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4. Using the Notebook PC
32-bit CardBus & Zoomed Video Port
CardBus support allows PC Cards and their hosts to use 32-bit bus mastering and operate at speeds of
up to 33MHz, transferring data in burst modes comparable with PCI’s 132MB/sec. By comparison, the
standard 16-bit PC Card bus can handle only 20MB/sec. Since the Notebook PC is equipped with
CardBus’ broader, faster data pathway, it can handle bandwidth-hungry operations, such as 100Mbps
Fast Ethernet, Fast SCSI peripherals, and ISDN-based video conference that are cutting-edge even for
desktop systems. The CardBus peripherals support plug and play.
The CardBus socket is backward-compatible with 16-bit PC Cards serving at 5 volts operation while
CardBus operates at 3.3 volts to reduce power consumption.
As part of the Notebook PC’s advanced architecture, the Zoomed Video specification provides for full
frame-rate video display channel for applications like MPEG decoders for movies and games, TV
tuners, live video input, video capturing, and video conferencing. The Zoomed Video (ZV) Port allows
video data on a PC Card to be transferred directly into the VGA frame buffer, bypassing the CPU and
PCI system bus. It can promise a high quality real-time full-motion video playback without holding
back the CPU and system bus performance.
PC Cards (PCMCIA)
The Notebook PC has two PC Card (or sometimes referred to as PCMCIA) sockets located behind two
spring hinged flaps are designed to allow expansion just like with desktop computer expansion slots. This
allows you to customize your Notebook PC to meet a wide range of application needs. The sockets can
interface with two Type I or Type II PC cards or one Type III PC card. PC cards are about the size of a few
stacked credit cards and have a 68-pin connector at one end. The PC Card standard accommodates a
number of function, communication, and data storage expansion options such as memory/flash cards, fax/
modems, networking adapters, SCSI adapters, MPEG I/II decoder cards, and even wireless modem or
LAN cards. The Notebook PC supports PCMCIA 2.1, 32bit CardBus, and Zoomed Video (ZV) standards.
The three different PC Cards actually have different thicknesses. Type I cards are 3.3mm, Type II cards
are 5mm, and Type III cards are 10.5mm thick. Type I and Type II cards can be used in either the lower
or upper socket. Type III cards take up both sockets and must be inserted from the lower socket.
TIP: A PCMCIA MPEG I / II decoder card is recommended for slower Notebook PCs
that experience frame skips during DVD playback. It is also great for the power user
who wishes to work while watching a DVD movie.
Socket 1
Eject Button
Socket 2
Eject Button
Socket 1
Socket 2
Upper Socket (#2) Supports:
Type I, Type II
Lower Socket (#1) Supports:
Type I, Type II, Type III, CardBus, Zoomed Video