Let's figure out how to convert internal MXM connector an external PCI-E x16 box

[toshiki]

Thank you jamesbond007,
The link you provided lists mxm sockets sold by box (in bulk) and they look like this:
http://www.speedtech.com.tw/web/html...52880&lang=eng
or
http://www.twinner.com.tw/SearchProd...oduct_SN=59108

On the other hand i think i found the holy grail here:


Just need to get in touch with them...

[jamesbond007]

great job. this simplifies the job alot. No need to cut up the card itself (probably have to cut this one up though). Do inform when you contact the manufacturers regarding on how to purchase this product

[King of Interns]

007 is on the case

Can't wait to see the results of this development!

[jamesbond007]

any updates on the project

[jamesbond007]

any update on contact the distributor for the extender. Also any update on a possible design to try out. Haven't heard from you in awhile

[__-_-_-__]

wall text warning:

I'll assume we want to connect a desktop graphic card to a notebook and not to connect an external mxm graphic card to a notebook.

I don't want to disappoint you. but it won't work. I've thought A LOT about it since the mxm spec release.
I've tried many stuff too. I even got to the point of destroying a XGP cable and connector.
but yes it's a great idea.
but there are so many issues to solve...
anyway I would love to see someone soldering the wires to the connector. that would be awesome.

here some more stuff http://jae-connector.com/en/pdf/mess...0601DL1-en.pdf
1) anyway a XGP mod or wtver won't work because it has a special connector soldered to the motherboard.


2)and here's the solution:
http://www.pcisig.com/specifications...s/review_zone/
I would love to have a PCI-SIG login. I stoped there.

"PCI Express External Cabling" it's just what we need.
The other part it's easy. it's just to power a graphic card etc easy stuff. (assuming no bios issues)
I known I shouldn't be saying this here... but... I would love if someone hacked that site and get the specifications.

the only problem is to connect the mxm connector to the graphic card.
This external cabling or whatever have been around since 2007. there's no interest in developing it. (most of us known why)
anyway it's draft 3 now. (I assume 3 drafts) first draft was to pci-e 1.0. I known draft 2.0 was to pci-e 2.0. so I assume draft 3.0 will eventually be compatible with pci-e 3.0.
mxm also have this versions. there was a mxm 1.0 before and there's a 2.0 now. and there will be a 3.0 in the future.
the good news is that at least in desktops they are backward compatible.

the bad news in all this thing is that we all known that the MXM standard is not respected. we have many different flavours of mxm. clevo, dell etc. all incompatible.
so if this is going to work in any way it will be with a standard MXM slot.
and that's what makes this "project" a failure. or a dream.

we are trying to fight a multi billion dollar industry. notebook manufacturers don't was us to upgrade videocards. they would lose lot's of money. instead making us buy a new notebook every couple years it's much more profitable.
in fact the mxm standard was not even created for the user to upgrade the graphic cards, not at all! it was created to simplify the manufacturing process and thereby saving them money.
of course very few manufacturers offer the possibility of an upgrade and even those only offer very overpriced solutions. producing an mxm board is way more cheaper then a pci-e board.

This will continue to be like this until some manufacturer starts to sell retail notebook graphic cards just like the desktop ones. but that is very unlikely to happen. but if it happens A) every other company will do the same b) the company will be bought by another company and will be shut down.
the problem is even more serious because most brands are just vendors and not manufacturers. they just order to factories. so they are in control of everything.
the average buyer is very stupid and it doesn't realize this whole situation.

so to solve: A) get major awareness to the problem and rant a lot with the companies B) get a working cable
in order to A I don't have any clue.
in order to B see 2)

[jamesbond007]

Actually if i am not mistaken, most of the slots itself is pretty standard. I think it was suggest that for a better compatibility a type II connection is used as most current laptop uses this type and even if you have a type III slot it can still accept a type II connection. So i do not think that that is a reason for the 'project' to fail. It is just my opinion.

[__-_-_-__]

you have mxm 1.1, 1.3, 2.0, 2.1 and 3.0. not to mention the proprietary formats and the redesigns and the modifications. and unlike the desktop standard they are NOT backward compatible. and every slot has it's 4 types (I, II, III, IV/HE).

This is pretty much like upgrading a notebook graphic card. it's the same thing with the difference that you have a cable connected between mxm connector and the desktop graphic card.
Has many here known upgrading the graphic card is a pain in the a**.
And the minor issue is the mxm slot itself. there are many many other issues.
Suppose that someone builds such a cable (which is very difficult anyway). sure it would be awesome. but will only work in very very few models.

There are no made adapters like the expresscard to pci-e ones etc.
You need to design a new adapter. And that's a VERY hard thing to do. Specially when you have no access to the specifications. I was stuck here.
But there's already an external cable draft (for pci-e 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0)... and we all known where the spec is...

[jamesbond007]

well the card part is not a concern. We are only concerned about the slot. And like i mention most new laptop and even some of the older usually has atleast a type II slot which is why we are using to test out. And the newer slot type like III and IV are backwords compatible. so it won't be a problem if we use the the type II card configuration. Also all the pinout for the type II cards are available so we can use that to design a working model first. Now i admit this will be a very hard process but it is not impossible. and as we get to understand the process better i am sure a much more suitable and better solution will be found. we have to try first right. =)

[__-_-_-__]

you are messing the things up. the types are always backwards compatible the slots are NOT. and "newer slot type like III and IV" ? ?!? those types have been around since the mxm spec was released.
the types are not the bigger problem. the mxm standards are. like I said you have 1.1, 1.3, 2.0, 2.1 and 3.0 standards. and they are not compatible between them. that's why cards are also the problem.
it's not like in desktops where you can fit a pci-e 2.0 graphic card in a pci-e 1.0 slot.
it has nothing to do with mxm types.

for example you won't be able to use a mxm 2.0 type II card in a mxm 2.1 IV slot. but you will be able (assuming no bios issues etc) to use a mxm 2.1 type II card in a mxm 2.1 IV slot.
don't mix mxm standard versions with mxm slot types.