[TotalBalance]

I've got an older laptop with an internal Ethernet 10/100 NIC card and a 2.4g wireless adapter.
I now have an ISP Internet package that provides up to 250mb download speeds. However I can never get over 100mb as it seems both my internal wired and wireless max out at 100mb.

If I purchase a usb wireless ac adapter that can handle download speeds of 300mb @ 2.4g and & 800+mb @5g will:
1) I get the speeds I'm paying for (up to 250mb download) or
2) the fact my PC's internal NIC (network interface card) max is 100mb that's all I can expect?

In other words, does a usb wireless ac dual band adapter work independent of all other network devices on one's PC to provide the best Internet speed or is the speed still throttled by one's PC internal NIC card limitations.

 

[JimE]

The speed is limited by the NIC to which the service is connected. So if you install and connect the service to a new NIC, it will not be limited by the old NIC. But the limitation will then likely be the USB port. I don't believe USB supports those speeds either, unless it's a USB3 port (which I doubt as you stated it's an "older laptop").