is m17x expresscard 2.0?

standard expresscard is 2.5gbps on pci-e 1.0 expresscard 2.0 is 5gbps on pci-e 2.0. The graphics in the m17x is pci-e 2.0 so is the express card that as well?

 

oh did i stump every 1? dell specifications does not list what version expresscard the m17x is. Is there a way for me to tell using software or the bios like how do i figure this out?

 

It says on the main manual it is one ExpressCard/54 connector which I beleive is only version 1.0?

 

Are you taking about the pci express slot for the graphic card?

 

no the express card slot. expresscard 1.0 is connected via pci-e 1.0 at 2.5gbps

expresscard 2.0 is connected vis pci-e 2.0 at 5gbps

the m17x uses pci-e 2.0 for the graphics card does that mean it also uses pci-e 2.0 for the express card bus?

 

According to dell reps it is expresscard 2.0. Are they any programs I can use that will show me that my expresscard slot is version 2.0 and connected to a 5gbps pci-e 2.0 bus? I want to get a 2 slot USB 3.0 express card but I have to be on a 5gbps expresscard 2.0 slot to get the full bandwidth.

 

If it is 2.0 then im a very happy man!! is there any way of confirming this? (or if someone with a M17x can? )

 

I have an m17x. Tell me how to look it up and I will.

 

Im unsure to be honest, if you look at the PM55 spec it states

"Offers up to 2.5GT/s for fast access to peripheral devices and networking with up to 8 PCI Express* 2.0 x1 ports, configurable as x2 and x4 depending on motherboard designs."

Mobile Intel PM55 Express Chipset - Overview

So I am unsure if it supports Express 2.0? :/

 

damn this is crazy i cant believe nobody knows if the express card slot is 2.0 or not

 

Does anyone know if the m15x or the Studio XPS features ExpressCard 2.0?

 

Any more clarity on this query regarding the ExpressCard slot as I'm contemplating purchasing one of these:

Express card 54mm To 2 Port USB 3.0 expresscard (eBay item 230569250658 end time 12-Jan-11 13:07:00 AEDST) : Computers

Update:

Located the following detail regarding the PM55 chipset on the Intel web site:

"PCI Express* 2.0 interface - Offers up to 2.5GT/s for fast access to peripheral devices and networking with up to 8 PCI Express* 2.0 x1 ports, configurable as x2 and x4 depending on motherboard designs."

 

PM55 chipset makes the determination.

It is 1.0 on the R2. That is why USB 3 expresscards can't hit top speed when put into it's slot.

 

You guys are kinda making me scratch my head. I thought the whole ExpressCard thing was slowly (or maybe quickly) dying out. I don't think I saw an ExpressCard on the R3 model either. Is USB 3 (which I think the R3 does have) sounding the end of ExpressCard?

 

Thats the same card I ordered, Though maybe from a differant seller. I should have more info this week. Whatever it is, it's going to be a lot faster then USB 2.0 is my guess.

 

In a word, yes. USB 3 has several "speed tiers" it tries to operate at. Not all chipsets that support the USB 3 spec can manage all the tiers of speed. That said, the top speed of USB 3 is 5gb/s. That is the same speed as Expresscard 2.0. In fact one of the internal connection options of an Expresscard 2.0 compatible card is to connect via the USB 3 standard. So, in essence, you are getting an Expresscard 2.0 grade connection via USB 3, thus there is no need for a full slot size connector when that same space can hold 2-4 USB 3.0 plugs. And moreover, USB 3 has further use since it's backwards compatible with USB 2, that it can be used with a wide assortment of devices.

So in the end, the Expresscard slot isn't going to add enough options (because it's operating at the same speeds) to warrant using it instead of a couple of USB 3 plugs instead in the same space. Not all vendors are going this way, but it makes a great deal of sense when you consider how carefully a notebook builder goes about using the space they have available in the form factor they are using.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usb_3#USB_3.0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express_2.0#PCI_Express_2.0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expresscard

 

That's what I was thinking. Even if the 2.5Gbps is split across both USB 3.0 ports, it's still more than double the speed of USB 2.0.

Ordering mine next week. Look forward to your review.

 

Yea, plus to get top USB 3.0 speed, you would need an SSD in the USB 3.0 enclosure. I think the HDD drives read/write speed will bottleneck transfer times. But at least it won't be the transfer rate that is the bottle neck PLus I'll be using mine with a USB 3.0 enclosure with a large HDD.

 

Well eventually you may be using more than just one hardrive off of the connection. And we all know that any amount of memory, cpu power or bandwidth gets "used up" eventually by programs and devices. Imagine a time when you might have a draft Z wireless, SSD, and possibly video running off of a connection and then complaining that 5Gb/s (USB3) is too slow.

For now it is very fast

 

Thanks for your excellent clarifications on EC vs. USB 3, FXi!

I didn't mean to sidetrack the thread, but I have long wondered why so many machines had ExpressCard slots, which I think grew out of the older PCMCIA slots, but manufacturers never seemed all that keen to build many good peripherals for them. I see lots of data-intensive devices built to use USB (2.0, of course), even when it seems inappropriate, and we have these higher-speed slots available, but few ever trying to use them. Once I wanted to buy a TV tuner card, and I had no problem finding one that was USB, but I wanted ExpressCard for its compactness and semi-internalization and it was like a big special-order problem to get it. Well, I guess I won't miss ExpressCards when they are gone.

 

Sounds like the real answer is yes, it is EC 2. But for some odd reason its limited to 2.5 GBps. Hope OP got his answer before he was banned.

 

placed my order today from here: Express Card Expresscard 54 slot to USB 3.0 x 2 Port: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics
BTW it has a power in port... do we really need it?? or will the express card slot provide power for those 2 usb ports (for hdd and such)??