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    D630 Expansion Station

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by dpilot83, Jun 12, 2007.

  1. dpilot83

    dpilot83 Notebook Consultant

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    I'm wondering what capabilities the expansion station adds to the D630. I noticed it has a PCI slot. I'm wondering what kind of a connection there is between the notebook and the expansion slot. Is this single connection fast enough to run all the serial, parallel, PCI, VGA, DVI, USB, etc, etc without causing a slowdown in any of them? It just seems like it would be hard to transfer all the data if you were using may of them simultaneously.

    What would people use the PCI slot for? Sound card? I can't imagine using a video card unless it's a PCI Express slot. I also can't imagine how the computer deals with losing a piece of hardware and then getting it back every time you disconnect or reconnect the dock. Any insight on the capabilities and how it works would be appreciated. Thanks.
     
    dpilot83, Jun 12, 2007
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  2. zhefei

    zhefei Notebook Guru

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    I would be very interested to see if the PCI slot could be used for a sound card.
     
    zhefei, Jul 16, 2007
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  3. jobin007007

    jobin007007 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I just found out that esata drives (triple speed cmp to USB, firewire) can be connected through a PCI slot interface.

    I guess in the expansion station, it would help because the d630 laptop doesnt have a pci slot
     
    jobin007007, Apr 7, 2008
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  4. channelv

    channelv Notebook Evangelist

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    The D/Dock (not the D/Port) expansion station is wonderful. I use another video card in it so I have a quad monitor setup now. You can accomodate most any PCI card in it - a PCI sound card would work as well.
     
    channelv, Apr 7, 2008
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  5. hylton

    hylton Notebook Consultant

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    I've been looking at the D/Ports b/c they are significantly smaller (limited deskspace)...are there issues w/ this device. I see quite a few on ebay for almost nothing compared to the $200 price tag Dell has, granted, most are not w/ the power adapter, Dell's is, but an extra adapter is also pretty cheap on ebay, well under half the price for the same thing...

    Any thoughts on the D/Port?

    Chris
     
    hylton, Apr 7, 2008
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  6. willieg

    willieg Notebook Enthusiast

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    A D/Port Replicator is currently being used with a D830 since purchased about a month ago. I have had no issues or complaints with the device so far as it appears to be functioning as advertised.

    They are indeed somewhat small as the replicator adds only about 3 inches to the back of a laptop (without the cables and cable cover attached). It does, however, block all ports located on the back of the laptop itself.
     
    willieg, Apr 7, 2008
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