StarTech.com 16-Port PCI Express Serial Card - Low-Profile High-Speed PCIe Serial Card with 16 DB9 RS232 Ports

Unlock unparalleled serial I/O capacity with the StarTech.com 16-Port PCI Express Serial Card. Engineered for reliability and versatility, this low-profile PCIe card adds sixteen high-speed RS232 DB9 ports to your desktop or server, letting you connect a multitude of serial devices—POS terminals, data loggers, medical equipment, lab instruments, industrial controllers, and more—without sacrificing valuable PCIe lanes or mounting space. Whether you’re expanding a legacy system or building a networked gateway, this card delivers scalable, plug-and-play serial connectivity with enterprise-grade durability.

• 16 DB9 RS232 ports on a single PCI Express card: dramatically increase serial expansion while minimizing card count and preserving motherboard slots for other peripherals.
• Low-profile / half-height bracket included: perfect for small form factor desktops and rack-mount servers, delivering full port density in tight spaces.
• High-speed PCIe interface: designed for reliable data transfer across all 16 ports, enabling simultaneous, multi-device communication with minimal latency.
• Standard RS-232 signaling and speeds: supports common serial protocols and typical data rates up to 921.6 kbps per port, ensuring compatibility with a broad range of equipment.
• Wide OS and driver support: StarTech provides robust drivers for Windows and Linux environments, plus ongoing firmware and software updates to maintain compatibility with current systems.

Technical Details of StarTech.com 16-Port PCI Express Serial Card

• Ports: 16 x RS232 (DB9) serial ports
• Interface: PCI Express (PCIe) x1
• Form Factor: Low-profile (half-height) bracket included
• Data Rate: Up to 921.6 kbps per port (typical), with independent port operation
• Compatibility: Works with standard RS-232 devices and drivers for Windows and Linux
• Power: Bus-powered PCIe card (no external power connector required)
• OS Support: Windows and Linux compatible (drivers available from StarTech)
• Reliability: Designed for continuous operation in desktop and server environments
• Compliance: RoHS compliant; CE certified

How to Install StarTech.com 16-Port PCI Express Serial Card

• Power down your computer, unplug from the wall, and open the case to access the motherboard
• Identify a free PCIe x1 slot and remove the corresponding slot cover on the chassis
• Insert the StarTech 16-Port PCIe serial card firmly into the PCIe x1 slot and secure the bracket with a screw
• Power on the system and boot into your operating system
• Install the latest StarTech drivers from the official StarTech website or from the provided media
• Connect your serial devices to the 16 DB9 ports, then configure each port as a separate COM port in your OS (for example, COM1–COM16 in Windows)
• Use terminal emulation software or your application to test data transmission on each port and adjust settings as needed (baud rate, parity, data bits, stop bits)

Frequently asked questions

What is the primary benefit of a 16-port RS232 card? It dramatically expands serial connectivity in a single PCIe card, reducing PCIe slot usage while enabling centralized management of many RS-232 devices such as terminals, sensors, and legacy equipment from a single host system.

What kind of devices can I connect? Any device that uses RS-232 with a DB9 connector can be connected, including industrial controllers, data loggers, medical instrumentation, cash registers, and point-of-sale systems. Each port operates independently to support simultaneous communications.

Which operating systems are supported? The card is designed for Windows and Linux environments, with drivers provided by StarTech. Always check the latest driver availability to ensure compatibility with your OS version.

Do I need extra power for this card? No. The card is bus-powered through the PCIe slot and does not require an additional external power connector.

How do I configure multiple COM ports? Once drivers are installed, your OS will enumerate each RS-232 port as a separate COM port (for example, COM1 through COM16 in Windows). You can then configure each port’s settings in your software or terminal program to match the connected device requirements.

Can I use all 16 ports simultaneously? Yes. The card is designed to support simultaneous data transfers across all 16 RS-232 ports, enabling parallel communication with multiple serial devices without bottlenecks.