Install and Configure Laptop Hardware and

 

Components

 

This section reviews expansion options for laptops as well as hardware and device replacement.

 

Expansion Options

 

The major expansion options available on any kind of laptop include ExpressCard and PCMCIA (PC Card, CardBus) slots, SODIMM memory modules, USB drives, and flash memory devices. Figure 3-1 illustrates these ports as well as a proprietary port for a docking station on a typical laptop.

 

Security Proprietary docking HDMI digital  
lock port station port A/V port ExpressCard expansion slot

 

 

VGA video port eSATA/USB flash memory
  2.0 combo port card reader slot
  Ethernet (RJ-45) port  

 

Figure 3-1 Expansion, security, video ports on a typical laptop.

 

 

ExpressCard

 

ExpressCard (a.k.a. Express Card) is the principle high-speed expansion slot on most late-model lap-tops. It connects via the PCIe (PCI Express) bus. ExpressCard /34 and /54 are used for adding high-speed ports and devices (FireWire, USB 3.0, eSATA, Gigabit Ethernet, TV tuners). ExpressCard is up to 2.5Ч faster than CardBus.

 

PCMCIA Card


 

PCMCIA cards fall into two categories: PC Card (16-bit) and CardBus (32-bit). These cards are the expansion buses used on older laptops. Laptops with CardBus slots can also accept PC Cards. These


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cards were used to add USB and FireWire ports, Wi-Fi wireless networking, Fast Ethernet net-working, and dial-up analog modems. Many PC Card and CardBus Type II cards used dongles (proprietary removable cable adapters) to connect to standard telephone, network, or other types of cables.

 

The most common thickness for PCMCIA cards is Type II. Thinner Type I cards were used pri-marily for additional RAM, and thicker Type III was used mainly for hard disks.

 

Figure 3-2 compares ExpressCards and CardBus cards to each other. A PC Card looks like a CardBus card, but doesn’t have a gold connector.

85.6mm

 

 

54mm CardBus

 

 

75mm

 

 

ExpressCard|54

 

54mm

 

 

  22mm
  75mm
34mm ExpressCard|34
Figure 3-2Visual comparison of CardBus, ExpressCard /54, and ExpressCard /34 cards.

 

 

SODIMM Memory Modules


 

Small outline DIMMs (SODIMMs) are used to expand memory in laptops. Laptops typically have two SODIMM slots, and recent laptops include DDR2 or DDR3 DIMMS (see Figure 3-3).


Chapter 3: Laptops 63

 

 

Figure 3-3 A DDR2 SODIMM (top) compared to a DDR3 SODIMM (bottom).

 

 

USB Drives

 

USB flash memory drives connect without difficulty to virtually any laptop’s USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 ports. However, some portable USB hard disks might require more power than a laptop’s USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 port can provide. Use a Y-cable to draw power from a second port as needed (see Figure 3-4).

USB Type A connector for power

 

USB 3.0 Mini-B device connector USB 3.0 Typa A connector for data

 

Figure 3-4 A USB 3.0 y-cable that provides extra power for a USB 3.0 portable hard disk.


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Flash Memory Modules

 

Typical laptops include a flash memory card reader for SD (Secure Digital) and SDHC (SD High Capacity) cards. Most also support Sony Memory Stick/Pro and Olympus/Fujifilm xD-Picture Card. Refer back to Figure 3-1 for a typical example.