# What is a 'Riser Card'

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-riser-card/77111
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [August 20, 2001, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-riser-card/77111 "2001-08-20T09:12:48Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2001, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-riser-card/77111/1 "2001-08-20T09:12:48Z")

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I keep seeing ‘PCI Ethernet Riser card’ or ‘Modem Riser Card’ advertised in online stores, what is a riser card?

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### Author: ![therealblaze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@therealblaze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/therealblaze)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2001, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-riser-card/77111/2 "2001-08-20T09:21:34Z")

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A riser card is normally used in a low profile case. Instead of the cards being perpendicular to the board, a riser card is used to make them parallel to the board, saving on the height.  
[Source](http://www.voxtechnologies.com/what_is.htm#risercard)

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### Author: ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2001, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-riser-card/77111/3 "2001-08-20T09:54:37Z")

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from [this page](http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,289893,sid9_gci213589,00.html):

> [@](#):
>
> AMR (Audio/Modem Riser) is a specification developed by Intel for packaging the analog I/O audio functions of modem circuitry together with a codec chip (which converts back and forth from analog to digital) on a small board that plugs directly into a computer’s motherboard.  
> …  
> Because getting certification for the manufacture of a new motherboard design is a lengthy process, removing this function from the motherboard provides more flexibility for manufacturers and allows advances in audio modem design to be implemented more easily.

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### Author: ![Eryi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5fc32e/32.png) [@Eryi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eryi)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2001, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-riser-card/77111/4 "2001-08-20T10:27:19Z")

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Where these not just called ‘Daughter boards’ back when the Amiga was still prevelent in the US?