PC connectors. All motherboard connectors. USB power supply

External devices are connected to connectors and sockets located on the outside of the PC system unit (back and front sides) or laptop (sides or back):

The response connectors look like this:

Power cables(220 V)

power unit ASUS laptop

PS/2 plugs for connecting a keyboard (purple) and mouse (green).

LPT cable. The LPT (parallel port) port was mainly used to connect printers. Modern printer models provide connection to a USB port.

COM cable. COM port (serial port) is mainly used to connect modems.

USB cable. The USB port was developed later than the above ports. Most peripheral devices are connected via the USB port: modems, printers, scanners, flash drives, portable hard drives, digital cameras, etc.

VGA cable. Used to connect a monitor. Cable for connecting to the Internet (Intranet) ( RJ-45 connector)

Slot connector types used on the motherboard (ISA or EISA, PCI, AGP):

Slots with PCI connector (female):

and sound card with PCI connector (male):

PCI connectors used to connect an internal modem, sound card, network card, SCSI disk controller.

ISA slots (Mother). The ISA interface is deprecated. In modern PCs, it is usually absent.

PCISA FlipPOST diagnostic board with connectors PCI and ISA (male) PCZWiz company

Slot with AGP connector(dad is at the top, mom is at the bottom).

The AGP interface is designed to connect a video adapter to a separate bus, with output directly to system memory.

UDMA connector slot(father is on the right, mother is on the left).
Hard drives and more are connected to it.

It should be noted that each slot type has its own color. By opening access to the motherboard, you can easily find your way around. But it’s better that you don’t need it. But the cables that connect external devices to the PC “you need to know by sight.” Remember that the mother and father of the connector must be the same color. Always remember to match the colors of the male and female connectors or know what the colors of the connectors on the PC (laptop) case indicate.

Take, for example, a standard sound card:

Linear audio output to the speaker is always green.

The line input for audio amplification is always blue.

The microphone connector is always pink.

Match them with plugs:

The color design of the connectors will help you. True, colors among PC manufacturers are not unified. For example, some may have a purple keyboard connector, while others may have a red or gray one. Therefore, pay attention to Special symbols, which mark the connectors. In this case, it will not be difficult for you to find out.

Decoding computer connector symbols

Appearance of computer and laptop ports

Interface cables external devices unique. You cannot insert it into another connector on your PC (the design and number of sockets are different). All this will help you move your PC (laptop) from place to place without prompting from anyone. You will be able to connect devices and cables to your PC correctly. I hope that the material presented will help you with this.

Now let's look at each connector in more detail. Let's start from top to bottom in order. First on the list will be socket for connecting the power cable: Standard power cable, this cable connects all computer devices, from printers and scanners to faxes and monitors. A very convenient cable, differing only in the length of the wire and the thickness of the wire section. Accordingly, the thicker the cable, the greater the load it can withstand. PS/2 connector used for connecting mouse and keyboard. In their visual appearance they are absolutely identical, the only difference is in their coloring. The green port is for connecting a mouse, the purple port is for connecting a keyboard. In modern motherboards you can find one PS/2 port, which is painted in two colors at once, green and purple, this means that you can connect either a mouse or a keyboard to it. COM port – was once used to connect a mouse, modems, scanners. Now this port is practically not used. Over the past 7 years, I have had to use this port several times. To connect temperature sensors to it. It was through this port that the data accumulated on it was read. Also through this port I connected a set-top box for satellite dishes(updating the firmware). VGA port – for connecting a monitor. The port is very similar to the previous one, but has three rows of contacts and is always painted blue. This port has been used for connecting monitors for many years. Now new video cards with a DVI port are being actively introduced (photo on the right). When choosing a monitor with such a cable, I advise you to carefully check which DVI port you have on your motherboard, since there are at least five different types. LPT port– previously used to connect a printer or scanner. Now this port is obsolete and no one uses it. The outdated LPT port has been replaced by a new, more functional USB port. In modern motherboards this port is not installed as unnecessary. USB port– the most widely used connector in any modern computer. You can connect a mouse, keyboard, camera, flash drive, printer, scanner, video camera and much more to this connector. There are two types of USB ports – USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. The USB 3.0 port has a blue color inside; this port has a higher throughput speed. USB 2.0 ports are white and black. Network port– for connecting a network cable. A cable from the provider that provides you with Internet service is connected to this port. The same ports are present on your router (if you use one). This port can be used to connect audio devices. For connecting speakers, headphones, microphones, etc. Red connector for connecting a microphone, green connector for connecting speakers (headphones), blue connector for line output (for transmitting sound signal to another device).

Hard drive connectors

In the process of computer development, HDD or hard drive changed several connector specifications; for many modern computer scientists, names such as IDE, SCSI and their modifications are already history. Dimensions hard drive also changed significantly, the first bricks I had to work with weighed more than a kilogram!

At the moment, the following hard drive connectors are relevant:

SATA connector is the most popular nowadays hard disks with such an interface are found in computers, laptops, servers, video recorders and other computer equipment.

There are from 4 to 8 SATA connectors on the computer motherboard. Not only hard drives are connected through this interface. CD-ROM DVD-ROM drives it is also used.

MSATA connector— Variety SATA connector, designed specifically for solid state drives (SSDs), which have replaced mechanical hard drives. SSD drives with such an interface are found in computers, laptops, servers, video recorders and other computer equipment.

SCSI (Small Computer System Interface), pronounced "skazi" - a system-level interface, standardized by ANSI, unlike interface ports (COM, LPT, IR, MIDI), is a bus: the signal pins of many subscriber devices are connected to each other " one to one." The main purpose of the SCSI bus during the development of the first specification in 1985 was “to ensure hardware independence of devices of a certain class connected to a computer.” Unlike hard expansion buses, the SCSI bus is implemented in the form of a separate cable loop, which allows the connection of up to 8 devices (SCSI-1 specification) of internal and external design. One of them - host adapter(Host Adapter) connects the SCSI bus to the computer’s system bus, seven others are free for peripherals.
Fig 1. SCSI adapter from ASUSTeK The following can be connected to the bus: · internal and external disk drives (CD-ROM, hard drives, removable hard drives, magneto-optical disks, etc.); · streamers; · scanners; · photo and video cameras; · other equipment used not only for IBM PC. Each device connected to the bus has its own identifier SCSI ID, which is transmitted as a positional code over an 8-bit data bus (hence the limitation on the number of devices on the bus). A device (ID) can have up to 8 subdevices with their own LUNs (Logical Unit Number). Any device can initiate communication with another target device(Target). The exchange mode on the SCSI bus can be: · asynchronous, or · synchronous with speed negotiation (Synchronous Negotiation), where data transfer is controlled by parity.

SCSI Specifications

SCSI-1 specification strictly defines the physical and electrical parameters interface and a minimum of commands. Bus frequency - 5 MHz. Bus width is 8 bits. The ANSI standard was developed in December 1985. SCSI-2 specification defines 18 basic SCSI commands (Common Command Set, CCS), mandatory for all peripheral devices, and additional commands for CD-ROM and other peripherals. The devices support queues - they can accept chains of up to 256 commands and execute them in a pre-optimized order autonomously. Devices on the same SCSI bus can exchange data without CPU involvement. The ANSI standard was developed in March 1990. Additional extensions SCSI-2 specifications: · Fast - doubling the synchronous transmission speed (bus frequency 10 MHz). · Ultra - ultra-high-speed interface (bus frequency 20 MHz). · Wide - increasing the bit depth to 16 bits, less often 32 bits. The maximum throughput depends on the frequency and bus width and is given in Table 1 for combinations of these extensions. 1.

Table 1. Data transfer rates, lengths and types of SCSI-1, SCSI-2 cables SCSI-3 specification- further development of the standard aimed at increasing the number of connected devices, specification of additional commands, and support for Plug and Play. As an alternative to the parallel interface SPI(SCSI-3 Parallel Interface) it becomes possible to use a serial interface, including a fiber-optic interface with a data transfer rate of 100 MB/. SCSI-3 exists in the form of a wide range of documents defining individual aspects of the interface, and in many ways overlaps with the serial bus FireWire.

Terminators, connectors

According to the type of signals there are linear(Single Ended) and differential(Differential) versions of SCSI, their cables and connectors are identical, but electrical compatibility there are no devices between them. Differential the version for each signal uses a twisted pair of conductors and a special transceiver, while a large total cable length becomes permissible while maintaining a high exchange frequency. The differential interface is used in powerful server disk systems, but is not common in ordinary PCs. IN linear version, the signal must travel along its one conductor, twisted (or at least separate from the other in a flat cable) with a neutral (return) wire. Universal symbolic designations of versions are shown in Fig. 1. SCSI devices are connected by cables chain(Daisy Chain), on the edge devices they connect terminators. Often one of the extreme devices is the host adapter. It can have both an internal and external connector for each channel:

Internal connectors
Low-Density 50-pin	connection of internal narrow devices - HDD, CD-ROM, CD-R, MO, ZIP (like IDE, only 50 pins)
High-Density 68-pin	connection of internal wide devices, mainly HDD
External connectors
DB-25	25 connection of external slow devices, mainly scanners, IOmega Zip Plus. most common on Mac. (like a modem)
Low-Density 50-pin	or Centronics 50-pin. external connection of scanners, streamers. usually SCSI-1.
High-Density 50-pin	or Micro DB50, Mini DB50. Standard external narrow connector
High-Density 68-pin	or Micro DB68, Mini DB68. Standard external wide connector
High-Density 68-pin	or Micro Centronics. according to some sources it is used for external connection SCSI devices.

When using the external and internal connectors of the host adapter simultaneously, its terminators are disabled. The correct use of terminators is essential - the absence of one of the terminators or, conversely, an extra terminator can lead to instability or loss of functionality of the interface. In terms of execution, terminators can be either internal(posted on printed circuit board devices) and external(installed on cable or device connectors). Based on their electrical properties, the following types of terminators are distinguished: · Passive (SCSI-1) with an impedance of 132 Ohms - ordinary resistors. These terminators are not suitable for high-speed SCSI-2 modes. · Active with an impedance of 110 Ohms - special terminators to ensure operation at a frequency of 10 MHz in SCSI-2. · FPT (Forced Perfect Terminator) - an improved version of active terminators with emission limiters. Active terminators require power, for which there are special TERMPWR interface lines.

SCSI devices

It is not possible to list all SCSI devices; we will list only a few of their types: HDD, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, Tape (streamer), MO (magneto-optical drive), ZIP, Jaz, SyQuest, scanner. Among the more exotic ones, we note Solid State disks (SSD) - a very fast mass memory device on chips and IDE RAID - a box with n IDE disks that pretends to be one large SCSI disk. In general, we can assume that all devices on the SCSI bus are the same and the same set of commands is used to work with them. Of course, as it develops physical level SCSI has changed and software interface. One of the most common today is ASPI. On top of this interface you can use drivers for scanners, CD-ROMs, MO. For example, the correct CD-ROM driver can work with any device on any controller, as long as the controller has an ASPI driver. By the way, Windows95 emulates ASPI even for IDE/ATAPI devices. This can be seen, for example, in programs such as EZ-SCSI and Corel SCSI. Each device on the SCSI bus has its own number. This number is called SCSI ID. For some purposes, for example, CD-ROM device libraries, a LUN is also used - the logical device number. If there are 8 CD-ROMs in the library, then it has a SCSI ID, for example, 6, and logically CD-ROMs differ in LUN. For the controller, all this looks like SCSI ID - LUN pairs, in our example 6-0, 6-1, ..., 6-7. LUN support must be enabled in the SCSI BIOS if necessary. The SCSI ID number is usually set using jumpers (although there are new standards in SCSI, similar to Plug&Play, that do not require jumpers). They can also set parameters: parity check, turning on the terminator, powering the terminator, turning on the disk at the controller’s command. All SCSI devices require special drivers. A basic disk drive driver is usually included in the host adapter's BIOS. Extensions such as ASPI (Advanced SCSI Programming Interface) are downloaded separately.

Scanners

Typically, scanners come with their own card. Sometimes it is completely “our own”, as, for example, in the Mustek Paragon 600N, and sometimes it is just the most simplified version of standard SCSI. In principle, using a scanner with it should not cause problems, but sometimes connecting the scanner to another controller (if the scanner has this capability) can be beneficial. Scanning A4 with 32-bit color at 600dpi is a picture of about 90Mb and transferring this amount of information through the 8-bit ISA bus not only takes a lot of time, but also greatly slows down the PC, because Drivers for this standard card are usually 16-bit (for example, Mustek Paragon 800IISP). An additional one is usually a cheap FastSCSI PCI controller. Less or more productive will not give anything new. This option also has a caveat - you need to make sure that the scanner (or more importantly, its drivers) can work with your new controller in your configuration. For example, Mustek Paragon 800IISP drivers are designed for your card or any ASPI compatible one.

Serial port RS-232

RS-232 (English Recommended Standard) is a standard for serial asynchronous transmission of binary data between two devices at a distance of up to 15 meters. The RS-232 port is not often seen in business laptops these days, but can be useful in industrial laptops. It is used to implement real-time data collection systems, connect scientific equipment, and control other devices. To connect equipment operating according to the RS-232 standard, laptops are equipped with a 9-pin DB-9 (D-sub) connector.

Any equipment connected to a computer is a heap of wires with a foreign abbreviation: IDE, SATA, USB, etc. It’s no wonder that you can get confused in them...

From Masterweb

31.03.2018 01:00

Looking at the front or back panel desktop computer, you can see buttons and connectors on both sides. The front panel buttons are used by the user to control the PC. For example, a computer's power switch is on the front side, while the back panel connectors or ports are connected to various devices input/output. Connectors are important devices, ensuring the correct operation of the installed equipment on the computer.

Even if they are all familiar to you, over time technical progress gives rise to new standards for reception and transmission or power supply, and accordingly, new adapters are required. Let's find out what the situation is in this area today, as well as how to connect a PC to a TV, monitor, gadgets or other peripheral device. What types of USB connectors are there?

VGA video graphics array

This is one of the oldest standard cables, dating back to the 1980s, used to connect a computer to a monitor. Due to the transition to digital technology, its use has practically disappeared.

However, if you look at any graphics card or display device, you will find a VGA port. VGA connections are identified by 15 pins arranged in 3 rows of 5 each. Each line corresponds to three different color channels used on the display: red, green and blue.

DVI digital visual interface

Types DVI connectors became the successors to VGA as technology moved from analog to digital. Digital displays such as LCD have proven to be of higher quality.

DVI connectors come in three types:

• DVI-A – Can carry analog signals, allowing them to be backward compatible with VGA, useful for CRT and lower quality LCD monitors.
• DVI-D – can transmit new digital signals.
• DVI-I – used for both analog and digital signal. In some cases, a VGA-DVI or DVI-VGA cable may be required.

HDMI Multimedia Interface

In the last decade, high-definition broadcasts have become the new standard, which explains high quality Images. Unlike VGA and DVI, HDMI sends both video and audio signals simultaneously. These signals are purely digital, so HDMI connector types are only compatible with newer, cutting-edge devices.

The main difference between HDMI and DVI, other than the connectors, is that the HDMI format is designed to carry both video and audio signals, as well as CEC, which is a Consumer Electronics Control, DDC (Digital Data Channel) and Ethernet connections for data transfer (with HDMI 1.4). HDMI is based on DVI, using the same modern protocol to transmit uncompressed video signals. This protocol is called TMDS (Transition Minimized Differential Signaling).

For the consumer, this means that any device using DVI connections can be connected to HDMI connectors via a simple adapter. No special complex manipulations are required for this.

HDMI Connector Types

So what types of devices are there? With the release of the HDMI 1.4 specification, there are now four different types of HDMI connectors. The original HDMI 1.0 only had two, others were added to meet industry needs for new technologies.

Types of connectors:

• HDMI Type A - standard. This is the original HDMI connector released in version 1.0, a 19-pin connector with video and audio signals. The structural part of the connector is approximately 19 mm wide.
• HDMI Type B - Extended HDMI 1.0 pin, provides an extended 29-pin connector, which was not previously used. This connector is slightly wider than Type A, with a screen width of 21.2mm.
• HDMI Type C - Mini. The mini connector was developed in version 1.3 for HDMI to meet the need for a smaller connector in portable equipment. The mini-jack is up to 11.2mm wide, about 60% of the Type A connector.
• HDMI TYPE D - Micro. The newest member of the HDMI family of connectors is the "micro" connector, which was released in version 1.4 to provide high definition video connectivity for mobile phones and other small electronic devices. It is only 6.4mm wide (1/3 the width of the original connector).

Universal Serial Bus USB

USB connector types are the most common among connections in modern world. Almost all types of computer peripherals - keyboard, mouse, headset, flash drives, wireless adapters can be connected to a computer via a USB port. The design has evolved over the years, which explains why there are several versions of USB:

• USB 1.0 transfers data at speeds up to 12 Mbit.
• USB 2.0 can transfer data at speeds up to 480 Mbps, compatible with older versions.
• USB 3.0 can transfer data at speeds up to 4.8 Gbps, compatible with all previous versions.

Mini and micro USB connectors are most often used with smaller portable devices such as tablets, phones and digital cameras.

The new USB-C connector is being released by manufacturers such as Apple, Google and Microsoft. Along with modern connector and port designs, a new USB 3.1 SuperSpeed+ standard has emerged. USB-C cables comply with European regulations and require a universal connector for charging mobile phones. This suggests that soon all mobile devices will be charged and connected using USB-C cables.

Advanced AKA type connector USB Type-C- connector of new size and shape. Much easier to use than previous USB cables. The reversible design allows you to connect the device in any direction, so you don't have to worry about connecting the cable incorrectly. This will allow manufacturers to design devices that are thinner and lighter than ever before.

As the new USB-C port is adopted by laptop, tablet, hub and PC manufacturers, the need for new USB 3.1 SuperSpeed+ cables will continue to grow.

IDE and SATA for motherboards

These types of cable connectors are used to connect storage devices to the motherboard. This is a wide cable that looks like a ribbon with more than two connectors. The connectors on the IDE cable are 40-pin, the smaller 2.5-inch drive row uses a 44-pin version of the IDE form factor. New hard drives will most likely use SATA ports over IDE interfaces.

In fact, SATA was developed during the development of IDE. Compared to IDE, SATA provides higher data transfer speeds. The board type connector is designed for motherboards that are SATA compatible. At the moment they are the most common. A standard SATA cable can be identified by two connectors, each with 7 pins and a blank label that looks like a thin L shape.

eSATA technology is an extension or improvement of the SATA cable - it makes the technology available in external form. In reality, eSATA is not much different from SATA, but allows connections to devices such as external hard drives and optical drives. This is useful because it offers speeds much faster than other FireWire and USB alternatives.

FireWire and Ethernet for computer peripherals

These types of cable connectors are used for computer devices. The purpose of FireWire is similar to that of USB: high-speed data transfer for computer peripherals. FireWire will be used for devices with high throughput such as printers and scanners. For some reason, FireWire is not as widespread as USB.

FireWire cables come in two forms: 1394a - 400 Mbps transfer speed and 1394b - 800 Mbps transfer speed. Ethernet cables are used to set up local networks. In most cases, they are used to connect routers to modems and computers. If the user has ever tried to install or fix home router, most likely he encountered a wired Ethernet cable.

Currently they are produced in three versions:

• Cat 5 cables are the most basic and provide speeds of 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps.
• Cat 5e, which stands for Cat 5 Enhanced, provides faster data transfer than its predecessor. It closes at 1000 Mbps.
• Cat 6 is the latest and offers better performance out of three. It is capable of supporting speeds of 10 Gbps.

Modular RJ Wiring Diagram

RJ type connectors are standard on telecommunications equipment. The RJ designation is based on a combination of number of positions, actual conductors, and wiring diagram. For example, the ends of a standard Ethernet cable are usually called RJ45, RJ45, which actually implies not only that it is an 8-position, 8-wire modular jack, but also that it is connected to the Network. These modular connector types can be very useful because they combine always-on availability, multiple conductors, moderate flexibility, low cost, and moderate throughput.

They were not originally designed to provide much power. Today, these cables can be used to transfer several hundred milliamps of data from one device to another. You must ensure that the jacks for such applications are connected correctly to Ethernet ports, otherwise it will cause damage.

Amphenol RF are leaders in N-type connectors, delivering superior performance that meets the latest industry standards. Amphenol N-Type connectors are a high quality (50 ohm) coaxial connector series with a threaded connection mechanism. N-type connector is mainly used in the communications and broadcasting industry with applications including base station equipment, satellite systems, antennas, instrumentation, radar and WLAN.

F-Type connector series

F-type threaded connectors provide a high-performance, low-cost option. The primary applications of F-Type connectors are for cable television (CATV), set-top boxes and cable modems. The F-Type is a 75mm connector with 30dB negative loss at 1GHz. Additionally, these connectors accept 0.022-0.042 inch conductors and meet 3/8-32 thread specifications.

The F-Type connector is an alternative to the G-Type threaded connector. Its proprietary design provides cylindrical coaxial contact and superior RF performance, as well as excellent insertion/cutoff performance of 30 dB return loss at 1 GHz. Provides high performance that outperforms the competition.

Types of package for mounting on a printed circuit board: surface and edge mounting, right angle. Its design meets the requirements of the devices. Capacity - .022-.042 inches. One connector accommodates a wide range of cable sizes, reducing part numbers. Usage:

• Head unit equipment.
• CATV overhead boxes.
• High speed cable modems.
• Hybrid coaxial networks.

Fiber Optic Connections

The introduction of fiber optic cables has made it possible to realize much higher data rates with a higher signal. The types of optical connectors available in the market are LC fiber cable, ST-SC single mode fiber cable, etc. LC, ST, SC actually refer to different types fiber optic connectors.

The fiber optic connector allows for faster connection and disconnection. It must be properly aligned with microscopic glass fibers to highlight the range for communication. In total, there are almost 100 types of fiber optic connectors, but only a few are of great interest to the market - LC, SC, ST, FC, etc.

Details about the above connectors:

1. SC, also called square connector, was developed by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, but did not immediately gain popularity after production costs were reduced. Now it is increasingly popular in single mode fiber optic cable, analog CATV, GPON, GBIC. It is a 2.5mm diameter snap-on (push-pull) connector that operates to IEC 61754-4 standard. The connector's outer square profile, along with its snap mechanism, allows for increased packing density of connectors in tools and patch panels.
2. LC refers to the Lucent connector. It is a small form factor push-pull connector that uses a 1.25mm ferrule, half the size of the SC. LC, thanks to the combination big size and latch functions, ideal for high-density interconnects, SFP and SFP+ transceivers and XFP transceivers. Along with the development of LC-compatible transceivers and active network components, its demand will continue to grow in the FTTH market.
3. FC is short for Ferrule connector. This is a round threaded fiber optic connector developed by Nippon Telephone and Telegraph in Japan. The FC connector is used for single-mode optical fiber that supports polarization. FC is a screw ferrule connector (2.5mm) which was the first fiber optic connector to use a ceramic ferrule. However, FC is becoming less common due to the weakening of its vibration and loss of insertion, being largely replaced by SC and LC.
4. ST refers to the straight tip. The ST connector was developed by AT&T shortly after the creation of the FC. ST uses a bayonet mount, which is different from a screw thread. You need to make sure that the SC connectors are installed correctly due to their spring loaded design. SC is mainly used in multimode fiber optic cables, enclosures and buildings. The differences between connector types can be easily ignored in complex wiring diagrams. However, by choosing the right option, you can reap significant benefits, saving time and costs.

Mini-DIN 6 Female to Keyboard Adapter

This connector quickly and easily connects the next generation PS2 keyboard to legacy PCs using the 5-pin PC/AT keyboard port. This universal adapter/converter cable has a molded 6-pin Mini-DIN female on one end (PS2 side) and a molded 5-pin DIN female (PC/AT side) on the other. The MD6 (type 6 connector) to DIN5 keyboard adapter is 100% shielded for superior EMI/RFI interference rejection.

Product Features - Insulating durable PVC shell with connectors. 100% shielded design designed to combat unwanted EMI/RFI interference. The 3-pin Mini-DIN connector is an important component when preparing a GNU/Linux system for use with hardware stereo.

As part of the NVidia 3DVision kit, you must connect an NVidia Quadro-class video card to a stereo IR receiver to ensure synchronization of the signal with the glasses. IN Windows system The DirectX-based NVidia driver allows synchronization via a USB receiver cable on Linux that uses OpenGL; the driver requires the older VESA-based standard.

IEC 320 C13/C14 for computer power supply

These types of power connectors allow you to connect electronic devices to existing sockets. Power cables can carry alternating current or direct current. An example of alternating current is the power provided by a standard outlet in a home or office. Example of food direct current is the power provided by the battery.

There are several various types connectors and interfaces that are used all over the world. IEC 320 C13/C14 connectors are based on standards created by the International Electrotechnical Commission and the international standards body.

The one published under number 320 is one of the specifications describing power connectors. The official standard is actually designated 60320, but common usage at the consumer code level reduces this to 320. The C13 line connector is very common in the PC and A/V industry. The connector for the C13 socket is a C14 plug that is often recessed panel or chassis mounted on computer power supplies or power transformers.

Whether it's laptops, PCs or Mac computers, there are still plenty of computer ports and wires to use. Today, leaders in the computer industry are working hard to achieve one goal: one multi-purpose cable. However, for now, users are forced to make do with numerous traditional types of computer connectors.

Kievyan Street, 16 0016 Armenia, Yerevan +374 11 233 255

Published: 01/16/2017

Hello my dear readers, today I would like to touch upon such an important topic as the basic connectors of the system unit. Let's see what they are for and what can be connected to them?

I personally believe that every user who uses a computer more or less often is simply obliged to know the main connectors of the system unit in order to subsequently be able to connect new equipment to the computer or be able to assemble a computer in a new place.

Many of you have probably already encountered assembling a computer, but probably few of you did everything right the first time. In this article, I would like to look at the main connectors of the system unit and figure out what they are used for, so that in the future you will not have problems when assembling a computer or when installing new equipment.

So, let's begin. Below I will give a typical system unit with explanations. Later we will figure out what each specific port serves.

In the picture we see a typical system unit, a little outdated, but I think it’s suitable for ours.

Connectors for network cables

At the very top of the system unit we see a power supply connector (or PSU for short) for connecting the computer to the network. Under it there is usually a sticker with the allowed input voltage. For example, 220 V. Under the connector there is a switch that can be switched to the “0” and “I” positions. Accordingly, 0 - current supply is not allowed, I - current supply is allowed.

Now a little about what a power supply is. A power supply is a voltage converter that is present in every system unit. He receives current from you home network and converts it into what is necessary for the operation of the computer; it also distributes it using its wiring between internal components your system unit. Such as the motherboard, hard drives, video card and external coolers. It looks something like this:

And more productive and modern ones like this:

Like the main system unit, it also has its own specialized connectors for connecting internal components of the system unit itself. Some for hard drives, others for coolers, and others for the motherboard. But today we won’t delve into the power supply connectors in detail, because that’s not what the article is about. And if the power supply is already installed in the system unit, then everything has already been connected before you.

However, the power supply itself does not simply plug into the outlet. A special network cable is required. It looks like this:

One end of the cable is plugged into a regular outlet, and the other is connected to a connector in the power supply. Therefore, in order to supply current to our system unit with all its internal components, we need to connect the power supply to the outlet using a cable and switch the toggle switch on the power supply to the current supply position - “I”.

Connectors motherboard

So, we sorted out the power supply. Now let's move on to the motherboard connectors. This is the largest and most basic board inside your system unit, so it has the largest number of different connectors. By the way, it looks something like this:

And the most common connectors on it are ps/2 ports, usb jacks, graphic connectors, a connector for a network cable and outputs for audio devices (microphone, speakers, amplifier, etc.)

Keyboard and mouse connectors

In the very top row of motherboard connectors there are two PS/2 ports.

They are always nearby and serve to connect a keyboard and mouse. Green for connecting a mouse, purple for connecting a keyboard. The connectors are absolutely identical, they differ only in color. Therefore, they are often confused with each other. Even the color difference doesn't help. After all, most users have their computer at the bottom, under the table, turned to its side. rear panel to the wall, where there is pitch darkness. There is only one way out of this situation - a flashlight. But there is also a little trick. The mouse connector is most often located on the right side, and the keyboard connector on the left. This connector has long been outdated, and lately it has become less and less common. On the latest models where it is still used, these two ports are combined into one and can connect both a mouse and a keyboard.

Outdated connectors

After the PS/2 mouse and keyboard connectors on modern motherboards there are usually usb 2.0 and usb 3.0 ports, but on earlier motherboards there are still monsters like these that are incomprehensible to the modern user:

This is a parallel LPT connector. It is an obsolete connector and has long been replaced by a universal one USB port which I will describe below. The LTP connector was once developed by IBM and was used to connect peripheral devices (printers, modems, etc.) in the MS-DOS system.

You may also come across this port:

This is a serial COM port. It is also morally outdated. The word serial means that data is transmitted sequentially, one bit at a time. Previously it was used to connect terminals, network devices and mice. Currently sometimes used to connect satellite receivers, sources uninterruptible power supply and security systems.

Below are the USB ports already familiar to most of you. These are the ones into which we insert our flash drives, printers, USB chargers for phones and much more. Currently, there are several types of these ports. The most popular of them are usb 2.0 and usb 3.0

They differ in color and data transfer speed. The USB 2.0 port is black and its effective data transfer speed is about 30 MB/s, while the USB 3.0 port has about 300 MB/s. USB 3.0 ports are always blue or bright blue.

Of course, on my part, dividing all usb ports into 3.0 and 2.0 is a barbaric method, because there were and still are many different submodifications usb type 2.0 full-speed, usb 2.0 high-speed and usb 3.1, but for our purposes I think dividing by 2.0 and 3.0 will be more than enough. If you suddenly become interested in learning about transitional options, you can open Wikipedia. Everything is described there in detail.

I probably won’t dwell on usb ports in more detail, because today every schoolchild knows what they are used for. Let me just say that these ports can not only transmit data, but can also transmit low voltage current. Hence all these USB charging for mobile devices. They also support branching. This means that with sufficient voltage and the presence of a USB hub (in everyday language, an extension cord), up to 127 devices can be connected to one USB port.

Ethernet socket

Under usb ports or there is an Ethernet socket next to them.

It is used to connect a computer to any internal network or global Ethernet networks. It all depends on the circumstances and desires of the owner. Computers are connected to global network or merge into local networks, of course, not just like that, but via a network cable. At both ends there are RJ 45 connectors for connecting to the connectors of network devices. Here's what a standard network cable looks like:

Audio connectors

This board features Jack 3.5 connectors. They are located in the lowest row of connectors on the motherboard and are used to connect various acoustic input/output devices to the computer.

The pink connector is used to connect a microphone, or more precisely for audio input devices. Green is a line output and is required for audio output devices (headphones, speakers). The blue connector is used to receive an audio signal from external subsystems (radio, portable or other player, or TV)

If your motherboard has 6 connectors, then your sound card designed to work in 4-channel mode. The orange connector, in this case, is intended for connecting a subwoofer (low-frequency speaker). Gray for optional side. Black for the rear ones.

Recently, the color designations of connectors are very arbitrary and, if necessary, with the help of drivers they are reconfigured as needed for other functions. For example, to connect additional headphones to the microphone jack, when connecting, just indicate to the driver that this device is the output device (speakers or headphones).

Video connectors

Well, at the very bottom, separate from the motherboard connectors, we see video connectors coming from an external video card or between the motherboard connectors if you have a built-in one. A short explanation of the differences. An external (discrete) video card is one that is separated from the motherboard. That is, it is not soldered there, but is connected using the PCI-Express connector on the motherboard. Usually, external video card much more powerful than the built-in video card. The built-in video card is soldered into the motherboard and is essentially an inseparable part of it. For the last few years, built-in video cards have been part of the processor and, during operation, take away power from it and separate part of the RAM for themselves.

Video connectors are needed to connect monitors or TVs to a computer. Sometimes you can also find a TV output for connecting TV antenna, but this is more often only in cases where another additional board is purchased and installed to receive a TV signal in the system unit. Usually you can only find video connectors for connecting monitors.

The most common one is this moment, is an HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) interface.

This interface is present in modern video cards, monitors and TVs. main feature HDMI - the ability to transmit high-definition digital video signals (HDTV with a resolution of up to 1920×1080 pixels), as well as multi-channel digital audio and control signals, over one audio and video cable.

Slightly less common, but also quite common, is DisplayPort.

In terms of technical characteristics, it is not much different from the HDMI connector, but unlike the previous one, it does not require any license payments from the manufacturer. Thanks to this, it is quickly gaining popularity among manufacturers. Nowadays, this port is being actively replaced by the Thunderbolt connector, which looks exactly the same, supports backward compatibility and at the same time has significantly more capabilities. The data transfer speed of the Thunderbolt connector reaches 40 Gbps. It has lower power consumption and allows you to connect up to two monitors with 4K resolution, or one with 5K resolution.

The first of the aging monitor connectors is called DVI

This is a connector designed to transmit images to high-precision digital devices display. Was developed by Digital Display Working Group

The analog connector for connecting legacy monitors is called VGA

The connector is considered obsolete. And it is used to connect analog monitors. In such monitors, the signal is transmitted line by line. Moreover, when the voltage changes, the brightness of the screen changes. This connector was developed back in 1987 by IBM.

For high-quality operation of a cellular signal amplifier, receiving and distributing antennas, and routers, a good cable assembly is simply necessary. And one of the most important links here are the RF connectors. How to choose the right coaxial connectors, how does one type differ from another? All this will be discussed below.

This is what we call a bayonet connector. It was created back in the first half of the 20th century and is one of the founders of RF connectors and is widely used to this day. The main feature is the connection due to the original clamp with a latch. This simplifies operation with frequent disconnection and connection and guarantees reliable contact (signal loss - no more than 0.3 dB). The maximum cable diameter along the sheath is 7 mm. For networks with a characteristic impedance of 50 Ohms, a frequency of no more than 4 GHz is permissible.

The threaded BNC variant, developed in the late 1950s, is capable of operating at frequencies up to 11 GHz. Also among the positive differences of the format are best contact, especially in conditions of high vibrations. Cable diameter – 3-10 mm.

Another widespread type. The part that fixes the cable with a diameter of 5-8 mm is made in the form of a nut that is screwed onto the screen (outer conductor). In this case, the role of the plug is played by the bare central core, which narrows the range of feeders used (there must be a monolithic core resistant to corrosion and wear). Most often used in television networks at frequencies up to 2 GHz. The main advantages: simplicity and price.

A smaller analogue of the F-standard. It was developed for connecting portable equipment and has found wide application in cellular communication. The diameter of the cable along the sheath should be from 3 to 5 mm. Operates in the frequency spectrum up to 2 GHz. FME is often used with RG-58 cable.

One of the most popular connectors, since its characteristics most fully meet the requirements for microwave signal transmission. There are various subtypes depending on the installation (crimp, solder, clamp). The N-connector can operate effectively at frequencies up to 18 GHz. Suitable for cable diameters from 3 to 10 mm.

Subminiature connector A, characterized by small dimensions (cable diameter - 3-5 mm) and a high operating frequency level - 18 GHz. Initially designed for a characteristic impedance of 50 Ohms. Stainless steel construction includes a durable metal plug and threaded mounting (hex nut).

The abbreviation stands for “reverse-polarity Sub-Miniature version A”. Suitable for use with RG-58 coaxial cable. The small-sized reversible connector (reverse polarity SMA) is widely used to connect WiFi equipment. As a rule, the feeder is fixed using crimping.

Modern, large socket. The marking numbers indicate the following: 7 mm – outer diameter of the central core, 16 mm – inner diameter of the braid (outer conductor). The connectors are used for powerful equipment (mainly used at cellular base stations) and have a reliable threaded connection with a high degree of moisture and dust protection. Operating frequency – up to 7.5 GHz (flexible cable) or 18 GHz (semi-rigid cable). An alternative designation for the series is L29.

In addition to division into series, there are other factors that determine the appropriateness of the choice.

Type:

• plug (plug, male, plug, male);
• socket (socket, “mother”, jack, female).

By polarity:

• standard (straight) polarity: “male” comes with a pin, “mother” comes with a socket;
• reverse polarity (RP marking): “male” – socket, “female” – pin.

By design:

• straight;
• corner.

According to the type of fastening of the central contact:

• for soldering (the contact is soldered with tin to the central core of the cable);
• crimp (the contact is put on the central conductor and crimped).

According to the type of housing fastening (metal braid of the cable to the housing):

• Clamping. The cable contact area is equipped with a threaded metal bushing. It is screwed into the body, exerting pressure on the pressure sleeve. The advantage of such a connector is the relative ease of installation, no need for special tools (only a wrench, a utility knife and scissors). The disadvantage of this choice is the average connection reliability.
• Crimping. Unlike the previous type, the part of the connector responsible for fixing the braid does not have a thread. The feeder is secured using a crimp sleeve(s). Crimping is done using a special tool - a crimper. Crimp connectors have good mechanical strength and good electrical contact.

By type of connected cable:

• F – for RG-58 or other cable with a diameter of 3 mm;
• /5D – for cable 5D-FB/CNT-300/LMR-300 or other with a diameter of 6.5-7 mm;
• X – for RG-213 cable with a diameter of 10 mm;
• /8D – for cable 8D-FB/CNT-400/LMR-400 or other with a diameter of 10-11 mm;
• /10D – for cable 10D-FB/CNT-500/LMR-500 or other with a diameter of 13 mm.

Result:
If you need a cable for video surveillance, satellite or terrestrial TV, then an inexpensive 75 Ohm cable is suitable. Brands, RG-6, RG-59.
If you need a cable for local computer network Ethernet or for wired telephony, a twisted pair cable is used