The Comtrol 95850-5 RocketPort PCI Octacable Multiport Serial Adapter is a high-performance PCI interface card that expands serial connectivity by providing eight RS-232 ports in a single expansion slot. Each port supports data transfer rates up to 460.8 Kbps, with the onboard 36 MHz ASIC processor (AIOPIC chip) enabling full duplex operation across all ports simultaneously at up to 921 Kbps aggregate throughput. The dedicated processor offloads serial communication tasks from the host CPU, reducing system overhead and improving overall performance.
## Technical Specifications
• **Interface:** PCI
• **Serial Ports:** 8 × RS-232
• **Data Rate:** Up to 460.8 Kbps per port; up to 921 Kbps full duplex aggregate across all ports
• **Processor:** Dedicated 36 MHz ASIC (AIOPIC chip)
• **Buffering:** Enhanced transmit and receive buffers relative to standard 16550 UART implementations
• **IRQ Usage:** No IRQ assignment required; uses I/O mapping for plug-and-play operation
• **Connector:** DB78 front panel with included octacable fanout assembly (DB25 or DB9 configurations)
• **Power Consumption:** 1.45 W nominal at 3.3 VDC, 910 mA current draw
## Key Features
• ASIC-based architecture replaces discrete components, improving reliability and performance
• No IRQ overhead enables clean integration in crowded interrupt environments
• Enhanced buffer depth optimizes throughput for high-volume serial data
• Octacable configuration consolidates eight serial connections through a single fanout assembly
• Supports multiple card installation for extended port density
## Typical Applications
• Point-of-sale systems
• Industrial automation and process control
• Data acquisition and logging
• Remote access servers and network appliances
## Compatibility & Integration
The 95850-5 operates in PCI slots and can coexist with ISA-bus RocketPort cards in the same system. Up to four RocketPort PCI cards can be installed simultaneously, allowing configurations with extended serial port capacity. The plug-and-play design eliminates manual IRQ configuration.
