NLC: Media card reader device installation for PC

Post by **campbell** » Wed Aug 08, 2007 11:52 pm

I notice people like Dell now offer these multi-format media card reader devices in new PCs, ie for Compact Flash, Memory Stick, etc, so that you can drop the media direct into the PC instead of lashing up your camera via USB etc.

Anyone know if such a device is

a) readily available on the accessories market

b) easy to fit to a modern (but not brand new) Dell desktop?

Any particular connector restrictions? Indeed I have no idea what "slot" they will use etc. My machine was ordered without Floppy Disk unit, so if they use that, then I will probably have one spare!

TIA

Campbell

steve_weegie · Post by **steve_weegie** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 12:07 am

Check this out - should fit a 3.5" bay no problem.

Clickything

Piece of cake to fit, but as it will connect to an internal USB motherboard header, so you'll need to check you've got one spare.

You can get external ones too if you dont fancy digging around inside the case....

Cheers,

Steve

Post by **campbell** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:14 am

Steve,

Thanks!

I need to look over the motherboard to find the "USB header"...what am I looking for?! The Dabs description mentions a 9-pin socket...

Campbell

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 9:24 am

My mum managed to get the external one to work without calling me once.

External ones are cheap as chips and plug-n-play

steve_weegie · Post by **steve_weegie** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 10:21 am

Ok, inside, you'll be looking for a row of pins like below. Probably gold coloured and just shy of an inch in length. Check the motherboard manual for their location though as the board may not be marked...

..
..
..
..
.

You'll probably have 3 or 4 of these headers on the board if its recent and good quality. You may also see one of them occupied and scooting off to an external back plate thats got some USB connectors on it. Just plug the device into a spare header and hey presto!

Cheers,

Steve

RDH · Post by **RDH** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 10:24 am

steve_weegie wrote:Ok, inside, you'll be looking for a row of pins like below. Probably gold coloured and just shy of an inch in length. Check the motherboard manual for their location though as the board may not be marked...

..
..
..
..
.

You'll probably have 3 or 4 of these headers on the board if its recent and good quality. You may also see one of them occupied and scooting off to an external back plate thats got some USB connectors on it. Just plug the device into a spare header and hey presto!

Cheers,

Steve

Campbell
I've done this before - it's fairly easy to do - if the technically inept (like myself) can do it, a man of your calibre can surely manage!