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HARDWARE ARCHIVES // ADD-IN HARDWARE

[ SUBCATEGORY DIRECTORY // 11 FILES // 173 PART RECORDS ]

Browse expansion cards subcategories

Each subcategory has a dedicated listing; open a file to browse individually cataloged components.

SUBCATEGORY FILE // 12 PART RECORDSNetwork and modem adapters

Legacy network interfaces and analog modem cards.

OPEN SUBCATEGORY FILE →SUBCATEGORY FILE // 36 PART RECORDSStorage and disk controllers

SCSI/SAS/SATA host adapters and disk controllers, including ISA-era storage cards.

OPEN SUBCATEGORY FILE →SUBCATEGORY FILE // 3 PART RECORDSCapture and serial I/O

Existing capture and serial-interface records retained in their original archive group.

OPEN SUBCATEGORY FILE →SUBCATEGORY FILE // 17 PART RECORDSAudio add-in cards

Sound and professional audio add-in cards.

OPEN SUBCATEGORY FILE →SUBCATEGORY FILE // 9 PART RECORDSSerial-port cards

RS-232 expansion cards with model-specific port and driver notes.

OPEN SUBCATEGORY FILE →SUBCATEGORY FILE // 20 PART RECORDSUSB and FireWire controllers

USB and IEEE 1394 host controllers with power and cabling caveats.

OPEN SUBCATEGORY FILE →SUBCATEGORY FILE // 29 PART RECORDSCapture and playback cards

Professional video capture/playback cards with SDI, HDMI and analog connections.

OPEN SUBCATEGORY FILE →SUBCATEGORY FILE // 6 PART RECORDSCompute accelerators

PCIe coprocessors and FPGA accelerator cards.

OPEN SUBCATEGORY FILE →SUBCATEGORY FILE // 14 PART RECORDSSecurity coprocessors

Platform-specific hardware cryptographic modules.

OPEN SUBCATEGORY FILE →SUBCATEGORY FILE // 1 PART RECORDSData-acquisition cards

Measurement and control cards with exact I/O and driver records.

OPEN SUBCATEGORY FILE →SUBCATEGORY FILE // 16 PART RECORDSIndustrial and measurement cards

Data-acquisition, instrument-bus and industrial-control cards.

OPEN SUBCATEGORY FILE →

[ COMPONENT RECORD // EXPANSION BUS ]

Expansion
cards.

Add-in cards extend a computer with graphics, storage, capture, serial/parallel ports, accelerators, and specialized I/O. Their slot shape, electrical lane wiring, bracket, firmware, and driver support all matter.

Original schematic illustration of an expansion card
SCHEMATIC // CARD EDGE CONNECTOR

CLASS RECORD: PCI Express and historical ISA/PCI cards. A connector's physical length does not establish its electrical lane count or device compatibility.

Reference specifications

Bus generationsModern PCs use PCI Express. Earlier systems used PCI, AGP, ISA, MCA, VLB, and proprietary buses; these generations are not directly interchangeable.
Lane widthsPCIe devices negotiate lane width (x1, x4, x8, x16, etc.) and generation based on device, slot wiring, firmware, and platform topology.
Physical detailsFull-height/low-profile brackets, single/double/triple slot thickness, auxiliary power, card length, and airflow requirements vary by card.
SoftwareFirmware, operating-system drivers, DMA behavior, and application support can be as important as slot compatibility.

Installation & catalog fields

  • Record bus type, PCI IDs, subsystem vendor/device IDs, firmware, bracket type, lane width, required power, and OS support.
  • Read the motherboard manual for slot wiring, lane sharing, bifurcation, and resource limitations.
  • Use the proper slot cover and secure the bracket; prevent card sag, short circuits, and obstructed fans.
  • Legacy cards may require option ROM support, a particular BIOS mode, or drivers for an obsolete operating system.
  • Include riser cards, backplanes, M.2 adapters, storage HBAs, capture cards, serial cards, and accelerator modules in a broader index.

Sources & further reading

  1. PCI-SIG — PCI Express specificationsPrimary standards and compliance resources.
  2. Intel — PCI Express overviewGeneral interface and slot guidance.
  3. Linux kernel — PCI support documentationTechnical reference for device enumeration and platform behavior.