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).
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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.