Will PCMIA card work in PCI-Express Slot

I am looking at a laptop that has a PCI-Express card slot. I wondered if a PCMIA card will work? AW Area 51 m5700 (no comments about AW I have already heard it all before no sense in beating a DEAD Horse)

Most wifi Cards and Soundblaster cards are PCMIA (right?) espicially the good wifi cards like Orinoco and others. I don't want to end up with a lap top that will not work with these cards.

Thanks

If I posted this in the wrong section please move and sorry ahead of time.

 

I've heard some of the users with the Inspiron 9400/E1705 have the same problem, and they ordered the sound card. It wouldn't fit or work properly, but this is just observations from the dell forum.

 

hmm...I thought PCMIA and PCI-Express were exactly the same thing. I'm confused, or aren't they???

Are PCI Express cards like "Mini PCI" Cards where you open up a cover on the bottom of your laptop and slot in the PCI card with pins like slotting in RAM?

 

Lil mayz - they may very well be that exact same thing? I am not sure that is why I wanted to ask?

If PCMIA and PCI-Express are the same thing I need to know. If that is so and somone is sure please let me know.

Thanks

 

I just talked with AW via the live sales chat and was told the m5700 had both PCI-Express and PCMIA slot. I think this is wrong, my fist bad experience with AW. NO comments please I have heard it all before, some of us just have to learn the hard way!!

Chaz, what about it, will a PCMIA card work in a PCI-Express slot

Thanks again

 

ExpressCard technology is the name of a new standard introduced by PCMCIA in spring 2003.The ExpressCard standard was created by a broad coalition of PCMCIA member companies, including Dell, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Intel, Lexar Media, Microsoft, SCM Microsystems and Texas Instruments. PCMCIA developed the new standard with assistance from the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF*) and the PCI-SIG* (Peripheral Component Interconnect-Special Interest Group). PCMCIA is a non-profit trade association founded in 1989 to establish technical standards for PC Card technology and to promote interchangeability among computer systems.

ExpressCard technology draws upon many of the features of existing PC Card technology. There are also significant differences between the two.

1. Size. ExpressCard modules are roughly half the size and lighter.
2. Speed. ExpressCard modules are capable of speeds up to 2.5X faster than CardBus and 40X faster than 16-bit I/O PC Cards (depending on the application).
3. Design. ExpressCard standard takes advantage of recent technology advancements to simplify the design and eliminate the need for a controller.
Ease of use. The modules are hot-swappable between mobile and desktop systems.
4. Power. ExpressCard modules require less power.

The two technologies are not compatible. The decision was made to take advantages of advances in technology to simplify the design. The speed and size of the new ExpressCard design outweighed the backward compatibility issues.

 

LOL, i was just doing the same think as onick did.

http://www.pcmcia.org/faq.htm has more information on it, but like Onick said, they are not compatible.

The complaints that i've seen is that the card will not even fit the slot. There was some mention on pcmcia about a possible adapater coming out, but from the sounds of the article, that is something that will happen in the future.

 

Thanks for the info onick, I appreciate that. Knew someone here would have extensive knowledge on this.

So do you think I will be able to get a soundblaster card in PCI-Express soon? What about an Orinoco wifi card?
Please let me know if you do not see these people making these new products as it will affect my decision, I want to be albe to wardrive and don't thinkg I will have much luck with the internal wifi.


Thanks again onick

 

The new express slot is suppose to become more widely accepted, so most manufacturers should start making express cards soon.

I would assume that Creative will release a Sound Blaster card, and wifi cards will start showing up - I'm just not sure when it will happen. I've tried looking for express cards, but haven't had much luck. Here are some cards:
http://www.expresscard.org/web/site/cons_wtb.jsp

 

expresscard.org is a great site to read up on how it all works.

please remember that expresscard is a module/interface standard, and supports USB 2.0 and PCI-Express interface cards. "Expresscard" is not in any way equivalent to "pci-express", but rather uses pci-express as a bus.

 

Thanks ya'll.
I do appreciate the help and now I understand! I hate it but that means I must rule out one of the laptops I was looking at that I really liked but now my decision is easier.

Thanks again for all the info ya'll have been a great help

Scott

 

I don't think there will be an adapter, it doesn't make sense any more than you would have an AGP-PCIExpress adapter for video cards - you'll upgrade your external cards for your laptop just as you would your internal video cards when you went to a new desktop motherboard.

Some of the larger laptops are equipped with PCMCIA and ExpressCard slots, however, if you are looking at using PCMCIA until the ExpressCard modules are more available.

 

i do hope creative comes up with a pc express sound card sooon that would just be soo great

 

It is a little frustrating if you've spent money on a PCMCIA card and now only have the expresscard slot. I guess our best shot is to sell the old cards and wait for new ones.

 

I just bought the PCMCIA Audigy2 Notebook for $24 at Office Depot. I did this even though I have the e1705 with expresscard. Seemed like too good a deal to pass up.