When sourcing dial-up modems, the price is heavily influenced by the chipset (e.g., Conexant, Agere, or USRobotics) and the interface type. USB external modems are generally more cost-effective for modern systems, while PCI or PCIe internal cards are preferred for industrial rack servers. Ensure the device supports the V.92 protocol, which offers faster connection times and 'Modem on Hold' features compared to the older V.90 standard. For industrial applications, look for lightning protection and surge isolation (up to 6KV), as these features justify a higher price point by preventing hardware failure.