Spare mini-PCIe slot?

Does anyone know if there is a free mini-PCIe slot in a G73SW? I notice that there is an antenna port on the back, as well a mention of a TV tuner in the BIOS and manual, so perhaps it is possible to install one. That, or a SSD like Super Talent's CoreStore MV.

 

No, the only one has the wifi card plugged into it.

 

yeah. no. Though, in some ACER models, the leads are there if you're willing to solder in another mount.

 

I checked, and it looks like you could solder another mini pci-e to the motherboard if you have the stomach and skills for it.

 

The mobo is different on the SW though. Couldn't see anything like a mini PCIe connector, or a place for a connector by opening the hatch at the bottom. Would need to disassemble to check properly, but not confident enough to do it.
Soldering an extra connector wouldn't be too hard though.

 

You could be right, i don't have a SW to check it out but the extra leads are above and left of the pci-e for the wi-fi in the JH, i'll post a pic if you want me to.

 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/248/img4107v.jpg/
Is this the one? (it's a G73JH)

 

That would be it, yeah. What is soldered to that?? There's nothing soldered on mine. I will be disassembling my JH in a week or two so i will check the mobo completely for other pci-e slots attatchments. My N50 has a free one and the leads for a third one (was meant for a 3G card i think but it never got to the B1B model) so there may be more in the G73 as well.

EDIT: the holes to solder the screw sockets are meant for a full height card from what i saw. In my book, this isn't much f a problem, if you have a 1/2 height card, you can either make yourself a bracket or buy one from e-bay for $6 shipped.

 

The soldered wires is a user-made mod to place a wireless mouse receiver inside the case. Those two pins are USB data pins.
It's good news that it's full height. Will be awaiting your findings.
The mobo layout on the SW is different, so I can't see anything like it from the bottom hatch.
Is there anyone here who has disassembled a SW?

 

I was getting bored waiting for a part to arrive so i can resume my research at university so i took a quick look at the top of the mobo and there is definitely no PCI-e leads there. No room for one either. There's a tag that says TV on the mobo so i assume it was indeed intended for a tv tuner and it's right besides where the antenna would be.

In this pic, you can see the TV tag as well as the screw emplacements that show it is indeed a full height.


On another note, i'm wondering what that connector might be for:


I got a full disassembly scheduled for the end of this week/beginning of next week so i will check under the mobo thoroughly then.

My guess is that Asus didn't change the G73 chassis at all between the 3 models, only the boards, hence why you might not have the leads for an extra PCI-e even though the antenna port is there.

 

Well those are clearly leads for a missing PCIe connector with room for a full height card in the first pic. The USB pins on those have already been shown to be working, so I'd bet the other pins work too. No idea about the connector in the second pic though.
Unfortunately I don't have the guts to open my new G73SW yet.

 

Might be a diagnostic port for the mobo.

 

Is the secondary pci-e slot on the g73jh a full-fledged pci-e (haven't probed my laptop)? Or only offers connection for usb? I ask because my latest eee has a secondary that only offers support to usb despite padding for full pci-e. I found out the hard way >.<

EDIT: Anyone looking, its pins 34/36 for usb for pci-e connectors for usb

 

Well, since i haven't probed or soldered a pci-e port to the leads so i can't tell. However as this looks like it was intended for a tv tuner i'd venture it's a full fledged pci-e.

 

Yeah, I'd bet it is full PCIe.

@Daverish, your EEE probably had an mSATA connector. It's physically the same, but has SATA pins instead of PCIe.

 

I'll resurrect this thread to say that i disassembled my G73JH tonight (as i said i would) and it has indeed the leads for only one spare pci-e, the one in the pics i posted earlier.

 

I'm going to buy a mPCIe socket and solder it on the motherboard where there is the place for the tv tuner and then plug in this full size usb 3.0 card:
Mini PCI-e USB 3.0 Express Card 2 Port NEC chip | eBay

anybody knows the mpci-e connector size?
there are two available sizes online:
1. 30 x 8 x 4mm size:
DIY any Notebook Mini PCI-Express card Socket/Slot | eBay
1. 30 x 8 x 5.6mm
DIY any Notebook Mini PCI-Express 5.6mm Socket/Slot | eBay

anybody tried this?

 

Measure the height of the WLAN card socket and the gap between the WLAN card and the motherboard.

 

Hey,i have question - how about use that mini PCIe ?
I think about replace my WiFi card and put in maybe mPCIe USB 3.0 card or ViDock / DIY GPU - does it will work?
Or can i solder new mPCIe slot ?
I have problem because i using now G73JH and i want USB 3.0 or of course external GPU
Thanks for answers

 

I guess you can solder a new mPCIe slot , and install anycard in it, I was thinking of doing that, Id be doing it soon time ,.
so where can I buy original mPCIe slot?

 

If you had bothered to look 3 posts up, you would know.

 

But i don't want to solder anything to my motherboard - i still have warranty
I think still about disconnect wifi (i don't need it) card and connect ViDock (will it work? or VD need Optimus/intel HDxxxx card?)

 

Does anyone have the link to his original work log or post? i am looking at doing the same thing to my G73JH, only instead of a wireless mouse a wireless xbox360 PC connector, the
same as i did with my g50vt

http://forum.notebookreview.com/asu...dy-laptop-g50vt-x360-wireless-controller.html

 

It's been a while, I've finally gotten to order Mini PCI E USB 3 0 Express Card 2 Port NEC Chip | eBay
I'm going to solder a mpcie socket to use the card on the TV tuner spot next to the wireless card.



I bought a 4m mpcie socket/slot and 5.6mm one just in case. wish me luck! I should receive everything later this month and be done at the end of the month.

 

So, what happened ? did it work or your laptop died during surgery?

 

This would be an extremely advanced bit of modification lol.

 

bought everything, gutted the laptop and started soldering, but my soldering skills weren't up to par, so I couldn't solder each individual pin and could only solder all the row at the same time...So I gave up and put it back together. someone with more skills could definitely do it.

 

You would need to apply hand soldering IC techniques to do that and have decent quality tools, there would be guides on youtube for it.

 

I soldered the Mini Pcie connector and tested it with WiFi card, and it worked. I'm waiting for my Mini PCI-e USB 3.0 Express Card 2 Port , it will be one hell of the job to fit the two extra USB in the laptop. wait to see what will happen

 

Lol, your easiet option may be to have that cable coming through the hole with the PCB on the end, wont look pretty though.

 

I will find a way to cut the cover and make decent view
There is a place to fix the PCB inside, here take a look



and it's image from soldered connector, sorry I forgot to take pic when it was open

 

Well if you pull that off then show us as that would be pretty impressive lol.

 

Finally, its done. I received the USB 3.0 port that fits inside my G73, here some photos and windows copy speed,

 

That's awesome, good job

 

Would you mind posting links to which USB3 Ports,mini-PCIe slot, and card you used. the card you linked to earlier shows a flat cable with a different 2 port USB3 connector piece, so i assume you either used a different card or different ports.

now that i got the proper equipment and experience to attempt this mod, I think I will have a go at this soon. I want to make sure I have the exact components you used to avoid buying the wrong thing.

EDIT:crap, I think I replied to the wrong post :/ ,i should be replying to Solariseir's post.

 

Sorry for the late answer. I bought the connector separately from eBay, I don't have the address now.
Important notice : do not connect external hard drive without self power supply, this USB 3 cannot supply enough current for 2.5" USB 3 external HDD.

Notice number 2 : be careful about soldering the PCI E slot. Mine had a short circuit between 2 pins and my Notebook LCD went green sometimes, when I found the problem was with the soldering, it was too late, my main board stop functioning after 2 or 3 weeks. And I'm waiting for new main board right now.

 

Did only have to solder on the connector or were there resistors and capacitors to solder too? is the mod still holding up?

 

Oh yes I remember this now, I don't think he did and as mentioned be careful soldering the fine pitch pins.

 

he PMed me back.

I do wonder if running both at the same times kicks down the speed. like in desktop like if you run all 3 slots some boards kick down to 8x 8x 8x.

 

That usually requires circuitry. These are usually fed by the South bridge.