Mini-PCI Card Types and Usage

Many recent notebook computers with built-in modem and network ports use a reduced-size version of the PCI add-on card standard known as mini-PCI to support these ports.

There are three major types of mini-PCI cards:

  • Type I

  • Type II

  • Type III

Type I and Type II cards use a 100-pin stacking connector that plugs directly into the system board. Type II cards, unlike Type I cards, have network or modem connectors built into the card. Type III, which uses an edge connector, has become the most popular of the three formats. Like Type I, Type III mini-PCI cards do not incorporate RJ-11 (modem) or RJ-45 (Ethernet network) connectors; Type I and Type III mini-PCI cards use modem and network connectors built into the system.

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