Different sized PCI cards

  • Thread starter Thread starter Simon
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Simon

Hi,

I've acquired a network/Ethernet (is there a difference? I know very little
about that kind of thing!) card that says "Link ACT" on it with a socket for
a network cable. It's only half the size of my modem and soundcard. How am I
supposed to fit it into my PCI slot?
 
Hi,

I've acquired a network/Ethernet (is there a difference? I know very little
about that kind of thing!) card that says "Link ACT" on it with a socket for
a network cable. It's only half the size of my modem and soundcard. How am I
supposed to fit it into my PCI slot?
Click to expand...

Either the contact edge is as wide as a PCI card, or it
isn't a PCI card... might be a CNR card for motherboards
that support such.

If you simply mean that the case slot brack is too short
then it might be for a miniATX (slimline) case, and simply
need a taller bracket affixed. You didn't give a good
enough description of what you have to be certain, if you
can provide better description or link to a picture it might
help.
 
The contact edge is the right size but the outer edge is half the size so it
won't fit in my computer
 
Simon said:
Hi,

I've acquired a network/Ethernet (is there a difference? I know very
little about that kind of thing!) card that says "Link ACT" on it with a
socket for a network cable. It's only half the size of my modem and
soundcard. How am I supposed to fit it into my PCI slot?
Click to expand...

Link ACT is not the make of the card, that label refers to two LED's (or
perhaps just one) on the back of the card (sometimes they are built into
the socket where the network cable plugs in. Link means that the card has
detected the line carrier (and therefore the cable is plugged into active
equipment at each end, be that a hub/switch or another card via a crossover
cable) and ACT means there is data activity on the line.

By the sounds of it this half length card is one designed to fit into a
special socket called an AMR (Audio Modem Riser) it is a feature connector
on some system boards. I am surprised that you have found a network card
for an AMR socket as I didn't think they existed.

Anyway with AMR devices half the device lives on the system board, so
without the correct board I am afraid that the card isn't much use to you.

W
 
Simon said:
The contact edge is the right size but the outer edge is half the size so
it won't fit in my computer
Click to expand...

Ahhh now it becomes more clear, what you have there is a card designed to
fit in a small form factor machine, you can either bodge by bending up the
tab at the top of the bracket so that it will physically plug in, or you
can try and find the full size backplate for it.

If you go for the bodge option then be careful to find a way to hold the
card in position, cards being accidently pulled out during operation
doesn't do them (or the system board) much good. To be honest with the
price of a correct network card being so low, I'd save yourself the bother
and lob it in the bin.
 
The contact edge is the right size but the outer edge is half the size so it
won't fit in my computer
Click to expand...

Take a pair of pliers and bend the bracket flat, then use
tin snips to cut a blank cover in half and screw it down
overtop of the card's bracket. Glue or epoxy it together if
you like but a NIC isn't too likely to go anywhere if
unsecured unless you started pulling on the ethernet cable.
 
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