ExpressCard
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| ExpressCards | |
 ExpressCard certified logo |
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| Year created: | 2003 |
| Supersedes: | PC Card |
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| Number of devices: | 1 per slot |
| Capacity | 480 Mbit/s (USB mode) and 2.5 Gbit/s (PCI Express mode) |
| Style: | Serial |
| Hotplugging? | Yes |
| External? | Yes |
ExpressCard is a hardware standard replacing PC cards (also known as PCMCIA cards), both developed by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA). The host device supports both PCI Express and USB 2.0 connectivity through the ExpressCard slot, and each card uses whichever the designer feels most appropriate to the task. The cards are hot-pluggable. This is an open standard by ITU-T definition which can be obtained from the ExpressCard website. However, a $2500 USD fee[1] is required to access the documentation for non-PCMCIA members, but is free to members. ExpressCard was formerly called NEWCARD.[2]
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[edit] Uses
These slots can accept FireWire 800 (1394B), Serial ATA external disk drives, Solid-state drives, Wireless network interface cards, TV tuner cards, soundcards, additional memory and memory card readers, among other things. Asus has recently revealed an external graphics card that can be connected to laptops through the interface, the XG Station. However, these kinds of graphics cards can only be used on an external monitor.
[edit] Video Graphics Cards
According to the Official ExpressCard Website,[3] "We do not expect that a stand-alone ExpressCard graphics accelerator will be developed in the near term. Graphics accelerators currently require more board space than even an ExpressCard/54 module provides, more power than the ExpressCard slot can provide and produce more heat than an ExpressCard module can safely dissipate."
[edit] Form factors
ExpressCard supports two form factors, ExpressCard/34 (34 mm wide) and ExpressCard/54 (54 mm wide, in an L-shape) — the connector is the same on both (width 34 mm). Standard cards are 75 mm long (10.6 mm shorter than CardBus) and 5 mm thick, but may be thicker on sections that extend outside the standard form — for antennas, sockets, etc. The 34 mm form factor cards fit into both 34 mm and 54 mm card slots via a diagonal guide in the rear of the 54 mm slot that guides the card to the connector. The 54 mm card will fit in only a 54 mm slot.
Adapters are available for connecting an ExpressCard/34 card to a CardBus slot.
[edit] Comparison to CardBus
The major benefit of ExpressCard technology over the previous PCMCIA CardBus PC card is a dramatic increase in bandwidth, afforded by the fact that the ExpressCard has a direct connection to the system bus over a PCI Express x1 lane and USB 2.0, whereas CardBus utilizes an interface controller that only interfaces with PCI. The ExpressCard has a maximum throughput of 2.5 Gbit/s through PCI Express and 480 Mbit/s through USB 2.0 dedicated for each slot, versus CardBus's shared 1.06 Gbit/s bandwidth.
In addition, the ExpressCard standard uses lower voltages than the previous CardBus slots (1.5V and 3.3V versus 3.3V and 5.0V).
The ExpressCard FAQ also claims other advantages, including lower cost, better scalability, and better integration with motherboard chipset technology. The ExpressCard interface is not backwards-compatible with CardBus devices, which presents a problem for those who may purchase a new system only to find that their devices do not work with the new slot design.
However, adapters are available for connecting a CardBus card to an ExpressCard/34 or ExpressCard/54 slot.
[edit] Availability
An ExpressCard slot has been commonly included on high-end laptops made since 2006.
- Hewlett-Packard began shipping systems with ExpressCard in November 2004. [1]
- Lenovo integrated the slot into their flagship ThinkPad T43 in May 2005. [2]
- Dell Computer also incorporates this in their Precision (the 17" models have them exclusively, the 15" Precisions have both express card and PCMCIA Card slots), Inspiron, Latitude (Latitude D-series have PCMCIA card slots. The D820/D830 have both ExpressCard and PCMCIA card slots), Studio, Vostro and XPS Laptop product lines.
- Fujitsu-Siemens began shipping systems [3] with ExpressCard in mid 2005.
- Apple Inc. included single ExpressCard/34 slots in every MacBook Pro notebook computer from January 2006 through June 2009, At the June 8, 2009 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference the company announced that the 15-inch and 13-inch MacBook Pro models would replace the ExpressCard slot with a Secure Digital card slot, while retaining the ExpressCard slot on the 17-inch model.
- ASUS has also replaced the PC Card slot with an ExpressCard slot on many of its new models.
- Sony also began shipping systems [4] with ExpressCard with its new laptop VGN-SZ and FW product line.
- The Acer Aspire laptop series also has a single ExpressCard/54 slot on most new models.
- Panasonic incorporates ExpressCard/54 slots in all the fully rugged and semi-rugged models of their Toughbook brand of portable computers.
- Gateway notebooks (ML3109 and later) also ship with ExpressCard 54 interfaces.
Because of the lack of backward compatibility, some laptop manufacturers have chosen to release models incorporating both CardBus (PCMCIA, PC Card) and ExpressCard slots. These include certain models of Acer Aspire, Toshiba Satellite, Dell Latitude and Precision, MSI S42x and Lenovo ThinkPad Z60m, R52, T60 and R61.
A large number of ExpressCard devices were presented at the CeBit trade show in Germany in March 2005. [5] In November 2006, Belkin announced that it is launching the first ExpressCard docking station, which uses the PCIe part of an ExpressCard connection to enable 1600x1200 video and the USB part to provide USB, audio and network ports. [6] [7] This points to the ability for ExpressCard to allow more capable non-OEM docking stations for laptop computers.
Recently Sony has introduced its Vaio TZ model, which incorporates ExpressCards. Also the Sony Vaio FZ and Vaio Z series has the ExpressCard 34 Slot integrated in them. Sony also uses the ExpressCard/34 form factor for the flash memory modules in its XDCAM EX/SxS based camcorders, making the copying of video data between these cameras and ExpressCard-equipped laptops easier. For this reason, Sony also offers a USB-based SxS reader for desktop computers.
The new Toshiba Satellite P and X 200/205 series of laptops and desktop replacements have an ExpressCard/34 slot since April 2007.
[edit] ExpressCard 2.0
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Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (September 2008) |
ExpressCard 2.0 Standard was delivered March 4, 2009 at CeBIT in Hannover. It complies with PCI-Express 2.0 and SuperSpeed USB, which is part of the USB 3.0 specification. It is backwards compatible with current ExpressCard modules and 2.0 ExpressCard modules will work in current slots. ExpressCard 2.0 products are expected to be in the market in 2010.[4]
[edit] Consumer take-up
There is a perception that the ExpressCard slots on laptops are under-utilised[citation needed], with little consumer take-up of hardware using the slot compared with the very popular USB 2.0 connection sockets found on all current computers. As of 2009, Apple has removed ExpressCard slots from all of its laptop models except the 17-inch screen MacBook Pro[citation needed]. Compared with USB hardware, ExpressCard hardware is less obtrusive. Typically, an ExpressCard accessory can be left permanently installed, as the laptop can be stored in its case with it still in place. ExpressCard plug-in hardware available includes TV tuners, mobile broadband cards. Media remote control units are available that use the ExpressCard slot to store and recharge. [5][dead link]
[edit] Notes
- ^ As of 27 April 2007. Source: http://www.pcmcia.org/order.htm
- ^ "NEWCARD Reborn As 'ExpressCard'". http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/news/article.php/3077821. Retrieved on 2009-02-25.
- ^ http://www.expresscard.org/web/site/qa.jsp
- ^ http://www.expresscard.org/web/site/cebit2009.jsp ExpressCard 2.0
- ^ http://shopper.cnet.com/remote-controls/hp-mobile-remote-control/4027-7900_9-31860035.html
[edit] External links
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