I feel like an idiot asking but figured someone could clear up a few questions.

I have a Netgear RangeMax Wireless Router WPN824 v3.

I purchased this computer that was listed in Hot Deals with these specs:


http://outlet.lenovo.com/desktops/0893xf4.html

.

Outlet Part Number 0893XF4
Condition Refurbished
Processor AMD® Athlon™ X2 215 (2.70GHz, 2 X 512MB L2)
Operating System Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64 - English
Keyboard/Pointing Device 104-key antibacterial keyboard (PS/2 connector) and Optical Wheel Mouse (USB connector)
Total Memory 4GB (2 X 2GB) PC3-8500 DDR3 1067MHz SDRAM UDIMM Memory
Hard Drive 500GB, 7200RPM Serial ATA 2.5" Hard Drive
Display Monitor Not Included
Graphics ATI™ Radeon™ 3000
Optical Device DVD Recordable 8x Max Dual Layer
Ethernet/Wireless Integrated Ethernet Mobile Broadband No WWAN Supported
Bluetooth No
Integrated Camera N/A
Color Black
Form Factor Tower
Limited Warranty 1 Year Standard
Manufacturing part number 08931DU


I made the mistake of thinking the "Wireless integrated Ethernet" part meant I didn't need an adapter.

So, what kind of adapter do I need? I saw some listed on ebay for cheap. I just don't know if I need "g" or "n" or whatever else is out there. Is there another way to do it? Just seems like the adapter sticking out of a usb will get annoying.

REALLY appreciate any help you can give me! I don't want to get the wrong thing!

well your router is a b/g so getting an N will not help you but they are backwards compatible so it wont hurt you ether. the big question is do you want to open up the pc to put a wireless card inside of it or just go with a usb one. You can always stick the usb in one of the back ports and forget about it. If you want an internal one you need to figure out what ports are open (pci, pcie 1x, pcie 16x)

well your router is a b/g so getting an N will not help you but they are backwards compatible so it wont hurt you ether. the big question is do you want to open up the pc to put a wireless card inside of it or just go with a usb one. You can always stick the usb in one of the back ports and forget about it. If you want an internal one you need to figure out what ports are open (pci, pcie 1x, pcie 16x)

I am thinking for now, I would rather go the route of the adapter. So, I should pick up an N then, correct?

Thanks so much for you help!!

Well if you get an N it will work with your current setup and if you upgrade to an N router in a year or two it will work with that. Something along this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704059) line should work but you got to make sure you have a pcie 1x slot open in your pc.

Well if you get an N it will work with your current setup and if you upgrade to an N router in a year or two it will work with that. Something along this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704059) line should work but you got to make sure you have a pcie 1x slot open in your pc.

Now I am thinking I should just go with the wireless card. Is there an easy way to find out if I have a pcie 1x slot open? I am really not as clueless as I sound...I just have never done this before.

Is the slot clearly marked? It seems simple enough to do it...

To give a PC WiFi, You can use a PCI or PCIe WiFi adapter, a USB WiFi adapter, or a wireless router configured as a wireless bridge and connected to the computer's wired network port (this config is convenient when several wired devices in proximity need wireless).

A low-end N device (2.4GHz and 150Mbps) should be cheap and sufficient for a G router. High-end N (2.4GHz/5GHz and 300Mbps or 450Mbps) will be overkill (but fine, too :)). USB WiFi adapters are frequently on sale and easy to "install", but a PCI/PCIe card should/could be better (big antenna and such).

Now I am thinking I should just go with the wireless card. Is there an easy way to find out if I have a pcie 1x slot open? I am really not as clueless as I sound...I just have never done this before.

Is the slot clearly marked? It seems simple enough to do it...Internal slots sometimes are marked, but rarely are they marked "clearly".

Crack open your computer and consult this pic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PCIExpress.jpg, it shows several sizes of PCIe slots. A x1 PCIe WiFi card will work in any size PCIe slot (but big graphics cards in x16 slots may block adjacent slots, be aware). The bottom slot in the pic is an old PCI slot. PCI isn't fast enough for SSDs or modern hard drives, but it's plenty fast for WiFi.

Internal slots sometimes are marked, but rarely are they marked "clearly".

Crack open your computer and consult this pic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PCIExpress.jpg, it shows several sizes of PCIe slots. A x1 PCIe WiFi card will work in any size PCIe slot (but big graphics cards in x16 slots may block adjacent slots, be aware). The bottom slot in the pic is an old PCI slot. PCI isn't fast enough for SSDs or modern hard drives, but it's plenty fast for WiFi.

Thanks! That was very helpful!

I will check it out and let you know!

Now I am thinking I should just go with the wireless card. Is there an easy way to find out if I have a pcie 1x slot open?

H215's i've seen have two x1, one x16 and one pci. all open.

Well if you get an N it will work with your current setup and if you upgrade to an N router in a year or two it will work with that. Something along this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704059) line should work but you got to make sure you have a pcie 1x slot open in your pc.

Don't pay $20 for that TP-LINK adapter at newegg when it is $14 at Meritline (http://www.meritline.com/tplink-tl-wn781nd-150mbps-wireless-lite-n-pci-express-adapter---p-48577.aspx).

The Rosewill PCIe adapter for $15 is a better deal though since its receive speed is faster. See the thread below:
Current Wireless Adapter Deals (http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2511033)

Don't pay $20 for that TP-LINK adapter at newegg when it is $14 at Meritline (http://www.meritline.com/tplink-tl-wn781nd-150mbps-wireless-lite-n-pci-express-adapter---p-48577.aspx).

The Rosewill PCIe adapter for $15 is a better deal though since its receive speed is faster. See the thread below:
Current Wireless Adapter Deals (http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2511033)

it was an example, I had not done any research on it just something so the op can look and get an idea of what they are looking for.

Don't pay $20 for that TP-LINK adapter at newegg when it is $14 at Meritline (http://www.meritline.com/tplink-tl-wn781nd-150mbps-wireless-lite-n-pci-express-adapter---p-48577.aspx).

The Rosewill PCIe adapter for $15 is a better deal though since its receive speed is faster. See the thread below:
Current Wireless Adapter Deals (http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2511033)

Thanks so much! I went ahead and ordered the Rosewell adpater.

Rep'd all of you for you help! It is very much appreciated!

UPDATE:
Adapter arrived. Thanks so much for your help, I put it in and it worked great!!!