A Guide to Computer Ports

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A Guide to Computer Ports

Universal Serial Bus (or USB) Port

Original UniversalSerial Bus Logo

The basic USBtrident logo

The SuperSpeedUSB Logo

The USB 3.0 Icon The USB 3.0 Icon

A universal serial bus port, introduced around 1997, is the gateway to your computer. Its used toconnect all kinds of external devices, such as external hard drives, printers, mice, scanners andmore. There are normally two half-inch long USB ports on the back of computers built since 1998.Sometimes there are USB ports built into a hatch on the front of a computer. If you use a USB hub,you can connect as many as 127 devices to a USB port. It can transfer data to a speed of 12megabits per second, but those 127 devices have to share that speed. Since USB-compliantdevices can draw power from a USB port only a few power drawing devices can connect at thesame time without the computer system complaining.

In 2003, USB 2.0 connectors were introduced on computers. These transfer data at 480 Mbps.Older USB devices work with USB 2.0 ports, but at 12 Mbps. USB 2.0 devices also work with older

USB ports, again at the lower speed.

USB 3.0

On September 18, 2007, Pat Gelsingerdemonstrated USB 3.0 atthe Intel Developer Forum. The USB 3.0 Promoter Groupannounced on November 17, 2008, that version 3.0 of thespecification had been completed and was transitioned to theUSB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), the managing body of USBspecifications. This move effectively opened the spec to hardwaredevelopers for implementation in future products. The first

certified USB 3.0 consumer products were announced January 5,2010, at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show (CES),including two motherboards, by ASUS and Gigabyte Technology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Gelsingerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Developer_Forumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Electronics_Showhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASUShttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigabyte_Technologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USB_3.0_Icon.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Certified_Superspeeed_USB_logo.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Gelsingerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Developer_Forumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Electronics_Showhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASUShttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigabyte_Technology


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Video DB15 Port - a video port for your monitor

This connector is used to attach a computer display monitor to acomputers video card. The connector has 15 holes. It sort of lookslike a serial port connector, however that port has pins not holes in it.

Power Connector- for your power plug

This three-pronged plug looks like a recessed power plug. It connectsto the computers power cable that plugs into a power bar or wallsocket.

Optical Audio (Used by the TOSLINK Cable)

This is an optical (not electrical) cable to connect your compuer to a setof high-end speakers. The digital format is S/PDIF, which in the PCworld is often sent over a regular electrical cable (usually with an RCA

phono plug).

The geeky advantage of the optical cable (note the red glow) is that itstotally immune to electromagnetic interference--long speaker wires can

act as an antenna, picking up the stray 60hz hum that pervades theuniverse. My powered speaker cables would actually pick up CB radio,so theyd occasionally spit out little snatches of conversation astruckers would go by. It happened rarely enough that Id begun todoubt my own sanity before my wife figured out what was going on.

TOSLINK (connects to the Optical Audio Port)

TOSLINK or Optical Cable is a standardized optical fibre connectionsystem. Its most common use is in consumer audio equipment (via adigital optical socket), where it carries a digital audio stream betweencomponents such as MiniDisc and CD players and DAT recorders.Although TOSLINK supports several different media formats andphysical standards, digital audio connections using the rectangularEIAJ/JEITA RC-5720 (also CP-1201 and JIS C5974-1993 F05) connectorare by far the most common.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_fiberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_fiber_connectorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_recordinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_audiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniDischttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_dischttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Tapehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EIAJhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JEITAhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_fiberhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_fiber_connectorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_recordinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_audiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiniDischttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_dischttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Tapehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EIAJhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JEITA


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Coaxial Digital (S/PDIF)

S/PDIF is a Data Link Layerprotocol and a set ofPhysical Layerspecifications for carrying digital audio signals between devicesand stereo components over either optical or electrical cable. The

name stands forSony/Philips Digital Interconnect Format (morecommonly known as Sony Philips Digital InterFace), Sony and Philipsbeing the primary designers of S/PDIF. S/PDIF is standardized inIEC 60958 where it is known as IEC 60958 type II. S/PDIF isessentially a minor modification of the original AES/EBU standard,for consumer use, providing small differences in the protocol andrequiring less-expensive hardware.

Sound card colour code:

Colour Connector

Lime Green Line-Out, Front Speakers, Headphones

Pink Microphone

Light Blue Stereo Line In

Orange Subwoofer and Center out

Black Rear Surround Speakers for 5.1 and 7.1 systems

Gray Middle Surround Speakers for 7.1 systems

Gold Midi / Game port (Joystick)

Note: The number of jack connectors youll find on your soundcard will depend on how many audiochannels it has:

Stereo cards with just two audio channels will have only the green (output), blue (input) andpink (microphone) jacks.

A few sound cards with 8 (7.1) audio channels do not provide the gray (Middle SurroundSpeakers) connector. If your computer is equipped with this type of card and you want to use allthe 8 channels you will need to connect your motherboard to a 7.1 home theater system usingthe SPDIF digital connector.

Some motherboards with 4 or 6 channels dont have the black (Rear Surround) and orange(Subwoofer and Center) jacks. These cards will use the blue jack for both line in and rear surroundspeakers out, and the pink jack for both mic inputand subwoofer/center out. Therefore, wheneveryou want to use any of these jacks for a different function, you will have to manually remove onejack connector and plug in another.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSI_model#Layer_2:_Data_Link_layerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSI_model#Layer_1:_Physical_layerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_audiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signalling_(telecommunications)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripheral_devicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hifi#Modularityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philipshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Electrotechnical_Commissionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AES/EBUhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSI_model#Layer_2:_Data_Link_layerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSI_model#Layer_1:_Physical_layerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_audiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signalling_(telecommunications)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripheral_devicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hifi#Modularityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philipshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Electrotechnical_Commissionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AES/EBU


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HDMI Port

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a compactaudio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital data. It

represents a digital alternative to consumer analogue standards,such as radio frequency (RF) coaxial cable, composite video, S-Video, SCART, component video, D-Terminal, or VGA. HDMIconnects digital audio/video sources - such as set-top boxes, upconvert DVD players, HD DVD players, Blu-ray Disc players,personal computers (PCs), video game consoles such as thePlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and AV receivers - to compatibledigital audio devices, computer monitors, and digital televisions.[

DVI Port

DVI stands for (D)igital (V)ideo (I)nterface.

DVI is a new form of video interface technology made to maximize the quality of flat panel LCDmonitors and high-end video graphics cards. It is a replacement for the P&D Plug & Displaystandard, and a step up from the digital-only DFP format for older flat panels. DVI is becomingincreasingly popular with video card manufacturers, and most cards purchased include both a VGAand a DVI output port.

More here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_frequencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaxial_cablehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_videohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Videohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Videohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCARThttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Component_videohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Terminalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Graphics_Arrayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set-top_boxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVDhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVDhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Dischttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_computerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_consolehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AV_receiverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_audiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_display_unithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_televisionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#cite_note-HDMIFAQ-0http://www.pcuser.com.au/pcuser/hs2.nsf/web/0A13FE4636976C6CCA256C030044612Fhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_frequencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaxial_cablehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composite_videohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Videohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-Videohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCARThttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Component_videohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Terminalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Graphics_Arrayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Set-top_boxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVDhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVDhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Dischttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_computerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_consolehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AV_receiverhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_audiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_display_unithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_televisionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#cite_note-HDMIFAQ-0http://www.pcuser.com.au/pcuser/hs2.nsf/web/0A13FE4636976C6CCA256C030044612F


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S-VHS

S-VHS (Super VHS) is an improved version of the VHS standardfor consumervideo cassette recorders.

It is used to connect to a TV / Monitor.

Ethernet or Network Port - connect to a network and high speed Internet

Above, an Ethernet port with network cable notplugged in.

Below is an Ethernet port with plug inserted.

For faster Internet connections and for networking, anEthernet or network port is used. This looks like anoversized North American telephone jack.

The port is used to connect network cabling to acomputer. Cable plugged into this port can lead either to anetwork hub (a junction box that can wire lots of networkcables together), directly to a cable modem or DSL modem(both used for high speed Internet) or to an Internet gatewaywhich shares a fast Internet connection betweencomputers.

Most newer computers have one of these ports. They caneither be built-in to or appear on the exposed part of anEthernet PCI card, which inserts into a slot inside thecomputer.

Data moves through them at speeds of either 10 megabitsor 100 megabits or 1 gigabit (1,000 megabits) dependingon what speed the network card in the computer supports.Little monitor lights on these devices flicker when in use.

The ACT light flickers when data is moving through thenetwork to or from the port. The 10 or 100 lights relate todata speed. 10 means data is moving across thenetwork at 10 Megabits per second. 100 means thenetwork is moving data at 100 megbits per second.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHShttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_cassette_recorderhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VHShttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_cassette_recorder


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SATA

The serial ATA orSATAcomputer bus, is a storage-interface forconnecting host bus adapters to mass storage devices such ashard disk drives and optical drives. The SATA host adapter is

integrated into almost all modern consumer laptop computers anddesktop motherboards.

Serial ATA was designed to replace the older ATA (ATAttachment) standard (also known as EIDE). It is able to use thesame low level commands, but serial ATA host-adapters anddevices communicate via a high-speed serial cable over two pairsof conductors. In contrast, the parallel ATA (the redesignation forthe legacy ATA specifications) used 16 data conductors eachoperating at a much lower speed.

SATA offers several compelling advantages over the older

parallel ATA (PATA) interface: reduced cable-bulk and cost(reduced from 80 wires to seven), faster and more efficient datatransfer, and hot swapping.

As of 2009, SATA has mostly replaced parallel ATA in allshipping consumer PCs. PATA remains in industrial andembedded applications dependent on CompactFlash storagealthough the new CFast storage standard will be based on SATA

IEEE 1394 or Firewire Port - fast camcorder connector

This port is used to transfer large amounts of data very quickly. Usually camcorders and othervideo equipment use this port to get data onto a computer. Data can move across the port at up to400 megabits per second. Apple invented this technology and had branded it Firewire. It was alsoadopted as an industry standard and is called IEEE 1394 on non-Apple computers. Othercompanies call it i.link and Lynx. Creative Labs which incorporated it into their SoundBlasterAudigy Platinium products call it SB 1394. IEEE 1394 connectors can be used to connect up to 63external devices to a machine.

TOP: A 6-Pin FireWire 400 connector

Middle: A 4-Pin FireWire 400 connector. This connector is not powered.

Bottom: A 9-Pin FireWire 800 connector
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_bushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Host_adapterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_storage_devicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_disk_drivehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_drivehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motherboardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT_Attachmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT_Attachmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT_Attachmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT_Attachmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_communicationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retronymhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_ATAhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_transferhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_transferhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_swappinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CompactFlashhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CompactFlash#CFasthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SATA_ports.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SATA2_und_eSATA-Stecker.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_bushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Host_adapterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_storage_devicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_disk_drivehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_drivehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motherboardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT_Attachmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT_Attachmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_communicationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retronymhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_ATAhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_transferhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_transferhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_swappinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CompactFlashhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CompactFlash#CFast


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Modem

Connects a PCs modem to the telephone network. This is an ordinaryphone jack, like youd find in any telephone.

Serial Port - for external modems and old computer mice

A serial port is used to connect external modems or an oldercomputer mouse to the computer. It comes in two versions a 9-pin version or a 25-pin model. The 9-pin is found on most newercomputers. Data travels over a serial port at 115 kilobits persecond.

Parallel Port - connector for scanners and printers

A parallel port is used to connect external devices such asscanners and printers. The 25-pin port is sometimes it iscalled a printer port. Its also known by the gruesome named:IEEE 1284-compliant Centronics port.

The port is sometimes also called more simply a printer

port. There are two variants for this type of interface. Theports look exactly like the traditional parallel port but arecalled ECP (Extend Capabilities Port) and EPP (EnhancedParallel Port). These interfaces are ten times faster than theolder printer port and can support two-way data so thatcomputers can ask for information from a printer as well assend it.

PS/2 Port - keyboard and mouse interface

A PS/2 port, sometimes called a mouse port, was developed byIBM. It is used to connect a computer mouse or keyboard. Mostcomputers come with two PS/2 ports.

Sometimes webcams piggyback on the ports in conjunction with aparallel port. Sometimes it is not necessary to use a mouse port,as some keyboards and mice can be used with a USB port.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Ps-2-ports.jpg


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AT Keyboard Port

Connect a PC to an older keyboard. If you dont plug in a keyboard here,you get the famous BIOS boot error:

Keyboard not found. Press F1 to continue.

This giant port is a holdover from the ancient IBM PC AT.

Its apparently physically the same connector found on MIDI synthesizersand instruments, although its electrically totally different.

Gameport

Connect a PC to a joystick (or two). This port is now mostlyreplaced by USB.

This DB-15 connector has several (extremely primitive) analogue

inputs and a small number of digital inputs and outputs.

Because the MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) standardscavenged two pins from this port, the port is almost alwayslocated on the sound card. Apparently people that use MIDInormally have some sort of big ugly dongle that extracts MIDIsignals from their joystick port.

SCSI

Short for Small Computer System Interface, SCSI pronounced asScuzzy is the second most commonly used interface for diskdrives. Unlike competing standards SCSI is capable ofsupporting eight devices or sixteen devices with Wide SCSI.

SCSI-1 is the original SCSI standard developed back in 1986 asANSI X3.131-1986. SCSI-1 is capable of transferring up to eightbits a second

SCSI-2 approved in 1990 SCSI-2 added new features such asFast and Wide SCSI, support for additional devices,

SCSI-3 was approved in 1996 as ANSI X3.270-1996

SCSI is a standard for parallel interface that transfers informationat rate of eight bits per second and faster which is faster than theaverage parallel interface. SCSI-2 and above supports up toseven peripheral devices , such as a hard drive, CD-ROM, andscanner can attach to a single SCSI port on a systems bus.SCSI ports were designed for Apple Macintosh and Unixcomputers, but also can be used with PCs.

http://www.cablestogo.com/resources/connector_guide.asp?
http://www.cablestogo.com/resources/connector_guide.asp?http://www.cablestogo.com/resources/connector_guide.asp?

Documents

A Guide to Computer Ports