Difference between revisions of "MiniPCI Express slot"

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A MiniPCI Express slot is a version of the PCI-Express x1 slot for Notebooks
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=== MiniPCI Express slot ===
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The MiniPCI Express slot is a miniaturized version of the PCI Express slot, generally implemented as a 52-pin connector. This is not to be confused with the MiniSATA (mSATA) slot, which uses the same connector, but has a wholly different electrical pin-out.
  
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Some MiniPCI Express slots used in certain ThinkPads are meant to only accept 26 x 30 mm cards, or otherwise known as half-length MiniPCI Express cards. These do not fit properly in MiniPCI Express slots that are meant to accept 50.95 x 30 mm cards, or otherwise known as full-length MiniPCI Express cards. If needed, they can be fitted by using half-length to full-length adapters; it cannot be done the other way round though (full-length to half-length adapters do not exist).
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[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express#PCI_Express_Mini_Card Wikipedia article on Mini PCI Express]
 
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__NOTOC__
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=== Overview ===
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The MiniPCI Express slot in full detail, is a dual-voltage 3.3V and 1.5V PCI Express (1.x/2.x) x1 slot. The PCI Express version depends on the I/O controller's capabilities. Note that not all MiniPCI Express slots have the same pin-out, as some slots are meant for WLAN/WWAN/Miscellaneous devices. Depending on the slot's purpose, it may or may not have PCI Express lanes wired to it, it also may or may not have USB lanes wired to it.
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MiniPCI Express slots that are meant to contain WiFi/WLAN cards, will generally have PCI Express lanes wired to them. Slots meant for WWAN on the other hand, will generally have USB lanes wired to them. Slots meant for miscellaneous cards, such as the Turbo Memory card, will generally have both PCI Express lanes and USB lanes wired to them. If the slot is meant for a Wireless USB card, the slot will only have USB lanes wired to it.
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Unfortunately (for expandability), all known ThinkPads with this slot are loaded with a BIOS whitelist. This would mean that only Lenovo-branded MiniPCI Express cards will work in a ThinkPad, although there are some workarounds or complete fixes for this hassle. See [[Problem with unauthorized MiniPCI network card]] for more information regarding workarounds and fixes.
  
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=== MiniPCI Express Adapters ===
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==== MiniPCI Express, WLAN cards ====
 
* [[Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Mini-PCI Express Adapter]]
 
* [[Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Mini-PCI Express Adapter]]
 
* [[Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Mini-PCI Express Adapter]]
 
* [[Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Mini-PCI Express Adapter]]
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* [[Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1000]]
 
* [[Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1000]]
 
* [[Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200]]
 
* [[Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200]]
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* [[Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250]]
 
* [[Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300]]
 
* [[Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300]]
 
* [[ThinkPad 11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini Express Adapter]]
 
* [[ThinkPad 11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini Express Adapter]]
 
* [[ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini Express Adapter]]
 
* [[ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini Express Adapter]]
 
* [[ThinkPad 11b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter II]]
 
* [[ThinkPad 11b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter II]]
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==== MiniPCI Express, WWAN cards ====
 
* [[Sierra Wireless MC5720]] - EV-DO WWAN
 
* [[Sierra Wireless MC5720]] - EV-DO WWAN
 
* [[Sierra Wireless MC5725]] - EV-DO WWAN
 
* [[Sierra Wireless MC5725]] - EV-DO WWAN
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* [[Qualcomm Gobi 2000]]
 
* [[Qualcomm Gobi 2000]]
  
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=== (In)Compatibility ===
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==== MiniPCI Express, Miscellaneous cards ====
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Though the slot is MiniPCIe in form factor, it has been crippled to only accept devices with PCI-ID's contained in a BIOS whitelist consisting of the above list of devices (likely not exhaustive and varying depending on the particular system) with the additional requirement that they '''must carry the Lenovo brand name and consequently cost twice as much'''. If an unauthorized card is plugged in it gives a <tt>1802</tt> error on initial boot up before it even touches the operating system. (see [[Problem with unauthorized MiniPCI network card]], [http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=69445 1802 with MiniPCIe on t60],[http://forums.lenovo.com/lnv/board/message?board.id=T_Series_Thinkpads&message.id=274 same]). The workarounds on the first link concerning MiniPCI devices may or may not be directly applicable to the MiniPCIe slot. Anyone who has added non-Lenovo components to this slot either successfully or unsuccessfully is encouraged to provide any relevant details here.
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* [[Intel® Turbo Memory hard drive cache]]
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* [[Wireless USB (UWB)]]
  
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=== Linux support ===
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=== External sources ===
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MiniPCI Express adapters are handled by the Linux PCI subsystem.
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* Lenovo [ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/accessories_guide_us_can_dec2007.pdf accessories guide].
  
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=== Models featuring this Technology ===
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== Models featuring this technology ==
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* ThinkPad {{T60}}, {{T60p}}, {{R61}}, {{T61}}, {{T61p}}
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=== with a MiniPCI Express slot (WLAN) ===
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* ThinkPad {{X60}}, {{X60s}}, {{X61}}, {{X61s}}, {{X200}}
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*{{W700}}, {{W701}}
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* ThinkPad {{Z Series}}, {{Z61m}}
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*{{X100e}}, {{X120e}}, {{X121e}}, {{X130e}}, {{X131e}}, {{X140e}}
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*{{R60}}, {{R60e}}, {{R60i}}, {{R61}}, {{R61e}}, {{R61i}}
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*{{G50}}
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*{{Z61e}}
  
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[[Category:Components]]
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=== with a MiniPCI Express slot (WWAN) ===
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*{{Z60m}}
  
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=== External sources ===
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=== with two MiniPCI Express slots (WLAN+WWAN) ===
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* Lenovo  [ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/accessories_guide_us_can_dec2007.pdf accessories guide].
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*{{W500}}, {{W510}}, {{W520}}, {{W530}}, {{W700}}, {{W700ds}}, {{W701}}, {{W701ds}}
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*{{T60}}, {{T60p}}, {{T61}}, {{T61p}}, {{T400}}, {{T400s}}, {{T410}}, {{T410i}}, {{T410s}}, {{T410si}}, {{T420}}, {{T420i}}, {{T420s}}, {{T420si}}, {{T430}}, {{T430i}}, {{T430s}}, {{T430si}}, {{T430u}}, {{T500}}, {{T510}}, {{T510i}}, {{T520}}, {{T520i}}, {{T530}}, {{T530i}}
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*{{X220}}, {{X220i}}, {{X220 Tablet}}, {{X220i Tablet}}, {{X230}}, {{X230i}}, {{X230s}}, {{X230 Tablet}}, {{X230i Tablet}}
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*{{L410}}, {{L412}}, {{L420}}, {{L421}}, {{L430}}, {{L510}}, {{L512}}, {{L520}}, {{L530}}
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*{{SL Series}}
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*{{R60}}, {{R500}}
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*{{Z60t}}, {{Z61t}}, {{Z61m}}, {{Z61p}}
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=== with three MiniPCI Express slots (WLAN+WWAN+Miscellaneous) ===
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*{{W700}}, {{W700ds}}, {{W701}}, {{W701ds}}
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*{{T61}}, {{T61p}}, {{T400}}, {{T500}}
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*{{R400}}
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*{{X200}}, {{X200s}}, {{X200 Tablet}}, {{X201}}, {{X201i}}, {{X201s}}, {{X201si}}, {{X201 Tablet}} {{X201i Tablet}}, {{X300}}, {{X301}}
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[[Category:Ports, Connectors and Slots]]

Latest revision as of 15:02, 15 November 2020

MiniPCI Express slot

The MiniPCI Express slot is a miniaturized version of the PCI Express slot, generally implemented as a 52-pin connector. This is not to be confused with the MiniSATA (mSATA) slot, which uses the same connector, but has a wholly different electrical pin-out.

Some MiniPCI Express slots used in certain ThinkPads are meant to only accept 26 x 30 mm cards, or otherwise known as half-length MiniPCI Express cards. These do not fit properly in MiniPCI Express slots that are meant to accept 50.95 x 30 mm cards, or otherwise known as full-length MiniPCI Express cards. If needed, they can be fitted by using half-length to full-length adapters; it cannot be done the other way round though (full-length to half-length adapters do not exist).

Wikipedia article on Mini PCI Express

Overview

The MiniPCI Express slot in full detail, is a dual-voltage 3.3V and 1.5V PCI Express (1.x/2.x) x1 slot. The PCI Express version depends on the I/O controller's capabilities. Note that not all MiniPCI Express slots have the same pin-out, as some slots are meant for WLAN/WWAN/Miscellaneous devices. Depending on the slot's purpose, it may or may not have PCI Express lanes wired to it, it also may or may not have USB lanes wired to it.

MiniPCI Express slots that are meant to contain WiFi/WLAN cards, will generally have PCI Express lanes wired to them. Slots meant for WWAN on the other hand, will generally have USB lanes wired to them. Slots meant for miscellaneous cards, such as the Turbo Memory card, will generally have both PCI Express lanes and USB lanes wired to them. If the slot is meant for a Wireless USB card, the slot will only have USB lanes wired to it.

Unfortunately (for expandability), all known ThinkPads with this slot are loaded with a BIOS whitelist. This would mean that only Lenovo-branded MiniPCI Express cards will work in a ThinkPad, although there are some workarounds or complete fixes for this hassle. See Problem with unauthorized MiniPCI network card for more information regarding workarounds and fixes.

MiniPCI Express, WLAN cards

MiniPCI Express, WWAN cards

MiniPCI Express, Miscellaneous cards

External sources

Models featuring this technology

with a MiniPCI Express slot (WLAN)

with a MiniPCI Express slot (WWAN)

with two MiniPCI Express slots (WLAN+WWAN)

with three MiniPCI Express slots (WLAN+WWAN+Miscellaneous)

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