Soldering an Adapter on a Mini PCI-E Slot - Laptop Mod

[NoN]

Here the Scheme and Table to solder an Adapter to an empty Mini Pci-E Slot in intend to put a 3G card...or another kind of Mini Pci-E card:

-Mini Pci-e to Intel Turbo Memory Card (robson),
-Mini Pci-e to Crystal HD Decoder Card,
-Mini Pci-e to SSD Compact Flash Card,
-Mini Pci-e to SSD Card,
-Mini Pci-e to Tv Tuner FM Card,
-Mini Pci-e to 3G (WWAN) Card,
-Mini Pci-e to Wifi (WLAN) Card,
-Mini Pci-e to Wifi & Bluetooth Combo Card,
-Mini pci-e to mini GPS Card.
-Mini pci-e to HD Video Blu-Ray Card

That's the job i gave myself to do soon on a spare slot. First, to grab that spare slot. Bought today in HK for 2,00$ each adapter (took 2 in case!)
And the flat (x2) Tyco Antenna 60cm cables for 6,50$ near me home.

As you see, many solutions are offered to you.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
The Mini-PCI Express 52-pin connector pin out is listed below.
Verify the pin out table for errors.

MiniCard Pinout

Pin # Signal Name Pin # Signal Name
51 Reserved 52 +3.3V
49 Reserved 50 GND
47 Reserved 48 +1.5V
45 Reserved 46 LED_WPAN#
43 Reserved 44 LED_WLAN#
41 Reserved 42 LED_WWAN#
39 Reserved 40 GND
37 Reserved 38 USB_D+
35 GND 36 USB_D-
33 PETp0 34 GND
31 PETn0 32 SMB_DATA
29 GND 30 SMB_CLK
27 GND 28 +1.5V
25 PERp0 26 GND
23 PERn0 24 +3.3Vaux
21 GND 22 PERST#
19 Reserved (UIM_C4) 20 Reserved
17 Reserved (UIM_C8) 18 GND

Mechanical Key

15 GND 16 UIM_VPP
13 REFCLK+ 14 UIM_RESET
11 REFCLK- 12 UIM_CLK
9 GND 10 UIM_DATA
7 CLKREQ# 8 UIM_PWR
5 Reserved 6 1.5V
3 Reserved 4 GND
1 WAKE# 2 3.3V.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Check before the Mini pci-E Adapter to be either 40mm or 30 mm, 52 pins.

Some info here:
http://wapedia.mobi/en/PCI_express

 

[NoN]

Soldering a SSD1 Slot - Laptop Mod

Again i gave myself another job to do...Why not use that second spare slot for extra storage or another matter using the SSD Technology.
At the moment, looking for the Table & Scheme for the mini slot SSD1, 22 pins Adapter.

Maybe this will help some:

http://www.integralmemory.com/downloads/infosheet/Integral%20SSD%20SATA%20&%20USB%20datasheet.pdf

http://www.sandisk.com/media/490530/sandisk_g3_ssd_product_manual.pdf


But still looking for that mini SSD1 connector Table & Scheme for a 3,3v 1,8" SSD1 slot....

How do you know you have spare slots? :

Install the "Intel Rapid Storage Technology" v9.6.0.1014 driver (for those on intel) and open the Application (see screenshot).

 

[NoN]

Soldering Tools & Other

I've found that a Max of 40W Ac/230v (450°C) Soldering Crayola Pen, is far enough for the motherboard to handle solder parts...! Better a 15-30W/230v one (250°C - 300°C) as i bought.

Grab aswell an Anti-Statics Bracelet for very cheap around....

 

[divingduo]

Apologies for digging up an old thread.

NoN, great post. I am looking to do the exact same thing as you. And searching for a source to purchase the mini pcie slot I came across your thread.

Where did you purchase the mini pcie slots to be soldered onto the motherboard?

Or does anyone have any links to where you can purchase them?

I've tried a bunch of sites including google, bing, buy and am still coming up empty.

Thanks!

 

[wonderin5670]

Hi, I came across the post the same way you did.

Found the sockets on eBay.....

DIY any Notebook Mini PCI-Express card Socket/Slot | eBay

wonderin5670

 

[NoN]

@divingduo & @wondering5670,

I bought from those seller: rexchg and justopeshop

the first one is based in HK and the second in UK, took two pieces each in case as they're so cheap.

Take mention of the size of the mini Pci-E mounted on yours: 30mm, 40mm or 50mm long

Check before the Mini pci-E Adapter to be either 40mm or 30 mm, 52 pins.

The hardest part is not soldering...is unmounting the laptop properly without statics the parts you need to access.
Those have to be unmounted from each other to prevent damage on the others one when soldering.
Just lay a white blanket and put the pieces in order how you unmounted them.

Here some examples for Tool-kit for Laptops that can be found.

PS: Welcome both to Sevenforums!

 

[divingduo]

I also found an ebay seller "pridopia" in the UK. I ordered 2 for cheap, and the seller also has cheap shipping. They arrived in the US quick, about 5 days. Great seller.

1. Is there any way to tell the actual schematic of a mini PCIe slot? I know some only have USB lines ran to them, and some have both USB and PCIe lines. So can you test a pin or ? to see what types of mini PCIe cards the socket can support?

2. After soldering on the mini PCIe socket, I put my netbook back together. Put a 802.11n mini PCIe card into the freshly soldered mini PCIe socket, booted the netbook and the O/S detected it, loaded the drivers and showed that it was installed and functioning correctly. But I could not find any wireless networks, not even from 5 feet away. It seemed like the socket wasn't getting enough power. Any ideas on this?

And here's some good reading:

Modding the Acer Aspire One – HSDPA « tnkgrl Mobile

Quote: "Solder the mini-PCIe connector. By default there’s no power to the connector until you install this jumper."

 

[NoN]

After having soldered the connector, have you also soldered that part to fix it, that need to touch the card to Ground.

maybe ask here

 

[jettraill]

I see this thread is a little dated but...
I got the notion I wanted to add backlit keyboard option to my Toshiba a660, looks simple enough, but the spare mPCI-E blank solder location is directly next to the blank connection for backlit keyboard. Not I am less interested in the keyboard and thinking SSD or USB3 mPCI-E card upgrade.
I am hoping to find somebody who has some info on this, the old links on this page are long since dead..

 

[bkarpu]

I see this thread is a little dated but...
I got the notion I wanted to add backlit keyboard option to my Toshiba a660, looks simple enough, but the spare mPCI-E blank solder location is directly next to the blank connection for backlit keyboard. Not I am less interested in the keyboard and thinking SSD or USB3 mPCI-E card upgrade.
I am hoping to find somebody who has some info on this, the old links on this page are long since dead..

I was wondering the same thing for my HP Mini 110-3100ca.