Express card to PCMCIA adapter

Spiritos

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Jun 19, 2013
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I have a Dell Latitiude E5500 with a PCMCIA slot and I bought a Delock Express firewire Card: http://www.delock.de/produkte/F_259_FireWire_61389/merkmale.html

Now I'm wondering if I can use this adapter to have it fill my PCMCIA slot: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-ExpressCard-Express-Card-34mm-to-PCMCIA-PC-Card-CardBus-Adapter-for-Laptop-/230846578769?ssPageName=ADME:X:AAQ:GB:1123

I don't know if my PCMCIA slot needs to have a 32 or 54 pin connector and the specs on the adapter are a bit vague where it comes to supporting PCI-e and USB driven expresscards.

Any knowledgeable people that can help me out?
 
Solution

Spiritos

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Come on.. no one has an answer?

I posted this question on 3 tech sites and no one has a clue?
On the other fora some people even were unaware of the very existence of an adapter. Is there so little knowledge left about PCMCIA or laptops in general?
 

steveowashere

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PCMCIA cards are pretty old, they were superseded by express card in 2003... so that's probably why no one knows anything about them.

I'm not sure how to find which type of slot you have, I looked at the Dell Service manuals and I can't find out. One other way to check, would be to turn the laptop on the side and look into the PCMCIA slot with a flashlight, and.. count. That's fastest and easiest way to tell.
 

Spiritos

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Ah, that's as brilliant as it is simple. Didn't think of that one :)
As I counted three times I came to 34 pins. I suppose that would be 32 and a mild eye correction. So that's one down!

The expresscard can't be PCIe based since as far as I know this is only for desktops. Why it is USB-based I don't know but I suppose that's the only option left. Would you agree then it's a fairly safe bet the adapter is compatible?
 

steveowashere

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According to Wikipedia, the host supports PCI Express and USB 2.0. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ExpressCard#Standards ) But it doesn't say if it's only for desktops, so i'm unsure. But with that being said i would have to agree that the adapter would be compatible. If not, return it to the seller and then you're only out £3 or £4 for shipping.
 
Solution

Spiritos

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I suppose so. However I'm looking at the specs of the DELL E5500 again and it reads it supports PC cards type I/II but it doesn't state it supports PC Express cards. Aaargh! Anyway, as no one really can tell the only proof in the pudding is in eating it so I might as well take the chance. Tnx!

Update: It works just fine.