Multifunction card
A multifunction card, also known as a multifunction board, is a type of expansion card for personal computers (PCs) that combines the functions of multiple single-purpose cards in order to free up expansion slots for use with other cards. A multifunction card may combine the functionality of, for example, a random-access memory (RAM) card, a real-time clock (RTC) card, and a game port card. A multi-I/O card is a type of multifunction card that specifically combines the functions of cards dedicated to input/output (I/O), including serial, parallel, floppy, and hard disk controller cards.
A multifunction card, also known as a multifunction board, is a type of expansion card for personal computers (PCs) that combines the functions of multiple single-purpose cards in order to free up expansion slots for use with other cards. A multifunction card may combine the functionality of, for example, a random-access memory (RAM) card, a real-time clock (RTC) card, and a game port card.[1]: 51
A multi-I/O card is a type of multifunction card that specifically combines the functions of cards dedicated to input/output (I/O), including serial, parallel, floppy, and hard disk controller cards.[2]
History
[edit]Early multifunction cards were created for S-100 computers such as the Altair 8800. One of the first is the popular Processor Technology 3P+S that first appeared in 1976. It offers one serial port and three parallel ports.[3]
Multifunction cards had their heyday in the 1980s, especially with the rise of the IBM Personal Computer, which initially required several dedicated expansion cards for basic functionality (such as outputting video and controlling the disk drives), leaving few vacant slots for the user to install additional cards.[1]: 51 [4] Multifunction cards were also popular among Apple II users.[5]
The most popular of the early multifunction cards was the AST SixPakPlus for the IBM PC,[6][7]: 25 which combines a serial card, parallel printer card, a RTC card, and a 384-KB-maximum RAM card.[4] The SixPak proved so popular that one in six PCs and clones had the card by the end of 1984.[8] It spawned a cottage industry unto itself of so-called "SixPak clones", which closely mimicked its design and capabilities.[9]: 27
With desktop computers, multifunction card became increasingly obsolete as the functionality of these cards began to be integrated into the motherboards of PCs, a trend that started in the late 1980s and solidified by the early 2000s.[10][11][12] With laptops and subnotebooks, the multifunction card concept persisted for several more years with PC Cards; many laptops had only one or two slots for such cards, leading to many manufacturers developing multifunction PC Cards that, for example, combined modem cards with memory-expansion cards.[13]: 115
References
[edit]- ^ a b Longley, Dennis; Michael Shain (1985). Expanding and Networking Microcomputers: Most Comprehensive Guide for Apple II and IBM Personal Computers. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 51–65. ISBN 9781349076253 – via Google Books.
- ^ Hastings, Bryan; Dan Miller (September 1993). "486 PCs with the Works". PC World. Vol. 11, no. 9. IDG Communications. pp. 102 et seq. – via Gale.
- ^ "S100 Computers - Processor Technology 3P+S Board". S100 Computers. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
- ^ a b Staff writer (November 14, 1983). "Multifunction cards for IBM PCs". InfoWorld. Vol. 5, no. 46. IDG Publications. pp. 76–77 – via Google Books.
- ^ Maremaa, Tom (June 24, 1985). "Boards Add Life to Apple II". InfoWorld. Vol. 7, no. 25. IDG Publications. pp. 39–40 – via Google Books.
- ^ Perrone, Giovanni (1984-06-25). "AST Research Six Pak Plus". InfoWorld. Vol. 6, no. 26. pp. 63–65. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
- ^ Welch, Mark J. (August 25, 1986). "Multifunction Boards". InfoWorld. Vol. 8, no. 34. IDG Publications. pp. 25–31 – via Google Books.
- ^ Gantz, John (1985-09-02). "AST Burns Up Track With Sixpack Plus". InfoWorld. Vol. 7, no. 35. p. 19. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
- ^ Welch, Mark J. (January 27, 1986). "Interest Grows in Generic Computers". InfoWorld. Vol. 8, no. 4. IDG Publications. pp. 24–27 – via Google Books.
- ^ Cummings, Steve (February 16, 1988). "All the Rules Have Changed". PC Week. Vol. 5, no. 7. Ziff-Davis. pp. S9 et seq. – via Gale.
- ^ Blackford, John (June 1995). "PC Boards go Multifunctional". Computer Shopper. Vol. 15, no. 6. SX2 Media Labs. pp. 50 et seq. – via Gale.
- ^ Mueller, Scott (2004). Upgrading and Repairing PCs. Que. p. 1194. ISBN 9780789729743 – via Google Books.
- ^ Imdad-Haque, Faisal (1996). Inside PC Card: CardBus and PCMCIA Design. Newnes. pp. 115–131. ISBN 9780080534732 – via Google Books.