Adapter Cards

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
1120140004 Woodhead - Molex	PROFIBUS NETWORK CARD 5V BUS	1
2301900-R Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SMARTHBA 2100-8I8E SINGLE CABLE	0
PM-132 Brainboxes	2 PORT RS232 PCMCIA WITH RUGGEDI	0
89HF08P08CG3YDHLGI Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	NV-DRAM CONTROLLER 32GB DDR3 PCI	0
1120110027 Woodhead - Molex	NIC;PROFIBUS;PCI;2CHL;PB3;BULK;U	25
1120110022 Woodhead - Molex	NIC;PROFIBUS;PCI;2CHL;PB3;UNV	0
UC-475 Brainboxes	2 PORT RS232 PCI SERIAL CARD WIT	0
PM-154 Brainboxes	1 PORT RS422/485 PCMCIA WITH RUG	0
1120300009 Woodhead - Molex	NIC:PROFIBUS:S/W:CONSOLE:PB3:UKE	0
UP-880 Brainboxes	POWERED 2 PORT RS232 PCI SERIAL	0
PX-420 Brainboxes	4 PORT RS232 PCI EXPRESS SERIAL	0
PX-335 Brainboxes	4 PORT RS422/485 LOW PROFILE PCI	0
UC-265 Brainboxes	4 PORT RS232 PCI SERIAL PORT CAR	0
PX-387 Brainboxes	1 X RS422/485 PCI EXPRESS SERIAL	0
2294600-R Roving Networks / Microchip Technology	SMARTRAID 3154-8I16E	0
PCIE-M21101HS Micro Connectors, Inc.	M.2 NVME 110MM SSD PCIE X4	400
L5-25188-01 Broadcom	MEGARAID SAS PREMIUM FEATURE K	0
L5-25150-02 Broadcom	MEGARAID FASTPATH HW PF KEY	0
UC-101 Brainboxes	2 PORT RS232 LOW PROFILE PCI SER	0
1120080011 Woodhead - Molex	DIAG;DEVICENET;NETALYTIX;S/W	0

Adapter Cards

1. Overview

Adapter cards are hardware components that enable connectivity and compatibility between computer systems and peripheral devices. By bridging different interface standards, protocols, or physical connections, they facilitate data exchange, signal conversion, and functional expansion. In modern computing, adapter cards play a critical role in maintaining backward compatibility, supporting emerging technologies, and optimizing system performance across diverse applications.

2. Major Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Characteristics	Application Examples
Network Interface Cards (NICs)	Provide wired/wireless connectivity (Ethernet/Wi-Fi 6)	Data centers, enterprise networks
Graphics Adapter Cards	Process visual data with dedicated GPUs	Gaming PCs, CAD workstations
Storage Controller Cards	Support NVMe/SATA/SCSI devices	RAID servers, high-speed storage arrays
USB Adapter Cards	Expand USB ports (Type-A/C, USB4)	Peripheral connectivity hubs
Audio Interface Cards	High-fidelity audio input/output	Recording studios, VoIP systems
Serial/Parallel Port Cards	Legacy industrial equipment interface	Manufacturing automation systems
Fibre Channel Adapters	High-speed storage networking	Enterprise SAN environments

3. Structure and Components

Typical adapter card construction includes: - Interface connectors (PCIe, PCI-X, or M.2) - Printed Circuit Board (PCB) with signal traces - Bridge chips for protocol conversion - Power management modules - Heat sinks or active cooling for thermal regulation - External ports (RJ45, HDMI, etc.) - Firmware chips for hardware-software communication

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Importance
Bus Interface (PCIe 4.0, USB 3.2)	Determines maximum data throughput
Transfer Rate (Gbps)	Affects system responsiveness
Protocol Support	Defines compatibility with devices
Power Consumption (W)	Impacts thermal design and efficiency
Error Correction	Ensures data integrity in critical systems
Form Factor	Dictates physical compatibility

5. Application Fields

IT Infrastructure: Server virtualization, cloud computing
Industrial Automation: PLC interface adapters
Medical Imaging: DICOM-compatible display adapters
Financial Services: Low-latency trading network cards
Aviation: ARINC 429 communication adapters
Scientific Research: High-speed data acquisition cards

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

Manufacturer	Representative Products
Intel Corporation	X550-T2 (10GbE NIC), UHD Graphics P630
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)	Radeon Instinct MI210 (AI accelerator)
NVIDIA	RTX 3080 (PCIe 4.0 graphics)
Broadcom Inc.	BCM57414 (Ethernet storage adapter)
ASMedia Technology	ASM3242 (USB4 controller)

7. Selection Recommendations

Verify host interface compatibility (PCIe version, motherboard chipset)
Match bandwidth requirements with application needs
Consider environmental factors (temperature, vibration)
Evaluate driver support across operating systems
Plan for future expansion capabilities
Balance performance with power consumption constraints

8. Industry Trends Analysis

Key development directions include: - High-speed interfaces: Transition to PCIe 5.0/6.0 and CXL protocols - Convergence: Multi-function adapter integration (e.g., NIC + storage) - Smart adapters: On-card AI acceleration and hardware virtualization - Green technology: Energy-efficient designs with adaptive power scaling - Wireless dominance: Expansion of Wi-Fi 6E and 5G adapter solutions - Optical interfaces: Growth of fiber-based interconnects for data centers