X301 - Half Mini PCI-E options?

[u751920]

Hi All,
While upgrading my RAM dimms to 8GB I noticed that the Half Mini PCI-E slot was not being used just wondered what the options for it are? I saw the Intel Half Turbo Memory 4GB cards, however when you are using an SSD will it make any difference? Are there any other options?
Thanks

[lead_org]

i dont think you suppose use the turbo memory when you have the ssd. Turbo memory in my opinion is just a waste of money, it was basically something that intel promoted to consumers get people hooked on real solid state drives.

[u751920]

In that case the only other thing I can see is this:

Half Mini pci-e type Broadcom BCM970015 Crystal Decoder

Has anybody tried this? Also as it's not official from Lenovo will it work? (did see someone has used them on an X61s)

[u751920]

The other thing I saw for the Half Mini PCI-E Card:

Was the 32GB SSD seen here
http://www.pc-titan.com/product_info.ph ... GFDL-.html

Has anybody tried this?
To be honest it does not look like Half Mini PCI-E.

Saw it here to : http://www.amazon.co.uk/32GB-SaberTooth ... B0020QHP3W

Here too: http://www.supertalent.com/products/ssd ... ini%20PCIe

[Roger99]

Why not just get a USB external drive? very cheap now and slips in the smallest pocket.

[siya-u]

Hello,

The half mini PCIe slot on X301 is especially for the Wireless USB card; the machine has the proper antenna setup to use with UWB (Ultra Wide Band) card.

Many sellers have the card listed on ebay, such as below:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ThinkPad-X200-X300- ... 450wt_1110

Note: There are only Windows Vista drivers for the card because the manufacturer stopped production&support of these UWB cards. However, drivers are compatible with Windows 7 OS.

[u751920]

Has anybody tried the Mini PCI-E SSD Cards? I believe there are also Half Mini PCI-E SSD cards.

Found Here
http://www.siliconmadness.com/2009/06/s ... e-ssd.html

http://www.amazon.co.uk/32GB-SaberTooth ... B0020QHP3W

http://www.supertalent.com/products/ssd ... ini%20PCIe

An alternative to the bay dilema?

[u751920]

I did consider the UWB option but I don't think I would ever use it. I know there are a few pieces of hardware that use it like the odd printer but not much else. Also I think it was never licenced in the UK so if I'm correct no hardware sold in the UK will support it.

[u751920]

Why not just get a USB external drive? very cheap now and slips in the smallest pocket.

I wish to carry around as few peripherals as possible, I want ultra-portable.

[lead_org]

The Intel 4500 MHD graphics card on the X301 can already handle 1080p decoding, so the broadcom decoder card is not really going to do anything for you.

The mPCIe can't be used as a mSATA slot and i am not sure whether it will work with non-Lenovo whitelisted cards.

[u751920]

Yeah I read that the 4500MHD already supports 1080p so I guess that rules the broadcom out.
UWB has no uses for me, it seems not to have gathered any pace yet.
I'm looking into an Intel Turbo Memory 4gb to use as a store for temp internet files and the such, saves read writes to the main SSD. It's an empty slot may as well use it.

Or alternatively I could replace my Intel 5300 mini PCIE card with an intel 6300 half mini PCIE card.
Thus leaving me a free mini PCIE slot!
Therefore what intersting thing can I have in a mini PCIE slot??

[lead_org]

WWAN/GPS card?

or a second wireless card if you have the free WWAN antenna.

[u751920]

I already have a WWAN&GPS card installed.

Is there a reason for having two wireless cards?
My 5300 has taken all three antenna's but just wondering the benefits of a second wireless card.

I think I'll give the 6300 wireless card a miss as not sure if BIOS will block it.
Has anybody tried the Intel Centrino Ultimate N6300 in an X301?

Leaving just the 4gb ITM card.

Found this website with a list of all PCIE adaptors.

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/MiniPCI_Express_slot

[u751920]

One other install option could be:

Half Mini PCIE Slot = Intel 6300 WiFi card

Mini PCIE Slot = TV tuner card

Has anybody put an Intel 6300 card into an X301?
Has anybody put a tv tuner into an X301?

[u751920]

Ok for all to know I have tried this card (double micro sd card reader) and I get the 1805 error "Unauthorized Wireless USB card is plugged in—Power off and remove the Wireless USB card.".


I also tried taping up pin 20 in a vain attempt to get it to work.
I'm not confident enough to modify the BIOS, anybody aware of other options?

[yozas]

The Intel 4500 MHD graphics card on the X301 can already handle 1080p decoding, so the broadcom decoder card is not really going to do anything for you.

I think you have missed the thing that card can also decode WMV9, DivX®, Xvid, and there are some retards around making HD 1080 videos in those formats and not in 264..

[sonysg]

any further updates on this thread?
Does that TVcard fit?

[u751920]

The Tv card will fit. The problem I had was that I would have to buy a new wifi card, my current one is a mini pcie size, such as the half mini pcie 6300N. This would free up a full mini pcie slot for the tv card.
In the end I just thought it was a bit too much hassle considering I hardly watch tv.

Shame to have an empty slot.

ps. if anybody is interested in the micro sd card reader let me know.

[sonysg]

The Tv card will fit. The problem I had was that I would have to buy a new wifi card, my current one is a mini pcie size, such as the half mini pcie 6300N. This would free up a full mini pcie slot for the tv card.
In the end I just thought it was a bit too much hassle considering I hardly watch tv.

Shame to have an empty slot.

ps. if anybody is interested in the micro sd card reader let me know.

Hi u751920, great to heard that work!
May i know the TV card brand and does it avaiable on ebay?
tend to buy one but doesn't know which wireless card is compatible with the use of wireless card?

TIA

[u751920]

Just to be clear I never tried the tv card.
I remember looking into the dimensions of the tv card and it would have fitted, if I had done it.
But as I said earlier I would have to buy a new wifi card as well - all too much hassle.

The tv card I was thinking of was similar to this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AVerMedia-A30 ... 2c55cfc061

Make sure you check the dimensions of the card!! You will need the half mini pcie wifi card too the 6300N such as this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Intel-Ultimat ... 5192ab3057

you must also check to see if it will pass the bios test.
Good Luck

[sonysg]

Just to be clear I never tried the tv card.
I remember looking into the dimensions of the tv card and it would have fitted, if I had done it.
But as I said earlier I would have to buy a new wifi card as well - all too much hassle.

The tv card I was thinking of was similar to this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AVerMedia-A30 ... 2c55cfc061

Make sure you check the dimensions of the card!! You will need the half mini pcie wifi card too the 6300N such as this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Intel-Ultimat ... 5192ab3057

you must also check to see if it will pass the bios test.
Good Luck

Hi u751920,
Thanks for the information, much appreciated!