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    Type of PCI slot

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by VanillaEps, Apr 3, 2006.

  1. VanillaEps

    VanillaEps Notebook Guru

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    I'm looking to get a mini PCI wi-fi card for my notebook. When searching sites for mini PCI cards, I've seen Type I, II, IIIA, etc. What do these mean and what are the limitations of each Type?
     
    VanillaEps, Apr 3, 2006
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  2. lmychajluk

    lmychajluk Notebook Evangelist

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    I think those are referring to PC(PCMCIA) cards, not mini-PCI. Type 1 is thin, Type II is med, and Type III is a 'double' card. These are all credit-card sized cards that go into your laptop via a slot on the side. Is that what you're looking for? If so, most laptops have TypeII slots, and most WiFi cards are TypeII. Or are you looking for the internal mini-PCI WiFi card?

    Edit - Note that both of these are different than a desktop's PCI card slot, which is different than a PCI Express slot, which is completely different than the new Express Card standard on newer notebooks. Got it? ;)
     
    lmychajluk, Apr 3, 2006
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  3. VanillaEps

    VanillaEps Notebook Guru

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    I'm looking for the Mini-PCI WiFi card. When I look for them on Ebay or on retailer sites, some of the descriptions mention Type of slot. For example, a Dell TrueMobile 1450 has a description that mentions its a Type IIIA slot.
     
    VanillaEps, Apr 3, 2006
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  4. VanillaEps

    VanillaEps Notebook Guru

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    Ok. I definitely don't got it. :confused: But, as long as I'm able to obtain a TrueMobile wi-fi card and place it into my Mini PCI slot and have it work, I'm happy.
     
    VanillaEps, Apr 3, 2006
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  5. lmychajluk

    lmychajluk Notebook Evangelist

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    Then you want a mini-PCI card.

    This is a mini-PCI card.

    This is a PC Card.



    This     is the only '1450' I could find. It seems to be some custom USB adapter for particular Optiplex systems.
     
    lmychajluk, Apr 3, 2006
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  6. NetBrakr

    NetBrakr Notebook Deity

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    What notebook do you have? Because older noteboos doesnt came with empty minipci slot.

    JC
     
    NetBrakr, Apr 3, 2006
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  7. VanillaEps

    VanillaEps Notebook Guru

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    Dell Latitude x200. I opened up the Mini PCI slot a couple of days ago and it was empty with the antenna connection....
     
    VanillaEps, Apr 3, 2006
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  8. NetBrakr

    NetBrakr Notebook Deity

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    NetBrakr, Apr 3, 2006
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  9. Chutsman

    Chutsman Notebook Evangelist

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    Wasn't there a group buy on a mini PCI wireless card on here not too long ago or am I thinking of another forum? The consensus seems to be to get one with the Atheros chip set - the group buy was for that type.
     
    Chutsman, Apr 3, 2006
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  10. Chutsman

    Chutsman Notebook Evangelist

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    Chutsman, Apr 3, 2006
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  11. VanillaEps

    VanillaEps Notebook Guru

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    I was able to install a TrueMobile 1300 into my notebook. The 1300 is b and g. But, its funny you mentioned that. I was getting a very weak signal. When I read this thread, I started playing with the configuration and saw that it was in b mode. When I switched it to g mode, my signal strengthened dramatically.
     
    VanillaEps, Apr 3, 2006
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