PCI to PC Card(Bus) Bridge Chips in Select PCMCIA PC Card Readers
Whether on a notebook computer, or a PCI to PC Card host adapter for desktop computers, a controller is necessary to bridgebetween the host system and a PC Card slot. While 16-bit legacy PC Cards are based on ISA, and 32-bit PC CardBus cards arebased on the PCI standard, there are some differences in the way PCMCIA PC Card hardware is implemented, particularly hot-swap capabilities. These differences are what the bridge chip resolves between the PC Card slot and the host systems nativesystem bus. A range of controllers have been manufactured over the years, and there is no real advantage of one specificmanufacturer over another. However, newer controllers tend to exhibit less compatibility issues than older ones. Starting around1996, most manufacturers switched to 32-bit PC CardBus controllers on both notebook computers and host adapters fordesktop computers. For more information on determining the differences between 16-bit PCMCIA PC Cards and 32-bit PCMCIAPC CardBus Cards, see our PCMCIA CardBus PC Cards Information and FAQ.For the most part, choosing a PCI to PC Card reader should be based on application requirements. There are some situationwhere a certain motherboard and chipset combination will not work with specific CardBus controllers. This isn't somethingdocumented, and no vender maintains a master compatibility list, which is impossible considering how many different hardwarecombinations exist. Synchrotech's experience is that if you find one chipset won't work with a specific machine, it is best to try areader with a different chipset. Today's two main providers of CardBus controllers are Ricoh and Texas Instruments (TI), andboth venders provide excellent compatibility. If you find one won't work with a particular hardware setup, try the other.Unfortunately, this is often an exercise in trail and error.Another factor to consider when selecting PCI to PC Card readers is whether you have an operating system with native supportfor the bridge chip you are selecting. Driver support for nearly every bridge chip is included in *BSD and Linux systems.Windows XP and the Vista also includes drivers for the vast majority of bridge chips with one caveat; large computermanufacturers tend to remove these drivers from their Windows installations and don't include them on the 'restore disks' theyprovide with the computers. For more information on this see: XP/Vista CardBus Drivers Information. Elan's P-Series readerscome with their own drivers, but the drivers introduce a host of other problems based on Elan's requirement that the reader useinterrupt (IRQ) 11 or under, and they can't be shared with any other devices. For more information on this see: TroubleshootingElan PSeries PCMCIA PC Card Readers. With newer motherboards with mixed PCI and PCIe slots, the Elan problems are evenmore pronounced. In these cases it is better to choose a different reader, purchase a retail copy of Windows and install Windowsfrom scratch before installing the reader. If the Windows system was previously installed from a retail disk, then the correctdrivers are already on the system. There is no need to do anything in this case.
Part NumberDescriptionBridge Chip
PCM-CR-PC1IC3PCI Bus to PC Card and CardBus Read-Writer Internal Rear R5C485Ricoh R5C485PCM-CR-PC2IC3PCI Bus to PC Card and CardBus Read-Writer 2 Slot Internal Rear R5C486Ricoh R5C486PCM-CR-PC2IF32R-BPCI Bus to PC Card and CardBus Read-Writer 2 Slot Internal Front R5C486Ricoh R5C486PCM-CR-PC1IF32R-BPCI Bus to PC Card and CardBus Read-Writer Internal Front R5C843 BlackRicoh R5C843PCM-CR-PC1IRPCI Bus to PC Card Read-Writer 1 Slot Internal Rear 5 Volt OnlyRicoh RL5C475PCM-CR-PC2IRPCI Bus to PC CardBus Read-Writer 2 Slot Internal RearRicoh RL5C475PCM-CR-PC2IRPCI Bus to PC CardBus Read-Writer 2 Slot Internal RearTI PCI1211PCM-CR-PC1ELFPCI Bus to PC Card Read-Writers 1 Slot External Low ProfileTI PCI1410/ENECB1410*PCM-CR-PC1IC2PCI Bus to PC Card and CardBus Read-Writer 1 Slot Internal RearTI PCI1410/ENECB1410*PCM-CR-PC1ICFLPCI Bus to CompactFlash Type I-II Read-Writer Internal Rear Low ProfileTI PCI1410/ENECB1410*PCM-CR-PC1ICLPCI Bus to PC CardBus Read-Writer 1 Slot Internal Rear Low ProfileTI PCI1410/ENECB1410*PCM-CR-PC1ILF-BPCI Bus to PC Card Read-Writers 1 Slot Internal Low Profile BlackTI PCI1410/ENECB1410*PCM-CR-PC1ILF-WPCI Bus to PC Card Read-Writers 1 Slot Internal Low Profile BeigeTI PCI1410/ENECB1410*PCM-CR-PC2IFRPCI Bus to PC CardBus Read-Writer 2 Slot Internal Front RearTI PCI1410/ENECB1410*PCM-CR-PMC1IPCI Bus to PC CardBus Read-Writer 1 Slot Internal Mezzanine PMCTI PCI1410/ENECB1410*PCM-CR-PC2EFPCI Bus to PC Card Read-Writers 2 Slot External (0.75m cables included)TI PCI1420/ENECB1420*PCM-CR-PC2IC2PCI Bus to PC Card and CardBus Read-Writer 2 Slot Internal RearTI PCI1420/ENECB1420*PCM-CR-PC2IF2-BPCI Bus to PC Card Read-Writers 2 Slot Internal BlackTI PCI1420/ENECB1420*PCM-CR-PC2IF2-WPCI Bus to PC Card Read-Writers 2 Slot Internal BeigeTI PCI1420/ENECB1420*PCM-CR-PC1IF32-BPCI Bus to PC Card and CardBus Read-Writer Internal Front PCI1510 BlackTI PCI1510PCM-CR-PC1IF32-WPCI Bus to PC Card and CardBus Read-Writer Internal Front PCI1510 BeigeTI PCI1510
* Note on Elan P-Series Controllers
The Elan P-Series card readers have switched CardBus controllers several times over the years. While they have used TexasInstruments and TI compatible controllers, the changes in specifics sometimes cause issues. While not completelychronologically accurate, the following rough timeline should be helpful. Elan P-Series devices prior to 2002 used the TI PCI-1420 for their two slot readers and either the TI PCI-1410 or PCI1211 (depending on availability at production) on their oneslot readers. For a stretch of several years (roughly 2002-2006) Elan used ENE Technology Inc. CardBus controllers in place of TI. The CB1420 for two slot readers and the CB1410 for one slot readers. A reliable, and widely support TI PCI-14xx cloneseries, ENE's controllers actually fixed many of the errata from the chips they cloned. This, however, caused problems forsystems coded around the problems with the original TI PCI-14xx series. Around the beginning of 2006 Elan switched back to
TI PCI-1420 for their two slot readers and either the TI PCI-1410 on their one slot readers. However, there still is a lot of ENEbased P-Series readers in inventory, and certain models of the P-Series will not be replaced with the TI based controllers untilthe existing stock of ENE devices are sold.
Troubleshooting Elan PSeries PCMCIA PC Card Readers
The following are documents and links that are helpful in troubleshooting issues with Elan PCMCIA PC Card readers. The ElanPSeries and interrupt steering issues are a long-standing problem and must be dealt with as documented. In brief, the cardsslots must occupy IRQ 11 or lower, and cannot be shared with any other device on the system. Using P-Series Devices in The Windows VistaInstructions for deploying PSeries readers with the Windows Vista Drivers (pseries_windows.exe)PSeries Driver release for the Windows Vista, subject to Elan's license conditionsSynchrotech Elan P-Series Readers * Date 2007.03.16 * 7.2MB Drivers (pseries50708cd.zip)PSeries Driver 5.07.08 release, see both sets of release notes below, subject to Elan's license conditionsSynchrotech Elan Series Readers * Date 2005.10.05 * 5.1MB PSeries Driver release notes PSeries Driver CD release notesThis information is a must read for all Elan installations! PCMCIA IRQ Routing on Windows XPMicrosoft support document explaining interrupt issues and work around methods. PCI to PC Card (16) Card Readers Installation Addendum PCI to PC Card (16) Card Readers Installation troubleshooting PCI to PC Card(Bus) Bridge Chips in Select Card Readers
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