Serial cards are hardware devices that can be used to add serial port connectivity (a type of connection on computers used for peripherals such as older printers and gaming controllers) to your computer or server. They offer a direct connection between your computer and any device that uses one of the serial data transmission standards such as RS232 and RS485. Most serial cards can slot into the back of your desktop.

What are serial cards used for?

Some serial cards provide connectivity to independent serial channels while others can give multiple connections. A single serial card, for example, can use a serial cable to give up to eight RS232 (DB9) serial connections. Serial cards are designed for time-sensitive and industrial applications including:

Court reporting
Automotive diagnostics
Security
Point of Sale (PoS) systems
Industrial automation
Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
Factory control

Types of serial card

Serial cards come in a broad range of options, from the shape of the connectors to the type of interface. Some of the types include:

PCIe RS232 Serial Cards
PCI RS232 Cards
Express Card RS232 Serial Cards
Interface PCI LPT, RS232 Cards
PCI RS422, RS485 Cards