Mini PCI

Mini PCI is a standard for a computer bus for attaching peripheral devices to a computer motherboard and is an adaptation of the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus. It was designed for laptops and other small-footprint computer systems.

There are three card form factors: Type I, Type II, and Type III cards. The card connector used for each type include: Type I and II use a 100-pin stacking connector, while Type III uses a 124-pin edge connector, i.e. the connector for Types I and II differs from that for Type III, where the connector is on the edge of a card, like with a SO-DIMM. The additional 24 pins provide the extra signals required to route I/O back through the system connector (audio, AC-Link, LAN, phone-line interface). Type II cards have RJ11 and RJ45 mounted connectors. These cards must be located at the edge of the computer or docking station so that the RJ11 and RJ45 ports can be mounted for external access.

. Mini PCI cards support the CLKRUN# PCI signal used to start and stop the PCI clock for power management purposes. The standard size for Mini PCI cards is approximately 1/4 of their full-sized counterparts. Given that there is no external access to the card in the same manner that there is for desktop PCI cards, Mini PCI cards are generally limited in the functions they may perform. Mini PCI cards have a 2 W maximum power consumption, which also limits the functionality that can be implemented in this form factor.

Many Mini PCI devices are available today: Wi-Fi, Fast Ethernet, Bluetooth, modems (often Winmodems), sound cards, cryptographic accelerators, SCSI, IDE/ATA, SATA controllers and combos. Besides WLAN AP/routers and notebooks, wireless Mini PCI Modules can also be embedded in IP camera, STB, NAS, and IPC. A Mini PCI Wi-Fi card provides wireless functionality for certain routers and access points like the Linksys WRT54Gv1.

Regular PCI cards can be used with Mini PCI-equipped hardware and vice-versa, using Mini PCI-to-PCI and PCI-to-Mini PCI "converters".

With PCI being phased out in favor of PCI Express, Mini PCI is being replaced by PCI Express Mini Card.

External links

* [http://www.pcisig.com/specifications/conventional/mini_pci/ PCI-SIG Mini PCI]
* [http://www.pcisig.com/news_room/faqs#mini_pci Mini PCI FAQ]
* [http://www.interfacebus.com/MiniPCI_Pinout_124Pin.html Mini PCI Pinout]