Difference between revisions of "MiniPCI Express slot"

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(MiniPCI Express Adapters)
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A MiniPCI Express slot is a version of the PCI-Express x1 slot for Notebooks
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A MiniPCI Express slot is a version of the PCI-Express x1 slot for Notebooks.
  
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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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{{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.}}
 
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__NOTOC__
 
__NOTOC__
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=== Models featuring MiniPCI Express slots ===
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* ThinkPad {{Edge 11"}}, {{Edge 13"}}, {{Edge 14"}}, {{Edge 15"}}
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* ThinkPad {{L Series}}
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* ThinkPad {{R60}}, {{R60e}}, {{R61}}, {{R61e}}, {{R61i}}, {{R400}}, {{R500}}
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* ThinkPad {{SL300}}, {{SL400}}, {{SL400c}}, {{SL410}}, {{SL500}}, {{SL500c}}, {{SL510}}
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* ThinkPad {{T60}}, {{T60p}}, {{T61}}, {{T61p}}, {{T400}}, {{T400s}}, {{T410}}, {{T410i}}, {{T410s}}, {{T410si}}, {{T430s}}, {{T500}}, {{T510}}, {{T510i}}
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* ThinkPad {{W Series}}
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* ThinkPad {{X60}}, {{X60s}}, {{X60 Tablet}}, {{X61}}, {{X61s}}, {{X61 Tablet}}, {{X100e}}, {{X200}}, {{X200s}}, {{X200 Tablet}}, {{X201}}, {{X201i}}, {{X201s}}, {{X201 Tablet}}, {{X220}}, {{X300}}, {{X301}}
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* ThinkPad {{Z Series}}
  
 
=== MiniPCI Express Adapters ===
 
=== MiniPCI Express Adapters ===
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* [[Qualcomm Gobi 2000]]
 
* [[Qualcomm Gobi 2000]]
 
'''Other'''
 
'''Other'''
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* [[Intel® Turbo Memory hard drive cache]]
 
* [[Wireless USB (UWB)]]
 
* [[Wireless USB (UWB)]]
  
=== (In)Compatibility ===
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=== 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.
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==== Designated slots ====
  
=== Linux support ===
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According to the design, each slot is intended for a specific purpose. In the X200 for example, the three slots are for:
MiniPCI Express adapters are handled by the Linux PCI subsystem.
 
  
=== Models featuring this Technology ===
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* [[Intel® Turbo Memory hard drive cache]] or [[Wireless USB (UWB)]] (half-length slot)
* ThinkPad {{Edge}}
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* WWAN 3G card (full-length)
* ThinkPad {{R60}}, {{R61}}, {{R400}}
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* WLAN card (full-length)
* ThinkPad {{SL300}}, {{SL400}}, {{SL400c}}, {{SL410}}, {{SL500}}, {{SL500c}}, {{SL510}}
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* ThinkPad {{T60}}, {{T60p}}, {{T61}}, {{T61p}}, {{T400}}, {{T400s}}, {{T410}}, {{T410i}}, {{T410s}}, {{T410si}}, {{T500}}, {{T510}}, {{T510i}}
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The purpose of each slot decides over:
* ThinkPad {{W Series}}
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* ThinkPad {{X60}}, {{X60s}}, {{X60 Tablet}}, {{X61}}, {{X61s}}, {{X61 Tablet}}, {{X100e}}, {{X200}}, {{X200s}}, {{X200 Tablet}}, {{X201}}, {{X201i}}, {{X300}}, {{X301}}
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* antenna cable routing (or placement of other connectors)
* ThinkPad {{Z Series}}
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* details of some pins of the MiniPCI Express connector
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** RF kill signal (one pin)
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** LED signal lines (several pins, one for each type (WLAN, WWAN) of LED)
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** SIM card slot access (three/four(?) pins giving access to a SIM card (in a slot somewhere))
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 +
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.
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 +
Some questions which remain open:
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* Does the RF kill hardware switch kill the WWAN slot?
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* Is the WWAN LED pin in the WLAN slot connected to something and vice versa?
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* Are the wires from the SIM card slot connected to all MiniPCI Express slots or only the WWAN slot?
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 +
Questions answered for the ThinkPad X200:
 +
 
 +
* The WLAN LED pin in the WWAN slot does not go the WWAN LED.
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* The RF kill pin is active (grounded) in the WWAN slot at least under some circumstances and there is a SMAPI software switch which might be able to toggle that signal.
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* Antenna cables go to their supposed slots by default, but are long enough to be rerouted to any slot.
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==== BIOS checks ====
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 +
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]).
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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]]
 
[[Category:Components]]

Revision as of 13:36, 1 January 2019

A MiniPCI Express slot is a version of the PCI-Express x1 slot for Notebooks.

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.


Models featuring MiniPCI Express slots

MiniPCI Express Adapters

WLAN

WWAN

Other

Compatibility

Designated slots

According to the design, each slot is intended for a specific purpose. In the X200 for example, the three slots are for:

The purpose of each slot decides over:

  • antenna cable routing (or placement of other connectors)
  • details of some pins of the MiniPCI Express connector
    • RF kill signal (one pin)
    • LED signal lines (several pins, one for each type (WLAN, WWAN) of LED)
    • SIM card slot access (three/four(?) pins giving access to a SIM card (in a slot somewhere))

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.

Some questions which remain open:

  • Does the RF kill hardware switch kill the WWAN slot?
  • Is the WWAN LED pin in the WLAN slot connected to something and vice versa?
  • Are the wires from the SIM card slot connected to all MiniPCI Express slots or only the WWAN slot?

Questions answered for the ThinkPad X200:

  • The WLAN LED pin in the WWAN slot does not go the WWAN LED.
  • The RF kill pin is active (grounded) in the WWAN slot at least under some circumstances and there is a SMAPI software switch which might be able to toggle that signal.
  • Antenna cables go to their supposed slots by default, but are long enough to be rerouted to any slot.

BIOS checks

The BIOS is know to check PCI IDs (via whitelist) and block the boot process if it’s not satisfied (1802 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, 1802 with MiniPCIe on t60,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: Ultimate R61/T61/X61/X300 BIOS (inc SATA-II)

External sources