need a drop-in card for a standard PCIe M.2 slot or a newer CNVio2 platform cannot use this module.

Sustained operation

The adapter delivers up to 433 Mbps using 1x1 MU-MIMO on WiFi 5 across the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Bluetooth 5.1 handles peripheral and audio links. Because the card relies on the host CPU’s integrated CNVio logic rather than a self-contained MAC, throughput stays consistent only while the processor and driver stack remain fully active; thermal throttling or aggressive power-saving states on the host can reduce real-world rates below the peak figure.

Interface limits

The CNVio interface ties the radio directly to specific Intel CPU generations, so the card cannot be moved to a newer platform that uses CNVio2 or to any non-Intel system. Only WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK, WPA2 and WEP security modes are supported by the on-board firmware. Antennas and mounting hardware are not supplied, so the host chassis must already provide compatible MHF4 antenna pigtails and a screw for the M.2 module.