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Mini PCI Slot

post #1 of 17
4/15/08 at 9:36am
Thread Starter 
Hi

Could anyone tell me what a mini PCI slot is and does please? I just got another 1Gb Samsung RAM for my Aspire 5610 (AS5613AWLMi) cause I thought the spare slot was for RAM and the guy I got the RAM from off of eBAy now says its a mini PCI slot! I will keep the spare RAM for emergencies but being the 'divvy' I am, I have not the fogiest idea what a Mini PCI slot is or does? Can anyone help please? Thanks in advance if you can.
Regards
Mike UK
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post #2 of 17
4/15/08 at 7:11pm
mini pci can be for whatever cards they make. typically though it is used for the wireless card, then 2nd most common would be tv tuners
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post #3 of 17
4/15/08 at 9:24pm
Thread Starter 
OK thanks MichelleG! My lappie has built in wifi already but a TV tuner would be good? However, seeing as the slot is really right in the middle of the mobo, I cannot see how i would be able to connect an aerial co-ax cable to it or whatever cable it may need? I dont think I have a TV outlet socket on the laptop although there is a small yellow multi-pin socket for something like DVI or something like that (whatever that may be)? Not too good with this I am afraid? I think that could be for connecting a TV lead to though, once a mini PCI tuner card is installed? Not its going to be a real problem trying to sort out exactly which one it will take? God! I hate computers! LOL! Can't live without one though? Thanks again.

Regards
Mike UK
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post #4 of 17
4/15/08 at 11:56pm
If you already have Wireless then it occupies mini-PCI or mini-PCI-E (PCI-Express) slot that your laptop has. So that slot in the center is most likely a memory slot. Your laptop does have two RAM slots. Did you buy proper/compatible memory DIMM stick?
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post #5 of 17
4/16/08 at 3:54am
Most likely he sold you an Intel Robson cache memory module. The memory module is used with Vista and Santa Rosa chipset laptops to speed up disk caching. It may or may not work with your laptop, but since you already bought it, you might as well try it out in your empty mini PCI slot, if you dont have an empty mini PCI slot then the card will be useless for you.

If you want to expand your system memory then you need to buy an SODIMM memory module that will work in your model laptop. SODIMM's come in a variety of speeds; you will need to find out what SODIMM standard your laptop supports. If you have a users manual it should specify it there, or check Acer's page for specs or a downloadable users manual.
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post #6 of 17
4/16/08 at 8:06am
Just go to Crucial.com and insert your computer model and it will tell you everything about the type of memory your computer takes
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post #7 of 17
4/16/08 at 11:09am
If there is a second mini-PCI slot, it should be mini-PCI-E slot. I've never heard of 15-inch laptops with 2 mini-PCI slots, but some latest models do come with 2 mini-PCI-E slots, second being used for that Robson cache module as Starcub correctly noted. mini-PCI-E connector is a short one - about 1 inch. mini-PCI is about 2 inches. RAM slots are 2.5 inches or so in length approximately from what I could gather. The key/notsch on the mini-PCI slot is much closer to one side while on RAM slot it's closer to the center.
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post #8 of 17
4/16/08 at 11:35am
Thread Starter 
Yes thats the one! Its def not a RAM slot as I tried RAM in it and its just too small. This is a picture of the mobo that the guy I bought the Laptop from sent me, asking where the slot was (I thought he at least should have known seeing as he sold it to me?) And yes again, the notch is more to the right and not more centred as wtih RAM slots. The slot I am on about is the one just below the big yellow (or gold) thingy with the blue tick on it. I don't know if you can actually see it in this picture but there is definately a slot there and it ain't for RAM as you can see the only two RAM slots it has on the left of the picture with 2 x PC2 4200 modules in them. They are the only two RAM slots but what this thing is, is anybodys guess? I hope this helps and thank you all for you assistance. Mike UK

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/6...5610pm1vy1.jpg
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post #9 of 17
4/16/08 at 1:49pm
Interesting. Allow me some speculation. It might be PCI-E x16 for a model with nVidia card in MXM module. They'd just create a unified motherboard layout and not use that slot when graphics is not nVidia. Why am I suggesting it? That chip next to processor seems like built-in graphics (guessing this laptop has Intel X3100 in it) and would interfere with anything you woud try to plug into empty slot in the center.

The slot is definitely not RAM as there are two RAM slots (overlaying) clearly visible. And you can see Wi-Fi in mini-PCI-E slot in the corner.

Oh, and if that slot is PCI-E x16, you won't be able to use it, unfortunately.
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post #10 of 17
4/16/08 at 3:06pm
On my machine (5610Z or 5610-2013) that slot has a US WI-FI card. Is is possible the UK or a later version uses the PCI-e slot? and mine uses the mini-pci?

Evil Minion
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post #11 of 17
4/16/08 at 6:27pm
ok, here is the deal. thanks to the pic.

the "slot" below your heatsink (yellow (or gold) thingy) is just your normal mini-pci slot.
However, on your mainboard doesn't actually have the slot, just a place where you would put the slot on the mainboard.

the other slot with your wireless card and wires plugged into it is a MiniCard. It is a different format, obviously, and can either be a 1x pci-e lane, or usb 2.0 based.

Some boards of the 5610 actually have both slots available for use, but it looks like they left the connector off on this version.

so, there you have it. won't be able to plug anything into it.
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post #12 of 17
4/17/08 at 5:24am
Thread Starter 
The picture of the mobo I posted (as I said), was not a picture of my motherboard! It was just a picture the guy who sold me the machine sent me because he was as confussed about this bloody slot as we all are, so he obviously had never looked inside the damned thing? There is definately a slot (like a RAM slot) below that yellow thingy! But it doesnt show it in the picture I posted here. Bigger than a RAM slot and the nipple thingy that the card slots into is more to one side than more centred as in a RAM module. I am meeting my mum today for lunch but as soon as I get back, I wll rip the bloody laptop to pieces, take a picture of my motherboard and prove a point. LOL! This is the actual machine and basic specs from Amazon UK although the guy actually got it fro eBuyer UK last August 2007. Cheers anyway!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AS5613AWLMi-...ta/B000P1QE54/
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post #13 of 17
4/17/08 at 11:29am
Thread Starter 
This is my actual motherboard with the slot that doesn't exist! Well I can certainly see some form of slot there. What it is or what it's for, then maybe now you have all seen it, then perhaps soembody will now know? And I can't see a computer manucturer putting something on a motherboard that doesn't work or is inactivated, as why put it there in the first place? Cheers for all you good and kind help! Mike. UK




Sorry the pics a bit on the small side but never used ImageShack before as is painfully obvious!
Will try and put a bigger pic on?
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post #14 of 17
4/17/08 at 11:42am
Thread Starter 
This could be considerably bigger?

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/7440/p4170005zb1.jpg

A definate slot of some sort?
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post #15 of 17
4/17/08 at 4:39pm
Perfect picture! I can now see that it is definitely mini-PCI, no doubt at all.
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post #16 of 17
4/17/08 at 9:31pm
Thread Starter 
Well thank goodness we have that one sorted out once and for all? Thanks DeathAcer! I was beginning to think I was going a bit doolaly and seeing things? But if someone with a nickname like DeathAcer says thats what it is that, then thats what it is! LOL! Thank you so much again! It's just a shame that Acer never mention it in the destruction manual? Typical Acer! They never are much cop with type of thing? They think that everyone who buys a PC or laptop, is an expert and knows all about them? So the next question would be: What the hell do I do with it? I have built-in wireless so I don't (think) I need that? But somebody did mention a TV tuner card which would come in handy? But where on the laptop, would anything connect to it to get s signal or whatever? And if I could use a TV tuner, could you recommend a decent, reasonably priced one please? I am on dialysis, so don't have loads of dosh to fling around. LOL. Thank you agani for confirming this little problem for me. Cheers mate! Mike. UK
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post #17 of 17
4/18/08 at 10:57pm
you could connect a tv tuner to the mini-pci slot (if it was there). for the antenna you would just route some additional cables just like those attached to the wifi card.

Since you don't have the slot, i would look at the hauppage HVR-950, it's usb, receives analog and digital ATSC. works in the US, if your overseas I think they have a DVB-T one as well.

p.s. I found an Aspire 5630 that has both the minipci and the minicard slots. if you are looking to upgrade the mainboard, it would be possible. the 5610 and 5630 use the same chassis.
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