RE: ExpressCard driver for DELL E6510 Yes - the latest driver from StarTech is installed, and I spent 45 minutes with the StarTech support staff last night. He assures me that the drivers are Windows 10 compliant.
The PCMCIA recently introduced the PCMCIA ExpressCard standard as a successor technology to the venerable PCMCIA PC Card and PC Cardbus standards. PCMCIA ExpressCard slots are available today on a wide range of host systems. More and more peripheral devices based on PCMCIA ExpressCard are appearing everyday. Based on and supporting both the very fast PCI Express (PCIe) and ubiquitous USB 2.0 standards, ExpressCard is smaller, faster, and much simpler to deploy than the previous expansion technologies like PCMCIA PC Cards.
ExpressCard's flexibility and high speeds provide breakthrough applications including full throughput eSATA host adapters, UDMA 4/PIO Mode 6 supporting CompactFlash adapters, and FireWire 800 host adapters. All new is the availability of ExpressCard slots deployed on desktop machines for PCIe 1X applications, alleviating the problem of opening a computer's case when installing new peripheral devices.
Host Adapters Providing ExpressCard Read/Writer Capability
PCIe to PCMCIA ExpressCard readers allow PCIe based desktop computers to utilize ExpressCard applications. Such readers are completely transparent to any card inserted, accepting either ExpressCard 34 or 54 cards. ExpressCard drives themselves require no drivers, but the cards being used with them might. PCIe to PCMCIA ExpressCard reader's PCIe 1X configuration realizes full 250MB/s (megabytes) throughput with PCIe based ExpressCards, while USB 2.0 ExpressCards operate at a 480Mb/s (megabits) speed. Excellent for sharing devices between modern laptops and desktops, PCIe to PCMCIA ExpressCard drives are a smart addition for desktop machines. Online stores offer PCIe to ExpressCard readers that work with both ExpressCard 34 and ExpressCard 54 Cards.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding ExpressCard 34 and ExpressCard 54 Cards
What are PCMCIA ExpressCard Cards
ExpressCard is the PCMCIA's newest removable, portable, expansion technology to replace 16-bit PC Card and 32-bit PC Cardbus card devices. As a technology based on the latest bus standards, ExpressCard holds several advantages over PCMCIA PC Card some of which are explained below.
Key PCMCIA ExpressCard and PCMCIA PC Card Differences
ExpressCard offers two all new interconnect technologies
ExpressCard utilizes two interconnect technologies, the most important of which is PCI Express (PCIe). ExpressCard devices utilizing PCIe 1X technology are capable of 2.5Gb/s per direction. An ExpressCard operating in full duplex mode has an approximate throughput of 250MB/s x 2, or 500MB/s of throughput. This is about four times the effective speed of 32-bit PC Cardbus. Alternatively, ExpressCards utilizing USB 2.0 for less complex and lower speed applications, have a maximum throughput of 480mb/s.
ExpressCard's bandwidth provides much higher performance
PCIe 1X technology based ExpressCards are capable of 2.5Gb/s per direction, allowing for realization of applications, like host adapters, which underperform or are impossible with PC Cardbus. Examples of bottlenecked Cardbus host adapters, that don't tax ExpressCard are Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and FireWire 800 (IEEE 1394.b). Furthermore, ExpressCard will be able to handle the newest SATAe and other high end busses with relative ease.
ExpressCard replaces a parallel bus with a high speed serial bus
ExpressCard follows the trend of SATA and PCI Express of a transition from parallel to serial buses. ExpressCard utilizes a 26-pin beam on blade serial connection, rather than the 68-pin parallel connection used for PC Card. ExpressCard's utilization of PCIe and USB 2.0 serial connections built in host systems reduces complexity. It also eliminates signal timing problems associated with parallel buses.
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ExpressCard is inexpensive and easier to implement than PC Card
Since ExpressCard harnesses busses already existing on the newest host systems, it doesn't need separate ASIC bridge chips for integration. Differing from PC Card and PC Cardbus which required a controller chip to bridge underlying system bus to the card slot, ExpressCard devices essentially plug into either the system's PCIe or USB 2.0 bus, based on the type of ExpressCard employed. Savings in both cost and complexity are a hallmark of ExpressCard.
ExpressCard offers superior power management and saving
ExpressCards operate at 1.5 and 3.3V baselines, which are lower voltages than PC Card. Systems deploying ExpressCard technology can take full advantage low power utilization and allow for longer batter life in portable applications.
Are there PCMCIA ExpressCard to PCMCIA PC Card adapters? (backward compatibility)
Yes, the innovative DuelAdapter ExpressCard 34 to PCMCIA PC Card and CardBus Read-Writer allows any system with an PCMCIA ExpressCard slot to use both legacy 16-bit PC Cards and 32-bit PC Cardbus Cards. The host computer can have a native ExpressCard 34 or ExpressCard 54 slot, or have a PCIe to ExpressCard adapter and work with the DuelAdapter. As long as the PCMCIA PC Card is supported by the underlying operating system, it will work when used in conjunction with the DuelAdapter.
Are there any PCMCIA PC Card to PCMCIA ExpressCard adapters? (foreward compatibility)
For PCIe based ExpressCards, no. PC Card, even in the 32-bit variety, doesn't provide enough bandwidth. Moreover, ExpressCards differ from PC Cards in physical connectivity, form factor, bus technology and voltages.
For USB 2.0 based ExpressCards, yes. Several devices act as USB 2.0 hubs, passing USB 2.0 signals from an ExpressCard through to a PCMCIA PC Card slot. These PCMCIA PC Card to USB 2.0-Mode ExpressCard adapters come in both 32-bit and 16-bit PCMCIA PC Card types. PCMCIA to USB 2.0 based ExpressCard adapters do not work with any PCIe based ExpressCard. Technically, there adapters break the PCMCIA specification, since a given host slot is supposed to support both the PCIe and USB 2.0 portions of the ExpressCard standard.
Physical Slotting for ExpressCard Cards
ExpressCard slots, like ExpressCards, come in two varieties; those for both ExpressCard 54 and 34 cards, and slots for ExpressCard 34 cards only. Regardless of their physical dimensions ExpressCard slots are required to provide both PCIe and USB 2.0 functionality. ExpressCard 54 slots, as seen in figures A and B on the right, accept both 54 and 34 cards. What PCMCIA terms as a 'novel guidance device,' physically guide an ExpressCard 34 device to the connector part of the slot, as seen in the lower left corner of figures A and B. With the connection portion of ExpressCards for both types being an identical 34mm, this scheme enables an elegant way to utilize either type of card. Conversely, ExpressCard 34 slots only accept ExpressCard 34 cards as seen in figure C. This last fact is important when shopping for ExpressCards, if a device only accepts ExpressCard 34 slot, then only look for ExpressCard 34 devices. The PCMCIA's literature states systems deploying multiple ExpressCard slots should lay them out on a horizontal plane adjacently rather than a 'stacked slot' convention employed for PC Card slots.
Physical Dimensions for ExpressCard Cards
ExpressCards are available in two form factors: ExpressCard 34 and ExpressCard 54. These form factors share identical dimensions except for width, which is where the form factor names are derived. ExpressCard length is 75mm and their depth (or thickness) is 5.0mm. 5.0mm is the same depth as PC Card Type II. While the shapes and widths of ExpressCard form factors differ, the portion of the card connecting to the card slot are identical at 34mm. ExpressCard 34 cards are rectangular in shape and 34mm wide. ExpressCard 54 Cards at their widest point are 54mm wide, but 34mm wide at the connection point, creating a 'Fat-L' shape. Both form factors are allowed additional volume extending outside of what is considered the flush portion of an inserted card. Referred to as the extended portion of the card, ExpressCards with such configurations are called extended cards. Extended portions may exceed a card's dimension on any axis, with obvious practical limitations. For an example of an ExpressCard 34 featuring an extended portion on two axis (depth and width) see: ExpressCard 34 to CompactFlash Memory Card Adapter. See ExpressCard Physical Slotting for a Image of how ExpressCard modules are deployed in the two types of ExpressCard slots.
PCMCIA ExpressCard and PCMCIA PC Card Data Table
16-bit PC Card | 32-bit PC Cardbus | ExpressCard (USB 2.0) | ExpressCard (PCIe 1X) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Voltages | 3.3/5.0/12.0V | 3.3/5.0V | 1.5/3.3V | 1.5/3.3V |
Maximum Throughput | 20 MB/sec. | 132 MB/sec. | 60 MB/sec. | 250 MB/sec. per direction |
PC Cards | ExpressCard 34 | ExpressCard 54 | ||
Depth | Type I/II/II | 3.3/5.0/10.3mm | 5.0mm | 5.0mm |
Length | 85.6mm | 75mm | 75mm | |
Width | 54mm | 34mm | 54mm |
ExpressCard Product Sources
Many online vendors offer a wide range of ExpressCard 34 and ExpressCard 54 products including Synchrotech.
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 US$2,500 fee[1] is required to access the documentation for non-PCMCIA members.
ExpressCards compared to the predecessor PC Card.
Year created: 2003
Number of devices: 1 per slot
Capacity 480 Mbit/s (USB mode) and2.5 Gbit/s (PCI Express mode)
Style: Serial
Hotplugging? Yes
External? Yes
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.
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.
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.
Availability
ExpressCard has become quite prominent on most new or high-end laptops made since 2006.
Hewlett-Packard began shipping systems with ExpressCard in November 2004, [1] and 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), Vostro and XPS Laptop product lines. Fujitsu-Siemens began shipping systems [3] with ExpressCard in mid 2005. Apple Inc. included a single ExpressCard/34 slot in their MacBook Pro notebook computer in January 2006. 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 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 and T60.
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 1600×1200 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 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 trivial. 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.
ExpressCard 2.0
ExpressCard 2.0 is said to be on track for a “second-half 2008 / early 2009” delivery. It will comply with PCI-Express 2.0 and SuperSpeed USB, which is part of the USB 3.0 specification. Backwards compatibility with current ExpressCards is planned for inclusion in the ExpressCard 2.0 specification. [8]
Notes
- ^ As of 27 April 2007. Source: http://www.pcmcia.org/order.htm
External links
Related and official links