The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    What kind of port/slot is this?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by EGOvoruhk, Jul 17, 2009.

  1. EGOvoruhk

    EGOvoruhk Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    My girlfriend gave me her old notebook (Acer Aspire 5601AWLMi), and I cracked it open to check out the memory situation, and found this empty port/slot. Does anyone know what it is?

    Thanks in advance

    [​IMG]
     
    EGOvoruhk, Jul 17, 2009
    #1
  2. tuηay

    tuηay o TuNaY o

    Reputations:
    492
    Messages:
    3,711
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Looks like another RAM - slot for me. Not quite sure...
     
    tuηay, Jul 17, 2009
    #2
  3. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,389
    Messages:
    10,552
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    Looks like DDR2 SO-DIMM slot. But it seems odd since it looks like you have 2 already on the top left. Try taking one stick out and see if it's compatible with that one?

    edit: Actually on further inspection, it's NOT a memory slot... I believe it's mini-PCI.
     
    sgogeta4, Jul 17, 2009
    #3
  4. EGOvoruhk

    EGOvoruhk Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    After lots and lots of Googling, it turns out it's a 124-pin Mini PCI slot

    Odd, because it already has a Mini PCI Express slot, which has the WiFi card. I guess I can use it for internal bluetooth, as the notebook has a bluetooth switch, but no actual hardware

    Does anyone know what else I could do with it? I was hoping it was a graphics slot of sorts, because it's got a GMA 950, and the manual listed multiple variations (Some with an ATI X1300)

    Edit: Okay, nevermind. I guess it's not for bluetooth, as there is another 8-pin spot elsewhere for a Bluetooth module. I'm still wondering what good this Mini PCI slot is though
     
    EGOvoruhk, Jul 17, 2009
    #4
  5. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    2,133
    Messages:
    6,399
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    206
    The Bluetooth module is pretty small, and would most likely be around the HDD compartment, if installed.

    The Mini-PCI Slot would most probably be for an Atheros Mini-PCI wireless card. Since you already have one installed in the mini-card slot, it was left empty.

    Since its the GMA950, the graphics controller is embedded inside the chipset which is soldered to the motherboard. So, there is no way of upgrading that.
     
    Andy, Jul 17, 2009
    #5
  6. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,389
    Messages:
    10,552
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    BAM! Hah, mini PCI just as I thought :)
     
    sgogeta4, Jul 17, 2009
    #6
  7. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    moral hazard, Jul 17, 2009
    #7