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.

    usb 3.0 on i5 x220

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by silv3rskeeter, Jul 18, 2011.

  1. silv3rskeeter

    silv3rskeeter Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    silv3rskeeter, Jul 18, 2011
    #1
  2. talin

    talin Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    4,694
    Messages:
    5,343
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    205
    It's a more expensive upgrade, but may I ask why you didn't just opt for the i7 model? It comes with a USB 3.0 port.
     
    talin, Jul 18, 2011
    #2
  3. silv3rskeeter

    silv3rskeeter Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    The i7 upgrade would've cost an extra 100 at least I believe and I was reading that you couldn't install msata ssd with i7 so I just stayed away. I did a bit of cost calculations with the upgrade prices and benchmark test and the 2520 seemed like it was most bang for Buck. And now that I see this card for 15 on ebay that will give me 2x usb 3.0 slots that's awesome. Just hope it works.
     
    silv3rskeeter, Jul 18, 2011
    #3
  4. IT_SUX_OFTEN

    IT_SUX_OFTEN Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    IT_SUX_OFTEN, Jul 18, 2011
    #4
  5. lpfan41k

    lpfan41k Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    not sure if anyone else is having this issue, but I bought this card and it did not work on my x220 and moreover it fits REALLY tight in my slot. I have to use pliers to get it out because it seems that my expresscard slot spring is less than great. I'm getting a 34 expresscard this week to see if maybe that would work better. It really sucks as everything else has been perfect with this laptop.
     
    lpfan41k, Jul 18, 2011
    #5
  6. david1274

    david1274 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    22
    Messages:
    631
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30

    Which card?
     
    david1274, Jul 18, 2011
    #6
  7. lpfan41k

    lpfan41k Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    the one in the OP's post
     
    lpfan41k, Jul 18, 2011
    #7
  8. david1274

    david1274 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    22
    Messages:
    631
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    david1274, Jul 18, 2011
    #8
  9. lpfan41k

    lpfan41k Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    lpfan41k, Jul 18, 2011
    #9
  10. c17chief

    c17chief Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    126
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Yeah that is pretty interesting. Wonder if the card is a little out of spec or possibly something a little off with the notebook. I use a 54mm smart card reader in mine (not the lenovo option) and it fits perfectly fine.
     
    c17chief, Jul 18, 2011
    #10
  11. lpfan41k

    lpfan41k Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    My 34 usb 3.0 expresscard just came in and it works great! Haven't tried.taking it out but it seems pretty tight as it doesn't pull out when I remove a usb device. It seems the problem was my previous expresscard itself and not my slot! Usb 3.0 speeds are probably around 50mb/s to 80mb/s depending on what i'm transferring as of now which is pretty much what my external is labelled as being capable of.

    With regards to just leaving the expresscard in the slot all the time, does that have any effect on my battery life? or should I just take it out whenever I'm not using it?
     
    lpfan41k, Jul 20, 2011
    #11
  12. muntuman

    muntuman Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    muntuman, Jul 20, 2011
    #12
  13. lpfan41k

    lpfan41k Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I feel unless you really need 2 ports, then you ought to get the 1 port 34 because the 54 needs a power usb cord which will take up another usb slot anyways and its just a pain in the but. Also, if it is a really tight fit then you'll probably need pliars to get the 54 out, unlike the 34 which is super easy. Damn my expresscard slot for being so tight! :mad: - no jokes please!!!
     
    lpfan41k, Jul 20, 2011
    #13
  14. zerius

    zerius Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    25
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    zerius, Jul 20, 2011
    #14
  15. david1274

    david1274 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    22
    Messages:
    631
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    david1274, Jul 20, 2011
    #15
  16. vinuneuro

    vinuneuro Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    486
    Messages:
    2,232
    Likes Received:
    25
    Trophy Points:
    66
    vinuneuro, Jul 20, 2011
    #16
  17. david1274

    david1274 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    22
    Messages:
    631
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Really?

    Are these cards the next version of Expresscard that makes use of the x220's Sata bandwidth?
     
    david1274, Jul 21, 2011
    #17
  18. lpfan41k

    lpfan41k Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    27
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I'd like to know that as well, but my guess is probably no if the card itself is also a restrictive component. There probably aren't enough expresscard 2.0 computers out there yet.
     
    lpfan41k, Jul 21, 2011
    #18
  19. atticus182

    atticus182 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    211
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I have a question...

    When I boot with my NEC usb 3.0 expresscard in my X220, It can't go pass the BIOS. The screen stay black and nothing happens.

    What can I do?

    Also, I tried my USB 3.0 external 7200rpm HDD and I obtained about 105mb/s. Is it good?? Do I have 5gt/s bandwidth?

    Thanks
     
    atticus182, Jul 22, 2011
    #19
  20. GomJabbar

    GomJabbar Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    208
    Messages:
    290
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    31
    erik, a moderator that is pretty knowledgeable on all things ThinkPad stated on one of these forums he does not believe the ExpressCard slot is bootable (paraphrasing here).
     
    GomJabbar, Jul 22, 2011
    #20