ExpressCard

ExpressCard
ExpressCard logo, combining a stylized hare with a thunderbolt
Year created2003
SupersedesPC Card
Superseded byThunderbolt (2011)
No. of devices1 per slot
Speed
  • 480 Mbit/s effective (USB 2 mode)
  • 1.6 Gbit/s effective (PCIe 1 mode)
  • 3.2 Gbit/s effective (PCIe 2 or USB 3 mode)
StyleSerial
Hotplugging interfaceYes
External interfaceYes

ExpressCard, initially called NEWCARD,[1] is an interface to connect peripheral devices to a computer, usually a laptop computer. The ExpressCard technical standard specifies the design of slots built into the computer and of expansion cards to insert in the slots. The cards contain electronic circuits and sometimes connectors for external devices. The ExpressCard standard replaces the PC Card (also known as PCMCIA) standards.

ExpressCards can connect a variety of devices to a computer including mobile broadband modems (sometimes called connect cards), IEEE 1394 (FireWire) connectors, USB connectors, Ethernet network ports, Serial ATA storage devices, solid-state drives, external enclosures for desktop-size PCI Express graphics cards and other peripheral devices, wireless network interface controllers (NIC), TV tuner cards, Common Access Card (CAC) readers, and sound cards.

  1. ^ "NEWCARD Reborn As 'ExpressCard'". Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2009-02-25.