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Can't find an Expresscard SSD? Convert to pcmcia -> M2 SSD only option?

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Wwuoo
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Can't find an Expresscard SSD? Convert to pcmcia -> M2 SSD only option?

#1 Post by Wwuoo » Sun Sep 06, 2020 3:35 am

Hello, so I have been searching for Expresscard SSDs but can't find a single product out to order, they seem scarce. I did however find an adapter to pcmcia, is there anything else that you can do with any of these older slots thats practical/'fun'? (no USB pls)

Also found this for making a pcmicia to an M2 slot but all that seems expensive!
https://thinkmods.store/collections/all ... me-adapter

Here's an Expresscard -> pcmcia
https://www.ebay.com/itm/373120453335

atagunov
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Re: Can't find an Expresscard SSD? Convert to pcmcia -> M2 SSD only option?

#2 Post by atagunov » Sun Sep 06, 2020 6:54 am

Wwuoo wrote:
Sun Sep 06, 2020 3:35 am
Also found this for making a pcmicia to an M2 slot but all that seems expensive!
https://thinkmods.store/collections/all ... me-adapter
Think this is our only chance to be inserting SSD-s into ExpressCard.

Please note that it connects a short M.2/PCI-Express SSD to PCI-Express line in the ExpressCard slot. You will notice that things are even more expensive when you see the very short list of SSD-s that match the description.
Wwuoo wrote:
Sun Sep 06, 2020 3:35 am
Here's an Expresscard -> pcmcia
https://www.ebay.com/itm/373120453335
Hmm.. Not sure how this helps. In fact the whole conversation of PCMCIA is it even relevant here?.. If you want something slow I think there was a way to use compact flash card in Thinkpads. Possibly even in CardBus or ExpressCard slot via an adapter. Also many thinkpads have got a slot to insert SD cards into.. It's slow but allows you to move files between Thinkpads
X220, 2 *T520

axur-delmeria
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Re: Can't find an Expresscard SSD? Convert to pcmcia -> M2 SSD only option?

#3 Post by axur-delmeria » Sun Sep 06, 2020 7:50 am

Quoted from the ebay link, emphasis mine:
Quickly and easily adapts ExpressCard/34 (USB-based) devices to work through your notebook's CardBus slot

Work with USB-based ExpressCard devices including broadband wireless modem (such as CDMA, EV-DO, GPRS, etc.), flash memory, flash cards adapters, security, legacy I/O(PS2, serial, parallel), optical disk drives, GPS receivers, and more..
I've yet to see a USB-based Expresscard device TBH.
Planned Purchase: T480s i5-8350 FHD Touch
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Re: Can't find an Expresscard SSD? Convert to pcmcia -> M2 SSD only option?

#4 Post by unixed » Sun Sep 06, 2020 9:46 am

axur-delmeria wrote:
Sun Sep 06, 2020 7:50 am
I've yet to see a USB-based Expresscard device TBH.
This is a means to avoid using the literally flaky USB ports on the W/T/R500 series; some if not all of the USB 2.0 cards are USB-based and one can boot from connected USB drives.

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Re: Can't find an Expresscard SSD? Convert to pcmcia -> M2 SSD only option?

#5 Post by atagunov » Sun Sep 06, 2020 10:21 am

Another point: think this doesn't give any speed advantage over SATA port on the same machine (over SATA II on T61 and over SATA III on newer hardware). But it does give you an extra drive and it does allow you to easily move it between Thinkpads. Of course it's just a pre-order so it's not clear when/if this device actually ships. But I think this is the only way and it doesn't look expensive to me for what a unique device this is. On the other hand I don't have that much need myself, I don't want to have more than 2 ssd-s per Thinkpad (normal SATA and internal mSATA) so I haven't ordered this device.
X220, 2 *T520

Wwuoo
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Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Re: Can't find an Expresscard SSD? Convert to pcmcia -> M2 SSD only option?

#6 Post by Wwuoo » Sun Sep 06, 2020 1:05 pm

I missed to inform it's regarding an X230.
Also ask mentioned in first post it doesn't have to storage, is there _anythlng_ fun you can do with the express card slot?
atagunov wrote:
Sun Sep 06, 2020 10:21 am
I think this is the only way

not expensieve
I thought the thinkmod kit was for pcmcia...
The whole setup seemed expensive, to me, regardless

https://www.google.com/search?q=Express ... sAWL56nPXM

https://dustinweb.azureedge.net/image/6 ... rd-ssd.jpg

The Expresscard SSDs do seem to exist even if the speeds might be lower the extra storage could be nice ~

Wwuoo
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Location: Stockholm, Sweden

Re: Can't find an Expresscard SSD? Convert to pcmcia -> M2 SSD only option?

#7 Post by Wwuoo » Sun Sep 06, 2020 5:30 pm

https://www.ebay.com/itm/HARD-TO-FIND-W ... OSwLOlfOvT~

There it is, seems like a unicorn this retro 128gb expresscard ssd 258 $

atagunov
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Re: Can't find an Expresscard SSD? Convert to pcmcia -> M2 SSD only option?

#8 Post by atagunov » Mon Sep 07, 2020 7:37 am

Wwuoo wrote:
Sun Sep 06, 2020 5:30 pm
https://www.ebay.com/itm/HARD-TO-FIND-W ... OSwLOlfOvT~
There it is, seems like a unicorn this retro 128gb expresscard ssd 258 $
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XVRTG1H 2Tb, $279 + this Thinkmod adapter.. I think it might actually work. If that's the price range we're looking at. Think there are cheaper versions of the SSD with smaller capacities
X220, 2 *T520

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