IBM 59F3824 MCA 16-Port RS232 Interface Driver Card Module

IBM 59F3824 MCA 16-Port RS232 Interface Driver Card Module

The IBM 59F3824 is a Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) expansion card designed to provide sixteen RS232 serial communication ports for IBM PS/2 and compatible systems. This interface driver enables legacy systems to support multiple serial connections for peripherals such as modems, terminals, printers, and other serial devices. The card integrates into the MCA bus found in IBM's second-generation personal computers from the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Specifications & What's Included

• Manufacturer: IBM
• Part Number: 59F3824
• Interface: RS232 Serial
• Port Count: 16 serial ports
• Bus Architecture: Micro Channel (MCA)
• Form Factor: MCA card/module
• Compatible Systems: IBM PS/2 Models with MCA support
• Era: Late 1980s – early 1990s IBM computing platform

Applications

MCA serial interface cards like the 59F3824 were essential infrastructure in IBM's Micro Channel ecosystem, enabling businesses and technical environments to connect multiple serial peripherals simultaneously. The RS232 standard was the dominant serial communication protocol throughout this era, supporting everything from telecommunications equipment and data acquisition systems to legacy terminal networks and industrial control interfaces. These cards remain valued by retro computing enthusiasts and organizations maintaining legacy IBM PS/2 systems for historical or specialized applications. The 16-port capacity made them particularly useful in scenarios where multiple concurrent serial connections were required.