Motherboards with 4 serial ports

[Poita]

I was researching some motherboards for work, we needed a current chipset (intel i3/i5/i7) and 4 actual serial ports.
I stumbled across these guys:

http://www.ibase.com.tw/2009/products.asp?category=motherboards

They have a huge range of motherboards with real, honest to goodness serial ports (i.e. RS232 COM Ports) built in.
Everything from full size boards with multiple PCI slots to tiny boards the size of a floppy disc with integrated CPUs.

Anyone looking to do a computer build and not wanting to mess with USB -> Serial converters might be interested in one of these. You could make a tiny system for the observatory instead of a laptop.

[FlashDrive]

Thanks for the Link Peter.
Could be very handy for a ' very small ' system build.

Flash :hi:

[Barrykgerdes]

Even PCI slots are rare on motherboards these days let alone spare slots. However if you have a spare slot, cards are still available at a reasonable price with 2 fitted com ports and headers for 2 more and LPT 1 and 2

Barry

[2stroke]

a better way to go would be this
http://www.scorptec.com.au/computer/44227-comcard-4pex

or cheaper
2 of these
http://www.scorptec.com.au/computer/36658-158213

also if you only have pci-e
http://www.scorptec.com.au/computer/36631-158169

[Poita]

I've had problems with board mounted PCI cards though, I find the onboard ones seem to behave better. These motherboards are designed for embedded systems and are exceptionally reliable.

The wee little 5.25" computer boards look interesting, I could strap one to the mount.

[mithrandir]

We always opt for ports on cards if possible, whether they be graphics, LAN, serial, ...

It's much simpler to replace a failed card than a failed motherboard, but it does limit your choices and uses more power.

[Poita]

Yeah, I'm attracted to the low power motherboards they have, 4 serial ports, not much bigger than my hand and less power drain than my laptop is a nice proposition for the obs.

[g__day]

I've used both the Sunnix add on cards, and found cards with one serial port often have the 9 pins on the motherboard for a second serial port - you just have to find someone, somewhere that sells the ribbon cable to connect the motherboard port and provide a rear of PC serial connector. Honestly last time I looked for the connector cable - its was in a PC sellers big box of throw out junk - right down the bottom. Took about 20 minutes to find in the box and cost $8 - works a treat!