This has to be one of the strangest PCIe cards ever sold: A Japanese company combines an outdated parallel port with a PCIe slot and promises it’s compatible with Windows XP
In what has to be one of the more unusual PCIe cards we’ve seen recently, Japanese company Kuroutoshikou has introduced a PCI Express adapter that adds an outdated parallel port to modern PCs.
Called 1P-LPPCIE3, this device allows users to connect older parallel port devices, such as older printers, through a PCIe x1 slot.
Despite its vintage functionality, the card is surprisingly compatible with a range of Windows operating systems, from Windows XP to Windows 11.
Insert the CD-ROM
Spotted by PC watchthe 1P-LPPCIE3 is equipped with the ASIX AX99100 chipset and features a single external D-sub 25-pin female port (IEEE 1284) for parallel connections – a common standard for older printers such as the HP LaserJet series and various dot- matrix models. It has dimensions of 82 x 67 x 14 mm and weighs approximately 70 grams.
While PCIe cards are generally associated with fast data transfers and advanced capabilities, the 1P-LPPCIE3 stands out by breathing new life into an almost obsolete standard. For those who’ve had an old printer in the attic for twenty years, this PCIe card might be the perfect excuse to finally dust it off – don’t be surprised if the ink has long since dried.
The driver for the card comes on a CD-ROM – a nostalgic throwback to an era when software was commonly distributed in this way. For users who don’t have an optical drive, which is pretty much everyone these days, drivers can also be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.
The map is now for salewith an expected retail price of approximately 4,000 yen (approximately $27). The package includes a low-profile bracket, making it suitable for slim PCs, and the device comes with a one-year warranty.
We can’t imagine the 1P-LPPCIE3 becoming a bestseller, but Kuroutoshikou clearly believes there is enough demand in Japan for a card that bridges the gap between modern and older technology, likely in industrial or niche applications that still rely on older hardware.