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    Expresscard problem

    Discussion in 'HP' started by w_rink_ly, Mar 30, 2008.

  1. w_rink_ly

    w_rink_ly Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hello,
    I hope this is the appropriate forum... I have been trying to find a solution for a long time to this problem but have failed thus far. I have a relatively new laptop (Compaq 8510w) and I have also recently purchased and received in the mail a creative soundcard: the x-fi notebook version. This card is an express54 card and it will not work with my current card reader which is a pcmcia reader (i am not sure about this - how to i confirm this?). Basically I would just like to get the card operational with minimal loss to quality etc. Whether it's an adapter or an entirely new reader that is installed I dont mind, but how exactly would I go about fixing this?

    Thanks, James
     
    w_rink_ly, Mar 30, 2008
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  2. kuncheesh

    kuncheesh Notebook Evangelist

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    kuncheesh, Mar 30, 2008
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  3. w_rink_ly

    w_rink_ly Notebook Enthusiast

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    Maybe you can direct me to a specific product? I looked at the site u gave me and i can only find adapters to connect pcmcia cards to laptops fitted with express34/54 slots. I do not have an express34/54 slot in my laptop...
     
    w_rink_ly, Mar 30, 2008
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  4. kuncheesh

    kuncheesh Notebook Evangelist

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    oops....... i am sorry i thought it was the other way around.....in my experience i have never come across a express to pcimca adapter......however try googling......will post if i find one
     
    kuncheesh, Mar 30, 2008
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  5. kuncheesh

    kuncheesh Notebook Evangelist

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    kuncheesh, Mar 30, 2008
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  6. w_rink_ly

    w_rink_ly Notebook Enthusiast

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    I think that must be the only available option, but i'd imagine that quality would be low... Am i right in saying that most laptops these days are coming fitted with expresscard slots?
     
    w_rink_ly, Mar 30, 2008
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  7. kuncheesh

    kuncheesh Notebook Evangelist

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    ^^ yes almost all laptops come these days fitted with an express card slot. express slot has a much higher bandwidth compared to PCMCIA slots. so u can connect PCIMCA cards to express slots with an adapter. however since an express card expects more bandwidth than a PCIMCA can provide u cannot use an adapter to plug it into the PCIMCA slot.
     
    kuncheesh, Mar 30, 2008
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  8. w_rink_ly

    w_rink_ly Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hmmm...ok well what do you think the odds of being able to get en expresscard reader installed to replace my current reader?
     
    w_rink_ly, Mar 30, 2008
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  9. kuncheesh

    kuncheesh Notebook Evangelist

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    i think thats impossible because the express card stuff is not a reader its a slot. this slot is soldered onto your motherboard and there is little hope that u can replace it well unless u r an engineer from texas instruments :)
     
    kuncheesh, Mar 30, 2008
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  10. w_rink_ly

    w_rink_ly Notebook Enthusiast

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    :( so I'll have to get a whole new laptop?
     
    w_rink_ly, Mar 30, 2008
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  11. kuncheesh

    kuncheesh Notebook Evangelist

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    no need u can use the USB to express card slot adapter...... however i wonder if it will give full performance of the express card (2.5 Gb/s). however u will be able to use the lower mode thru USB (480 Mb/s)which is enough for applications like a soundcard
     
    kuncheesh, Mar 30, 2008
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  12. w_rink_ly

    w_rink_ly Notebook Enthusiast

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    ok well thanks for the help!
     
    w_rink_ly, Mar 30, 2008
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  13. jerry66

    jerry66 Notebook Deity

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    you can use a docking station , i use express cardc with my 8510-p with en 489 and em 537 nas 3in 1 , both docks have express card slot , works very well . i picked up my dock on ebay for $75.00 nas for $130.00
     
    jerry66, Mar 30, 2008
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  14. w_rink_ly

    w_rink_ly Notebook Enthusiast

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    hmmmm i guess i could do that, but doesnt that defeat the purpose completely? portability etc?
     
    w_rink_ly, Mar 30, 2008
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  15. jerry66

    jerry66 Notebook Deity

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    yes , but with one dock at the office and one at home I'm okay . don't really need the express card on the road , but that is just my sittuation .
     
    jerry66, Mar 30, 2008
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  16. w_rink_ly

    w_rink_ly Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ok, it seems that if I want to have a laptop with an expresscard slot and maintain portability, I'm going to have to opt for a new laptop. So I am considering selling my current one and purchasing a different more suitable one. However I have not been able to find one that suits me. Here are the specs for my current laptop:

    hp Notebook - 8510w, Intel Core 2 Duo T7700 (2.4G), 2048MB DDRII 667MHz 1 DIMM, 120 GB 7200rpm, LightScribe DVD+/-RW DL SuperMulti - Fixed, 15.4 WUXGA WVA, NVIDIA Quadro FX 570M 256MB, 802.11a/b/g, BT, FBR, Windows Vista Business, 3-3-0


    I'm looking for basically the exact same thing but with an expresscard slot. Also note that I live in South Africa so I can't customize my notebook like you can in the US. Does anybody have any ideas?
     
    w_rink_ly, Apr 1, 2008
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