Dell 6410... 3rd PCI-e for SSD???

[Ashton]

I just opened up my Dell Latatude 6410 and I noticed what looked like a PCI-e slot sticking out from under the displayport cover, so I unscrewed the displayport and lo and behold it was what appeared to be a 3rd Mini-PCI-e port marked with the "Dell ON" logo. though the space was *maybe* an inch in size so it would have to be a half-card to fit...

Anyone know if this is a fully-functional PCI-e port? Perhaps intended for a SSD to run the Dell ON system? (for those unfamiliar, it's a <2gb dell-made linux system to let you "instantly" access email, web, and a few other limited features without fully powering up the laptop, it's usually installed on a 2gb partition on the HDD)

 

[pxc]

The service manual for the e6410 shows:

Mini-Card two half-height mini-card slots
one full-height mini-card slot

If that's one of the slots you're talking about, it sounds like a full mini PCI-e slot. It may be the one Dell uses for the GPS option.

The spec sheet shows no mSATA slots. A mini PCI-e SSD likely would not be bootable on that laptop.

 

[Ashton]

I dont think It's for GPS, the GPS wire leads to the full-height slot designed "WWAN" (cellular modem)

It's a half-height card, here's the location on the board:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/8499597/2013-02-26 22.55.27.jpg

What I find odd is the fact it is marked with the "DO" (Dell ON) logo
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/8499597/2013-02-26 22.55.32.jpg

That's why I thought it might be for a SSD. I did a google search for the part# on the sticker pointing to the slot, but nothing came up.

If it's not for an SSD, a wireless card, GPS, or Cellular modem, any idea what it's actually for? (diagnostics maybe?)


EDIT:
Looked through the linked service manual and did some digging. Apparently it's a "system on a chip" module that boots the ON linux os using an ARM processor and a flash chip on the expansion card.
The module is avalible on eBay for ~$80
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Dell-Fa...819?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c2e223823

Digging more to see what all this supports and how it does/doesnt improve battery life. Since a good 90% of what I do on the laptop is internet-based, I'm thinking I might get better battery life out of this than I would buying the 2nd battery (the "slice" that plugs into the docking port)

 

[Meaker]

Yeah it would have to be specifically mSATA for an mSATA SSD to work. Interesting little module though.