MiniPCI Express slot - Revision history

Bugmenot2: switched categorization

2020-11-15T14:02:10Z

switched categorization

Bugmenot2: added more details, categorized model list, reorganized info

2019-12-24T14:27:55Z

added more details, categorized model list, reorganized info

Jpk: /* Models featuring MiniPCI Express slots */ + T430s

2019-01-01T12:36:00Z

‎Models featuring MiniPCI Express slots: + T430s

Siemer at 23:21, 12 June 2014

2014-06-12T23:21:48Z

Siemer at 01:12, 9 June 2014

2014-06-09T01:12:09Z

Siemer: /* (In)Compatibility */

2014-05-31T21:24:59Z

‎(In)Compatibility

Siemer at 21:13, 31 May 2014

2014-05-31T21:13:18Z

Siemer at 15:35, 25 May 2014

2014-05-25T15:35:48Z

Greenfreedom10: grammar fix

2013-10-13T00:32:22Z

grammar fix

KotCzarny: /* Hacked BIOS with white list removed */

2012-01-20T20:09:50Z

‎Hacked BIOS with white list removed

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:02, 15 November 2020
Line 72:		Line 72:
	*{{X200}}, {{X200s}}, {{X200 Tablet}}, {{X201}}, {{X201i}}, {{X201s}}, {{X201si}}, {{X201 Tablet}} {{X201i Tablet}}, {{X300}}, {{X301}}		*{{X200}}, {{X200s}}, {{X200 Tablet}}, {{X201}}, {{X201i}}, {{X201s}}, {{X201si}}, {{X201 Tablet}} {{X201i Tablet}}, {{X300}}, {{X301}}

−	[[Category:~~Components~~]]	+	[[Category:Ports, Connectors and Slots]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {| width="100%"
 <div style="margin: 0; margin-right:10px; border: 1px solid #dfdfdf; padding: 0em 1em 1em 1em; background-color:#F8F8FF; align:right;">
-A MiniPCI Express slot is a version of the PCI-Express x1 slot for Notebooks.
+=== MiniPCI Express slot ===
-* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express#PCI_Express_Mini_Card Wikipedia article on Mini PCI Express]
+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).
-{{NOTE|There are two physical form factors, a standard 30×50.95 mm, and a half-height 30×26.8 mm. Which one fits depends on the slot.}}
+[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express#PCI_Express_Mini_Card Wikipedia article on Mini PCI Express]
 </div>
 |}
-__NOTOC__
+=== Overview ===
-=== Models featuring MiniPCI Express slots ===
+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 Adapters ===
+==== MiniPCI Express, WLAN cards ====
 * [[Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Mini-PCI Express Adapter]]
 * [[Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Mini-PCI Express Adapter]]
@@ Line 35: / Line 31: @@
 * [[ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini Express Adapter]]
 * [[ThinkPad 11b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter II]]
-'''WWAN'''
 * [[Sierra Wireless MC5720]] - EV-DO WWAN
 * [[Sierra Wireless MC5725]] - EV-DO WWAN
@@ Line 41: / Line 38: @@
 * [[Ericsson F3507g Mobile Broadband Module]]
 * [[Qualcomm Gobi 2000]]
-'''Other'''
 * [[Intel® Turbo Memory hard drive cache]]
 * [[Wireless USB (UWB)]]
-=== Compatibility ===
+=== External sources ===
+* Lenovo [ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/mobiles/accessories_guide_us_can_dec2007.pdf accessories guide].
-* [[Intel® Turbo Memory hard drive cache]] or [[Wireless USB (UWB)]] (half-length slot)
+== Models featuring this technology ==
-* WWAN 3G card (full-length)
+=== with a MiniPCI Express slot (WLAN) ===
-* WLAN card (full-length)
+*{{W700}}, {{W701}}
-The purpose of each slot decides over:
+=== with a MiniPCI Express slot (WWAN) ===
-* antenna cable routing (or placement of other connectors)
+=== with two MiniPCI Express slots (WLAN+WWAN) ===
-* details of some pins of the MiniPCI Express connector
+*{{W500}}, {{W510}}, {{W520}}, {{W530}}, {{W700}}, {{W700ds}}, {{W701}}, {{W701ds}}
-** RF kill signal (one pin)
+*{{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}}
-** LED signal lines (several pins, one for each type (WLAN, WWAN) of LED)
+*{{X220}}, {{X220i}}, {{X220 Tablet}}, {{X220i Tablet}}, {{X230}}, {{X230i}}, {{X230s}}, {{X230 Tablet}}, {{X230i Tablet}}
-** SIM card slot access (three/four(?) pins giving access to a SIM card (in a slot somewhere))
+*{{L410}}, {{L412}}, {{L420}}, {{L421}}, {{L430}}, {{L510}}, {{L512}}, {{L520}}, {{L530}}
-In case of the X200, I can confirm that the WLAN LED pin of the WLAN slot is connected to the WLAN LED (as everyone might have guessed). Same is true of the WWAN LED pin in the WWAN slot.
+=== with three MiniPCI Express slots (WLAN+WWAN+Miscellaneous) ===
+*{{W700}}, {{W700ds}}, {{W701}}, {{W701ds}}
-Some questions which remain open:
+*{{T61}}, {{T61p}}, {{T400}}, {{T500}}
+*{{R400}}
-* Does the RF kill hardware switch kill the WWAN slot?
+*{{X200}}, {{X200s}}, {{X200 Tablet}}, {{X201}}, {{X201i}}, {{X201s}}, {{X201si}}, {{X201 Tablet}} {{X201i Tablet}}, {{X300}}, {{X301}}
 [[Category:Components]]

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 * ThinkPad {{R60}}, {{R60e}}, {{R61}}, {{R61e}}, {{R61i}}, {{R400}}, {{R500}}
 * ThinkPad {{SL300}}, {{SL400}}, {{SL400c}}, {{SL410}}, {{SL500}}, {{SL500c}}, {{SL510}}
-* ThinkPad {{T60}}, {{T60p}}, {{T61}}, {{T61p}}, {{T400}}, {{T400s}}, {{T410}}, {{T410i}}, {{T410s}}, {{T410si}}, {{T500}}, {{T510}}, {{T510i}}
+* ThinkPad {{T60}}, {{T60p}}, {{T61}}, {{T61p}}, {{T400}}, {{T400s}}, {{T410}}, {{T410i}}, {{T410s}}, {{T410si}}, {{T430s}}, {{T500}}, {{T510}}, {{T510i}}
 * ThinkPad {{W Series}}
 * ThinkPad {{X60}}, {{X60s}}, {{X60 Tablet}}, {{X61}}, {{X61s}}, {{X61 Tablet}}, {{X100e}}, {{X200}}, {{X200s}}, {{X200 Tablet}}, {{X201}}, {{X201i}}, {{X201s}}, {{X201 Tablet}}, {{X220}}, {{X300}}, {{X301}}

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 According to the design, each slot is intended for a specific purpose. In the X200 for example, the three slots are for:
-* Wireless USB or the Intel SSD cache (half-length slot)
+* [[Intel® Turbo Memory hard drive cache]] or [[Wireless USB (UWB)]] (half-length slot)
-* WWAN 3G mobile phone network access (full-length)
+* WWAN 3G card (full-length)
 * WLAN card (full-length)
@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 * antenna cable routing (or placement of other connectors)
 * details of some pins of the MiniPCI Express connector
-** RF kill signal
+** RF kill signal (one pin)
-** LED signal lines
+** LED signal lines (several pins, one for each type (WLAN, WWAN) of LED)
-** SIM card slot access
+** SIM card slot access (three/four(?) pins giving access to a SIM card (in a slot somewhere))
 ==== BIOS checks ====

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 |}
 __NOTOC__
 === MiniPCI Express Adapters ===
@@ Line 35: / Line 45: @@
 * [[Wireless USB (UWB)]]
-=== (In)Compatibility ===
+=== Compatibility ===
 The BIOS is know to check PCI IDs (via whitelist) and block the boot process if it’s not satisfied (<tt>1802</tt> error). The details vary. Above mentioned hardware might only be accepted if it comes with one set of possible IDs (for Lenovo). The same hardware (from the driver’s viewpoint) is often also available with other IDs if it is sold though other channels. (see also [[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]).
 Non-official patched versions of BIOS files are available for X300, X61, X61s, T61, T61p, R61, R61e (and others, i did it to x60s) which remove whitelist restrictions allowing non-lenovo PCI-e devices.. (see forum post: [http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/459591-t61-x61-sata-ii-1-5-gb-s-cap-willing-pay-solution-8.html#post6501443 Ultimate R61/T61/X61/X300 BIOS (inc SATA-II)]
 [[Category:Components]]

@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 === (In)Compatibility ===
-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.
+The BIOS is know to check PCI IDs (via whitelist) and block the boot process if it’s not satisfied (<tt>1802</tt> error). The details vary. Above mentioned hardware might only be accepted if it comes with one set of possible IDs (for Lenovo). The same hardware (from the driver’s viewpoint) is often also available with other IDs if it is sold though other channels. (see also [[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]).
 === Hacked BIOS with white list removed ===

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express#PCI_Express_Mini_Card Wikipedia article on Mini PCI Express]
-{{NOTE|There are two physical form factors, a standard 30×50.95 mm, and a half-height 30×26.8 mm. Some ThinkPads only support the later}}
+{{NOTE|There are two physical form factors, a standard 30×50.95 mm, and a half-height 30×26.8 mm. Some ThinkPads only support the latter}}
 </div>
 |}

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 === Hacked BIOS with white list removed ===
-Non-official patched versions of BIOS files are available for X300, X61, X61s, T61, T61p, R61, R61e which remove whitelist restrictions allowing non-lenovo PCI-e devices.. (see forum post: [http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/459591-t61-x61-sata-ii-1-5-gb-s-cap-willing-pay-solution-8.html#post6501443 Ultimate R61/T61/X61/X300 BIOS (inc SATA-II)]
+Non-official patched versions of BIOS files are available for X300, X61, X61s, T61, T61p, R61, R61e (and others, i did it to x60s) which remove whitelist restrictions allowing non-lenovo PCI-e devices.. (see forum post: [http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/459591-t61-x61-sata-ii-1-5-gb-s-cap-willing-pay-solution-8.html#post6501443 Ultimate R61/T61/X61/X300 BIOS (inc SATA-II)]
 === Linux support ===