MiniPCI Express slot

A MiniPCI Express slot is a version of the PCI-Express x1 slot for Notebooks.

• Wikipedia article on Mini PCI Express

NOTE!

There are two physical form factors, a standard 30×50.95 mm, and a half-height 30×26.8 mm. Which one fits depends on the slot.

Models featuring MiniPCI Express slots

• ThinkPad Edge 11", Edge 13", Edge 14", Edge 15"
• ThinkPad Template:L13, Template:L14, Template:L15, Template:L380, Template:L390, L410, L412, L420, L421, L430, L440, Template:L450, Template:L460, Template:L470, Template:L480, Template:L490, L510, L512, L520, L530, L540, Template:L560, Template:L570, Template:L580, Template:L590
• ThinkPad R60, R60e, R61, R61e, R61i, R400, R500
• ThinkPad SL300, SL400, SL400c, SL410, SL500, SL500c, SL510
• ThinkPad T60, T60p, T61, T61p, T400, T400s, T410, T410i, T410s, T410si, T500, T510, T510i
• ThinkPad W500, W510, W520, W530, W540, W541, W550s, W700, W700ds, W701, W701ds
• ThinkPad X60, X60s, X60 Tablet, X61, X61s, X61 Tablet, X100e, X200, X200s, X200 Tablet, X201, X201i, X201s, X201 Tablet, X220, X300, X301
• ThinkPad Z60m, Z60t, Z61e, Z61m, Z61p, Z61t

MiniPCI Express Adapters

WLAN

• Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Mini-PCI Express Adapter
• Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Mini-PCI Express Adapter
• Intel Wifi Link 5100 (AGN)
• Intel Wifi Link 5300 (AGN)
• Intel WiMAX/WiFi Link 5150
• Intel WiMAX/WiFi Link 5350
• Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1000
• Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200
• Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250
• Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300
• ThinkPad 11a/b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini Express Adapter
• ThinkPad 11a/b/g Wireless LAN Mini Express Adapter
• ThinkPad 11b/g/n Wireless LAN Mini-PCI Express Adapter II

WWAN

• Sierra Wireless MC5720 - EV-DO WWAN
• Sierra Wireless MC5725 - EV-DO WWAN
• Sierra Wireless HSDPA WWAN
• Ericsson F3507g Mobile Broadband Module
• Qualcomm Gobi 2000

Other

• Intel® Turbo Memory hard drive cache
• Wireless USB (UWB)

Compatibility

Designated slots

According to the design, each slot is intended for a specific purpose. In the X200 for example, the three slots are for:

• Wireless USB or the Intel SSD cache (half-length slot)
• WWAN 3G mobile phone network access (full-length)
• WLAN card (full-length)

The purpose of each slot decides over:

• antenna cable routing (or placement of other connectors)
• details of some pins of the MiniPCI Express connector
  • RF kill signal
  • LED signal lines
  • SIM card slot access

BIOS checks

The BIOS is know to check PCI IDs (via whitelist) and block the boot process if it’s not satisfied (1802 error). The details vary. Above mentioned hardware might only be accepted if it comes with one set of possible IDs (for Lenovo). The same hardware (from the driver’s viewpoint) is often also available with other IDs if it is sold though other channels. (see also Problem with unauthorized MiniPCI network card, 1802 with MiniPCIe on t60,same).

Non-official patched versions of BIOS files are available for X300, X61, X61s, T61, T61p, R61, R61e (and others, i did it to x60s) which remove whitelist restrictions allowing non-lenovo PCI-e devices.. (see forum post: Ultimate R61/T61/X61/X300 BIOS (inc SATA-II)

External sources

• Lenovo accessories guide.