Expansion card
Alternatively referred to as an add-on card, internal card, interface adapter, or just card. An expansion card is an electronic board or card added into the expansion slot of a desktop computer or other non-portable computer to give that computer a new ability, such as the ability to connect to another computer using a network cable.
Types of expansion cards in a computer
- Interface card (ATA / Bluetooth / EIDE / IDE / Parallel / RISC / SCSI /Serial / USB)
- Modem
- MPEG Decoder
- Network Card
- Sound Card
- Video Card
- Video capture card
Although each of the above devices are available as expansion cards, they can also be onboard the motherboard.
Below is an graphic illustration of an ISA SCSI card. As can be seen by the below illustration, this adapter would enable users to connect Internal and external SCSI drives into their computers.
As can be seen by the above illustration, expansion cards are keyed, which means they will only go in one direction and only the expansion slot the card was designed for. However, the backs of expansion cards are also easily identified by the metal back, often computer components will plugs into this section of the card.
Also see: Adapter, Expansion slot cover, Expansion, Expansion slot, PC Card, Reseat, Riser board, ROM card, Smart card