2011 17" macbook pro What is the best wifi & bluetooth card for this machine?

[thataquidicmacuser]

Hello, its been a long time sense ive posted. took a break from the mac community. but ive been wondering what is the best possible upgrade hackers and madders have come together and gotten to work on macs 2012 and older? im currently running a 2012 15" unibody macbook pro. but looking to downgrade to an older 17" macbook pro 2011. i saw this article on low end mac, and was wondering if theres anything similar https://lowendmac.com/2024/installing-a-broadcom-bcm94360cd-bluetooth-4-wifi-5-ieee-802-11ac/, like an adapter that would allow an crazy wifi and Bluetooth module, i have forgotten how alot hardware mods worked on macs speffically. its been that long. been doing more stuff with windows. but im primarly looking to swithcing to using linux on my macbook pro on the late 2011 17" and disabling the bad gpu but keeping the thunderbolt port and expreess card slots working for another project i have in mind.

 

[rb2112]

So you may have seen this (would work in your 2012 15" or 2011 17") for BT 4.2 and 802.11ac (WIFI 5). You will have to get a suitable card, BCM943602CS or I think 1-2 others will work/fit. I installed on in my 2012 15" and it has worked with zero issues. I know of 2 adaptors here (https://www.intriguingindustries.co.uk/product/12-6-adapter/) and here (https://subtle.design/products/80211ac/). Lotsa info in this thread: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/802-11ac-and-bt-4-2-are-here-for-unibody-mbps-and-a1342-mb.2171056/