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    Expresscard

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by foldog22, Jan 28, 2010.

  1. foldog22

    foldog22 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hello All,

    I am trying to find use out of my Expresscard Slot on my Dell XPS M1530. I would like to use it for more hard drive space. Specifically, for running virtual machines. Does anybody know if this is possible? I am pretty sure the limiting factor will be the speed. Anybody have any idea on what kind of speed the expresscard slot can handle? From my understanding, there are two ways the card slots are hooked to the motherboard. USB 2.0 interface (internal) or PCI-E (internal) and the speed depends on which way it is connected. Anybody know what this particular model uses (Dell XPS M1530, either PCI-E or USB 2.0)? Has anybody ever used a SSD expresscard or a regular hard drive? Thanks so much for your help.
     
    foldog22, Jan 28, 2010
    #1
  2. brncao

    brncao Notebook Evangelist

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    Of course! Buy an eSata expresscard and you're set. Buy any hard drive that has an eSata. Either an external hard drive w/ eSata or an internal hard drive + enclosure or docking station w/ eSata. The external hard drive (I have a 3.5" hdd in a docking station) beats the heck out of my two internal 2.5" sata hdd. I could even run Windows or Linux on there externally, but I chose to use it as a storage and backup.
     
    brncao, Jan 28, 2010
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  3. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    You could also buy an ExpressCard attached SSD. They work just like hard drives, and they'll be just as fast. The limiting factor will be the SSD itself, not the connection. ExpressCard is essentially a direct PCIe connection.
     
    Pitabred, Jan 29, 2010
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  4. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    Note that there are two ExpressCard standards: USB and PCIe.

    Make sure the SSD ExpressCard is PCIe based or you're basically buying a very expensive (and slow) USB key. ;)
     
    tilleroftheearth, Jan 29, 2010
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  5. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

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    Words of wisdom^^, although I use my expresscard slot for ventilation/dust specimen collection.
     
    H.A.L. 9000, Jan 29, 2010
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  6. Fintan

    Fintan Notebook Consultant

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    Acquired a simple expresscard with a four port USB hub inside some time ago.
    It's basically a dockingstation now... saves me the trouble of connection those cables all the time.
    Best use I can imagine for the expresscard slot. Practical and cheap.

    Expresscard storage is way too expensive. Compared to SSDs that is.
     
    Fintan, Jan 29, 2010
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  7. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    48gb expresscard filemate go.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Jan 29, 2010
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  8. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    tilleroftheearth, Jan 29, 2010
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