SMC 9432TX EtherPower II 10/100 PCI Network Card SMC83C170QF Fast Ethernet

SMC 9432TX EtherPower II 10/100 PCI Network Card SMC83C170QF Fast Ethernet

The SMC 9432TX EtherPower II is a 32-bit PCI Fast Ethernet network interface card (NIC) designed for desktop computers with a standard PCI bus slot. It provides 10/100 Mbps auto-negotiating connectivity via a single RJ-45 port, supporting both 100Base-TX and 10Base-T Ethernet standards. The card is built around SMC's own 83C170QF single-chip Fast Ethernet controller, visible on the PCB.

Specifications & What's Included

• Model: SMC 9432TX (EtherPower II)
• PCB Part Number: 60-400544-005, Rev A
• Main Controller Chipset: SMC 83C1700F (83C170QF)
• Bus Interface: 32-bit PCI
• Network Speed: 10/100 Mbps (auto-negotiating)
• Standards: 100Base-TX, 10Base-T
• Port: 1x RJ-45
• Bracket: Full-height PCI bracket installed
• Included: Card only (no drivers disc or documentation)

Applications

The SMC EtherPower II series was a popular line of PCI Fast Ethernet NICs from the mid-to-late 1990s, coinciding with the broad industry transition from 10Base-T to 100Base-TX Ethernet in desktop environments. Cards like the 9432TX were widely deployed in Windows 95/98/NT workstations and small business desktops of that era, providing cost-effective 100 Mbps connectivity when switched Fast Ethernet was becoming the standard. Today these cards are used primarily as replacement parts in legacy desktop systems, older industrial PCs, and vintage computing setups that still run period-correct hardware. The PCI interface was the dominant desktop expansion bus from roughly 1993 through the mid-2000s, so this card is compatible with a wide range of machines from that generation. Driver support existed for Windows 95, 98, ME, NT 4.0, and 2000.