PC Card gives way to ExpressCard

PC Card gives way to ExpressCard.


Developed in 2005, the ExpressCard has become an industry standard, replacing the PCMCIA card. This next generation standard keeps the benefits of I/O cards with the added benefits of being smaller and faster, suited to mobile and desktop systems, support of USB 2.0, 3.0 and PCI Express applications, lower power requirements, and lower implementation costs. It is estimated that approximately 95% of the mobile market is utilizing the ExpressCard technology over that of the older PC Cards.

How does the ExpressCard evolve and compare to the PC CardWhat is the ExpressCard?
The original PC Cards were released in 16-bit and later 32-bit cardbus designs. They allowed  mobile computers additional connectivity with different I/O devices such as USB, FireWire, Ethernet, RS232, and more. The ExpressCard has overtaken the PCMCIA CardBus. The major difference is the Express Card has a higher bandwidth than the PCMCI Card. This is due to the direct connection to the system bus over the PCI Express lane and USB 2.0, while CardBus cards only interface with PCI. What this means is that an ExpressCard can have a maximum throughput of 250 MBps and 480 Mbpsthrough USB 2.0. The PC Cards have a shared total of 1.06 Gbps, far slower than the ExpressCard.

The ExpressCard operates at 1.5V or 3.3V; the PCCard operates at 3.3V to 5.0V, making the Express Cardfar more efficient. Other advantages over the PC Card include lower costs, better scalability, and better integration with motherboard chipset technology than Cardbus. PCMCIA devices can be connected to an ExpressCard slot via an adapter.

What other Form Factors are there for the ExpressCard?
There are two form factors for the ExpressCard, ExpressCard/34 and ExpressCard/54 -  The ExpressCard/34 is 34mm broad and ExpressCard/54 is 54mm broad in an L-shape —the connector is the same on both (breadth 34 mm). Compared to the standard PCMCIA cards that are 75 mm wide the ExpressCards are smaller in design. Adapters are available to allow for PC Cards to be used in ExpressCard slots, as well as adapters that will allow ExpressCards to be used in a standard PC Card slot.

How widely supported is the ExpressCard?
Almost all major PC and main board manufacturers are incorporating the ExpressCard into their laptop and even desktop designs. This is partly because the cost of implementing the ExpressCard is lower than that of the PC Card. Industry leaders such as Intel, AMD, NVidia, SanDisk, Texas Instruments, and others are all ExpressCard Executive Members and there are far more affiliate members. This means that there is more of a push by the top industry producers to implement this technology. As more laptops are being built with only ExpressCard buses, more adapters will be used to keep older PC Cards working. There will also be an increase in the sales of ExpressCard connections, from USB, Ethernet, Serial, FireWire, and more.

More of the market is being taken over by the ExpressCard bus than in previous years. It is making its way into the marketplace as new laptops and netbooks replace existing systems. 80% of all mobile computers will have this bus technology by the end of 2009, making it a prime market for companies selling ExpressCards and the related adapters.