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 (on the sides or back):

The connectors look like this:

Power cables(220v)

power unit ASUS laptop

PS/2 plugs to connect the keyboard (purple) and mouse (green).

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

COM cable. The 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):

PCI slots (female):

and sound card PCI slot (male):

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

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

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

Slot with AGP connector(father is above, mother is below).

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

Slot with UDMA connector(father is on the right, mother is on the left).
Hard drives are connected to it and not only.

It should be noted that each type of slot has its own color. By opening access to the motherboard, you can easily navigate. But it's better if you don't need it. But the cables that connect external devices to the PC, "you need to know in person." Remember that the mother and father of the connector must be the same color. Always remember that the colors of the father and mother of the connectors match or know what the colors of the connectors on the PC (laptop) case mean.

Take, for example, a standard sound card:

The line 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 version of the connectors will help you. True, the colors of PC manufacturers are not unified. For example, some keyboard connectors may be purple, while others may be red or gray. So pay attention to Special symbols that label the connectors. In this case, it will not be difficult for you to find out.

Deciphering computer connector symbols

The appearance of the ports of a computer and laptop

Interface cables external devices are unique. You will not insert it into another connector on a PC (the design and number of sockets are different). All this will help you move your PC (laptop) from place to place without prompting anyone. You will be able to properly connect devices and cables to the PC. I hope that the presented material 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, all computer devices are connected with this cable, from printers and scanners to fax machines and monitors. A very convenient cable, differs 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 a mouse and keyboard. In their visual appearance, they are absolutely identical, the difference is only in their color. 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 that is painted in two colors at once, green and purple, which indicates that either a mouse or a keyboard can be connected 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 had to use this port several times. For connecting temperature sensors to it. It was through this port that the data accumulated on it was read. Also through this port I connected a prefix for satellite dishes(updated the firmware). VGA port - for connecting a monitor. The port is very similar to the previous one, but has three rows of pins and is always painted blue. For many years, this port has been used to connect monitors. 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 of them. LPT port– previously used to connect a printer or scanner. Now this port is obsolete and no one uses it. The outdated LPT port was replaced by a new, more functional USB port. In modern motherboards, this port is not installed as unnecessary. USB port is the most widely used connector in any modern computer. You can connect a mouse, keyboard, camera, flash drive, printer, scanner, camcorder and much more to this connector. There are two types of USB ports - USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. USB 3.0 has a blue port inside, this port has a high throughput. USB 2.0 ports are white and black. network port– for connecting a network cable. This port connects a cable from the provider that provides you with Internet service. The same ports are present in 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 - line output (for transmitting sound signal to another device).

Hard drive connectors

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

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

The SATA connector is currently the most popular; hard drives with this interface are found in computers, laptops, servers, video recorders, and other computer equipment.

on the computer motherboard from 4 to 8 SATA connectors. 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) that have replaced mechanical hard drives. SSD drives with such an interface are in computers, laptops, servers, video recorders and other computer equipment.

SCSI (Small Computer System Interface), pronounced "story" - a system-level interface standardized by ANSI, unlike interface ports (COM, LPT, IR, MIDI), is a bus: the signal outputs 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 the hardware independence of devices of a certain class connected to a computer." Unlike rigid expansion buses, the SCSI bus is implemented as a separate cable loop that allows 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.
Figure 1. ASUSTeK SCSI adapter 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 not only used for the 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 limit on the number of devices on the bus). A device (ID) can have up to 8 subdevices with their own LUNs (Logical Unit Number - the device's logical number). Any device can initiate an exchange with another target device(Target). The SCSI bus exchange mode 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. The 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 peripherals, and additional commands for CD-ROM and other peripherals. Devices support queues - they can accept chains of up to 256 commands and execute them autonomously in a pre-optimized order. Devices on the same SCSI bus can communicate without the participation of the CPU. The ANSI standard was developed in March 1990. Additional extensions to the SCSI-2 specification: · Fast - doubling the speed of synchronous transmission (bus frequency 10 MHz). · Ultra - high-speed interface (bus frequency 20 MHz). · Wide - increasing the bit depth up to 16 bits, less often 32 bits. The maximum bandwidth depends on the frequency and bit width of the bus and for combinations of these extensions is given in Table. 1.

Table 1. Data transfer rate, length and types of cables SCSI-1, SCSI-2 SCSI-3 specification- further development of the standard aimed at increasing the number of connected devices, specification of additional commands, Plug and Play support. As an alternative to the parallel interface SPI(SCSI-3 Parallel Interface) it becomes possible to use a serial, 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 that define certain aspects of the interface, and in many ways merges with the serial bus. firewire.

Terminators, connectors

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

If you use the external and internal connectors of the host adapter at the same time, 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 interface performance. By execution, terminators can be either internal(posted on printed circuit board devices) and external(installed on cable or device connectors). According to 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 impedance 110 Ohm - 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 lines of the TERMPWR interface.

SCSI devices

It is not possible to list all SCSI devices, here are just a few of their types: HDD, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, Tape (streamer), MO (Magneto Optical Drive), ZIP, Jaz, SyQuest, Scanner. More exotic ones include Solid State disks (SSD) - a very fast on-chip mass storage device and IDE RAID - a box of 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 that one set of commands is used to work with them. Of course, as development progresses physical layer SCSI has changed and the 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 the SCSI ID. For some purposes, for example, CD-ROM device libraries, 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 LUNs. 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 needed. The SCSI ID 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, terminator activation, terminator power supply, disk activation at the controller's command. All SCSI devices require special drivers. The basic disk device driver is usually included in the BIOS of the host adapter. Extensions such as ASPI (Advanced SCSI Programming Interface) are downloaded separately.

Scanners

Usually scanners come with their own card. Sometimes it is completely "its own", like, for example, Mustek Paragon 600N, and sometimes it's just the most simplified version of standard SCSI. In principle, using the scanner with it should not cause problems, but sometimes connecting the scanner to another controller (if the scanner has such a possibility) can be useful. Scanning an A4 with 32bit color at 600dpi is a picture of about 90Mb and transferring this amount of information through the 8bit ISA bus not only takes a lot of time, but also slows down the PC a lot, because. drivers for this standard card are usually 16-bit (example - Mustek Paragon 800IISP). A cheap FastSCSI PCI controller usually acts as an additional one. Less or more productive will not give anything new. This option also has a remark - 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 their own 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. An RS-232 port is not common in business laptops these days, but it can be useful in industrial laptops. It is used to implement real-time data acquisition systems, connect scientific equipment, and control other devices. To connect equipment that works 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 pile of wires with a foreign abbreviation: IDE, SATA, USB, etc. It is no wonder that you can get confused in them, ...

By Masterweb

31.03.2018 01:00

If you look at the front or back panel desktop computer, you can see the buttons and connectors on both sides. The front panel buttons are used by the user to control the PC. For example, a computer power on/off switch is located on the front side, while back panel connectors or ports are connected to various devices input/output. Connectors are important devices to ensure that the installed hardware on your computer is working properly.

Even if they are all familiar to you, over time technical progress generates new standards of reception-transmission or power supply, respectively, and 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 are the types of USB connectors?

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. In connection with the transition to digital technologies, its use has practically disappeared.

However, if you look at any graphics card or display device, you can 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 successor to VGA as the technology moved from analog to digital. Digital displays such as LCD have proven to be of higher quality.

There are three types of DVI connectors:

• DVI-A - Can carry analog signals, allowing them to be backwards compatible with VGA, useful for lower quality CRT and LCD monitors.
• DVI-D - can carry 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 past 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 at the same time. These signals are exclusively digital, so HDMI connector types are only compatible with newer advanced 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 controller, DDC (Digital Data Channel) and an Ethernet connection for data transfer (with HDMI 1.4). HDMI is based on DVI and uses the same modern protocol to carry uncompressed video. This protocol is called TMDS (Transition Minimized Differential Signaling).

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

Types of HDMI Connectors

So what are the devices? 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 A type - standard. This is the original HDMI connector released in version 1.0, 19-pin connector with video and audio signals. The structural part of the connector is about 19 mm wide.
• HDMI Type B - Extended HDMI 1.0 pin, an extended 29-pin connector is provided, which was not previously used. This connector is slightly wider than type A, with a 21.2 mm wide shield.
• 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 11.2 mm wide, about 60% of the Type A connector.
• HDMI TYPE D - Micro. The newest kind of HDMI connector family is "micro", 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 every kind of computer peripheral - 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 the existence of several versions of USB:

• USB 1.0 transfers data at speeds up to 12 Mbps.
• 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 4.8Gbps and is 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 produced by manufacturers such as Apple, Google and Microsoft. Along with modern connector and port designs comes the new USB 3.1 SuperSpeed+ standard. USB-C cables comply with European regulations and require a universal mobile phone charging port. This suggests that soon all mobile devices will be charged and connected with USB-C cables.

Advanced AKA type connector USB Type-C- connector of a 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 misconnecting the cable. This will allow manufacturers to design devices that are thinner and lighter than ever before.

As the new USB-C port is adopted by manufacturers of laptops, tablets, hubs and computers, the need for new USB 3.1 SuperSpeed+ cables will 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 pins, the smaller 2.5" 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 the IDE. Compared to IDE, SATA provides faster data transfer rates. The board type connector is for motherboards that are compatible with SATA. 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 enhancement of the SATA cable - it makes the technology available in an external form. In reality, eSATA is not much different from SATA, but allows you to connect 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 rate and 1394b - 800 Mbps transfer rate. 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 came across a wired Ethernet cable.

They are currently available in three versions:

• Cat 5 cables are the most basic and provide 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 10 Gbps.

RJ modular wiring diagram

RJ type connectors are standard for 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 referred to as RJ45, RJ45, which actually implies not only an 8-position 8-wire modular jack, but also that it is connected to the Network. These modular connector types can be very useful as they combine always-on, multiple conductors, moderate flexibility, low cost, and medium bandwidth.

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

Amphenol RF is the leader in N-type connectors, delivering superior performance to the latest industry standards. Amphenol N-Type connectors are high quality (50 ohm) coaxial connector series with threaded connection mechanism. The 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 are a high performance, low cost option. The primary use of F-Type connectors is for cable television (CATV), set-top boxes, and cable modems. The F-Type is a 75mm connector with 30dB negative loss at 1GHz. In addition, these connectors accept 0.022"-0.042" diameter conductors and conform to the 3/8-32 thread specification.

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

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

• Head unit equipment.
• Top boxes CATV.
• 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 are available in the market: LC fiber cable, ST-SC single mode fiber cable, etc. LC, ST, SC actually refer to different types of fiber optic connectors.

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

Details of the above connectors:

1. The SC, also called the square connector, was developed by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, not immediately, but still gained popularity after lowering the cost of production. Now it is more and more popular in single mode fiber optic cable, analog CATV, GPON, GBIC. It is a push-pull connector with a diameter of 2.5 mm, which operates according to the IEC 61754-4 standard. The connector's square outer profile, together with its snap-in mechanism, allows increased packing density of connectors in tools and patch panels.
2. LC refers to the Lucent connector. This is a small form factor push-pull connector that uses a 1.25mm tip, half the size of SC. LC, thanks to the combination of not big size and latch function, ideal for high-density connections, SFP and SFP+ transceivers, and XFP transceivers. Along with the development of LC compatible transceivers and active network components, the demand for it will continue to grow in the FTTH market.
3. FC is short for Ferrule connector. This is a round threaded fiber optic connector designed by Nippon Telephone and Telegraph in Japan. The FC connector is used for single-mode optical fiber that maintains polarization. FC is a ferrule screw 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 mostly replaced by SC and LC.
4. ST refers to the handpiece. The ST connector was developed by AT&T shortly after the creation of the FC. The ST uses a bayonet mount other than screw threads. You need to make sure that the SC connectors are properly installed due to their spring loaded design. SC is mainly used in multimode fiber optic cables, enclosures and buildings. Differences between connector types can be easily overlooked 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 male (PC/AT side) on the other. The MD6 keyboard adapter (Type 6 connector) to DIN5 is 100% shielded for excellent EMI/RFI rejection.

Product features - insulating durable PVC sheath with connectors. The 100% shielded design is built to combat unwanted EMI/RFI interference. The 3-pin Mini-DIN connector is an essential component when preparing a GNU/Linux system for use with a hardware stereo.

The NVidia 3DVision kit requires an NVidia Quadro-class graphics card to be connected to a stereo IR receiver in order to synchronize the signal with the glasses. IN Windows system DirectX based NVidia driver allows sync via receiver USB cable on Linux which uses OpenGL, driver requires older VESA based standard.

IEC 320 C13/C14 for computer power

These types of power connectors allow you to connect electronic devices to existing outlets. Power cables can carry AC or DC. An example of AC would be the power provided by a standard outlet in a home or office. An example of nutrition 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 an international standards body.

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

Be it laptops, PCs or Mac computers, there are still plenty of computer ports and wires to use. Today, the leaders of the leading enterprises in the computer industry are making great efforts to move in concert towards one goal - the creation of one multi-purpose cable. However, for now, users have to be content with the 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 on 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 more or less often uses a computer is simply obliged to know the main connectors of the system unit in order to later be able to connect new equipment to the computer or be able to assemble the computer in a new place.

Many of you have probably already encountered the assembly of a computer, but surely few people did everything right the first time. In this article, I would like to consider the main connectors of the system unit and figure out what they are 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 for.

In the picture we see a typical system unit, a little outdated, but I think it will do for ours.

Connectors for network cables

At the very top of the system unit, we see the power supply connector (or PSU for short) for connecting the computer to the network. Under it, they usually still sculpt a sticker with the allowed input voltage. For example, 220 V. There is a toggle switch under the connector, which 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. The power supply is a voltage converter that is present in each system unit. He receives current from your home network and converts it into the necessary for the operation of the computer, he also distributes it using his 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 like this:

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

However, the power supply itself is not simply inserted 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 end is connected to the connector in the power supply. Therefore, in order to power our system unit with all its internal components with current, 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 figured 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, which is why the largest number of different connectors come from it. By the way, it looks like this:

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

Keyboard and mouse connectors

There are two PS/2 ports on the topmost row of motherboard connectors.

They are always nearby and serve to connect the keyboard and mouse. Green for mouse connection, purple for keyboard connection. Connectors are exactly the same, differ only in color. Therefore, they are often confused with each other. Even the color difference does not help. Indeed, for most users, the computer is at the bottom, under the table, turned by its rear panel to the wall, where darkness reigns. 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 for the keyboard on the left. This connector has long been outdated, recently it can be seen less and less. 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.

Legacy Connectors

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

This is a parallel LPT connector. It is a morally obsolete connector and has long been replaced by a universal 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 obsolete. The word serial means that data is transmitted through it 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 in which we insert our flash drives, printers, usb chargers for phones and much more. Currently, there are several varieties of these ports. The most popular of them are usb 2.0 and usb 3.0

They differ in color and data transfer rate. The USB 2.0 port is black and has an effective data transfer rate of 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, for my part, dividing all usb ports into 3.0 and 2.0 is a barbaric method, because there have been 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 detailed there.

I probably won’t dwell on usb ports in more detail, because today every student 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. From here just all these usb chargers for mobile devices. They also support branching. This means that with sufficient voltage and the presence of a usb hub (household extension cable) to one usb port You can connect up to 127 devices.

Ethernet jack

Under the usb ports or next to them is the ethernet jack.

It is used to connect the computer to any internal network or wide area network. Ethernet networks. It all depends on the circumstances and wishes of the owner. Connecting computers to global network or combined into local networks, of course, not just like that, but by means of a network cable. At both ends of which there are RJ 45 connectors for connecting to network device connectors. Here is a view of a standard network cable:

Audio connectors

On this board are represented by Jack 3.5 connectors. They are located in the bottom row of motherboard connectors and are used to connect various acoustic input/output audio devices to the computer.

The pink connector is used to connect a microphone, more precisely for sound 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 an external subsystem (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 designed to connect a subwoofer (low-frequency speaker). Gray for extra side. Black for the rear (rear).

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

Video connectors

Well, at the very bottom, separately from the motherboard connectors, we see video connectors coming from an external video card or between the motherboard connectors if you have it built-in. 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, in fact, is its inseparable part. For the past few years, integrated video cards have been part of the processor and, during operation, take 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-out for connection television antenna, but this is more often only in those cases when another additional board is purchased and installed in order to receive a TV signal in the system unit. Usually you can find only video connectors for connecting monitors.

The most common on 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 a high-definition digital video signal (HDTV with a resolution of up to 1920 × 1080 pixels), as well as multi-channel digital audio, and control signals over a single cable.

Slightly less common, but just as 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. Due to this, it is quickly gaining popularity among manufacturers. Nowadays, this port is actively supplanted by the Thunderbolt connector, which looks exactly the same, maintains backward compatibility, and at the same time has much more features. The data transfer rate of the Thunderbolt connector is up to 40Gbps. It has lower power consumption and allows you to connect up to two monitors with a resolution of 4K, or one with a resolution of 5K.

The first of the outdated monitor connectors is called DVI

This is a connector designed to transmit images to high-precision digital devices display. 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, routers, a solid 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 in the first half of the 20th century and is one of the founders of RF connectors, it is widely used to this day. The main feature is the connection due to the original latch 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 diameter of the cable along the sheath is 7 mm. For networks with a wave impedance of 50 ohms, the frequency is not more than 4 GHz.

A threaded version of the BNC, developed in the late 1950s, is capable of operating up to 11 GHz. Also among the positive differences of the format - best contact especially in high vibration environments. 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). At the same time, the role of the plug is performed 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 a frequency of up to 2 GHz. The main "pros": simplicity and price.

Reduced analogue of the F-standard. It was designed to connect portable equipment, has found wide application in cellular communication. The cable diameter along the sheath should be between 3 and 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, as it meets the requirements for microwave signal transmission to the fullest extent in terms of its characteristics. There are various subspecies depending on the installation (crimp, solder, clamp). The N-connector can operate efficiently at frequencies up to 18 GHz. Suitable cable diameter from 3 to 10 mm.

Subminiature connector A, characterized by small dimensions (cable diameter - 3-5 mm) and a high bar of operating frequencies - 18 GHz. Initially designed for a wave impedance of 50 ohms. Stainless steel construction includes a durable metal plug and threaded fastener (hex nut).

The abbreviation stands for "reverse-polarity Sub-Miniature version A". Suitable for use with RG-58 coaxial cable. Small size reverse connector (SMA reverse polarity) is widely used to connect WiFi equipment. As a rule, the feeder is fixed by crimping.

Modern connector of large size. The marking numbers indicate the following: 7 mm - the outer diameter of the central core, 16 mm - the inner diameter of the braid (outer conductor). Connectors are used for high-power equipment (mainly used in cellular base stations), 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). The alternative series designation is L29.

In addition to the 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: “father” comes with a pin, “mother” with a socket;
• reverse polarity (RP marking): "father" - socket, "mother" - pin.

By construct:

• straight;
• angular.

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 body fastening (metal braid of the cable to the body):

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

Type of cable connected:

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

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