077 - Types of PC Cable Port

TYPES OF CONNECTOR PORT
••••••••••	A connector is a conductive device that allows a physical interface between devices. Functions such as: connecting hardware with a PC cable, connecting you online or to a network with a networking cable, provide audio/video to a system with an A/V cable, deliver digital or analog connectivity, or power to a device with a power cable, among others.

PS2 • A PS2 connector is used for things like mouse and keyboards, however it is slowly been taken over by USB connectors. PS2 cannocters and port were founded by IBM in 1987.

Games Port • The game port, originally introduced on the Game Control Adapter, is a device port that was found on IBM PC compatible and other computer systems throughout the 1980s and 1990s. It was the traditional connector for joystick input, and occasionally MIDI devices, until replaced by USB in the 21st century.

Serial Port • Serial port uses the DB-9 connector (9 pins, D shape). This connector is used to connect serial devices to the PC, such as a mouse, modem or even a serial printer.

Parallel Port • Parallel connector uses a DB-25 connector (25 pins, D shape). It is used to connect parallel devices with the PC such as a printer, scanner or even external hard drive.

VGA • The first video connector that we will mention is the DB-15 connector. This DB connector has three rows and we can recognize it because of that. It is usually called a VGA connector.

S-Video • Some motherboards can also have s-video connector. We can use it to connect our PC to the TV.

DVI • The third video connector is the DVI connector. That connector is used to connect digital monitors to the PC. VGA monitors are actually analog monitors. We had to convert digital signal from the PC into an analog signal for the monitor to display. DVI connector allows us to take that digital signal and send it to a digital monitor right away.

USB • USB allows us to connect a variety of external devices. We can connect up to 127 devices using series of USB hubs. We can connect printers, digital cameras, external hard drives, TV tuners, and many other devices.

FireWire • The next connector is the IEEE 1394, also known as the FireWire port. FireWire functions much in the same fashion as a USB. It is used to connect things like digital cameras, external hard drives, scanners and others.

IDE • (Integrated Drive Electronics) IDE cables were once used to connect storage devices to a motherboard. However, today they have nearly been phased out and are rarely used. The IDE ports typically had 40 pins in two rows; however, the smaller IDE had 44 pins.

SATA • (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) SATA is what replaced IDE. Today, SATA is commonly used to connect hard drives to the motherboard. A SATA cable has 7 pins and is shaped like an L. As compared to its predecessor IDE, SATA provides higher data transfer speeds.

eSATA • (External Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) eSATA is nothing more than an extension of SATA. Like SATA, it is used to connect hard drives to the motherboard. However, eSATA is commonly used to connect external hard drives and optical drives. Both, SATA and eSATA provide faster data transfer speeds as compared to its alternatives FireWire and USB.

Network • Over the years various types of network connectors have been used in PC systems. Today the most popular type of network is an ethernet network. Therefore many motherboards have those connectors implemented. The ethernet network connector uses an RJ-45 socket.

Phone • Phone line connector is used to connect dial-up modems with phone lines. It is also called RJ-11.

Audio • The blue connector which is the Line-in connector. That connector is used to connect external audio source. The green connector which is the Line-out connector. That connector is used to connect speakers to our PC system. The pink connector which is the Microphone connector. We can use it to record audio from the microphone. The Dolby audio uses black connector for rear speaker and orange connector for subwoofer.

S/PDIF • (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) This interface is used to transfer audio, and it can be designed for coaxial cable or optical cable.

IEC POWER CONNECTORS • An IEC connector refers to a type of electronic cable that meet the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards. The specification for IEC connectors is IEC-60320. The connectors mount with cables are commonly referred to as female connectors or sockets, whereas the connectors mount with panels are known as male connectors or plugs.