Purpose and types of I / O ports on a computer. Computer ports What is a computer port
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 for a computer, printer, suitable for other household appliances
Power cables (220 V)
ASUS laptop power supply
PS/2 plugs for keyboard (purple) and mouse (green). When you turn on these devices, your computer or laptop must be turned off.
LPT cable. The LPT port (parallel port) was mainly used to connect printers. Modern printer models provide for connection to a USB port or a local network.
COM cable.
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.
(RJ-45 connector)
Cable for connection to the Internet and local area network. It may be called "twisted pair", "network cable", "RJ-45". The maximum length is up to 100 meters.
Types of slot connectors 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. Therefore, pay attention to the special symbols that mark 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
The interface cables for 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 faxes 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. I also connected a prefix for satellite dishes through this port (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). Using this port, you can connect to your ISP's network directly or through a router. As a rule, such a port is equipped with a link indicator. If the indicator is green, then the connection is OK. Connectors for connecting 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 an audio 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. The size of the hard drive has also changed significantly, the first bricks that I had to work with 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 also use it.
MSATA connector— Variety SATA connector, designed specifically for solid-state drives (SSDs) that have replaced mechanical hard drives. SSD drives with this interface are found in computers, laptops, servers, DVRs, and other computer equipment.
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In this article, I will try to explain on my fingers what computer ports are, how they are used, what they are for, and why it can be dangerous to leave unused ports open. Let's imagine a country, let it be Spain. It is washed by the seas and oceans and of course has many seaports.
Each port is specially equipped to receive various cargoes. Vessels coming from different countries of the world call at ports for unloading or loading. Usually each of these ships has a destination (port). For example, a ship from South Africa constantly arrives for unloading at the port of Cartagena and never at any other port. Despite the fact that there are specially equipped ports in Spain, almost every ship can anchor in any bay, for example, near the city of Bilbao, take cargo on board and sail away safely. In order to prevent this from happening, you need to have a good border team that will constantly monitor the coastline and prevent cargo from being brought into or out of the country.
Countries and oceans are of course all interesting, but our goal is a little different, so now let's try to draw a parallel with your computer. Your computer after accessing the Internet becomes similar to the country from our example. It receives an IP and becomes known on the network by that name. Your computer, as in the example, has many ports.
Many programs that work with the network are designed to connect to certain ports. As you can see from the figure, Internet browsers, such as Internet Explorer, use port 80 in their work. Email programs, such as Outlook Express, use 2 ports, port 25 for sending mail and port 110 for receiving. If you install the emule file sharing program, it will open the ports 4662 and 4672 necessary for its work. Thus, if your computer is not protected, then each program installed on your computer will be able to open the port it needs. In the same way, any program from the outside can connect to any port on your computer. For example, you can use one of the many ways to throw a program - a Trojan (example - I-Worm.MyDoom), which will open a port on your computer (example - 3127), through which it will calmly take out all your important information. To prevent this from happening, you must use programs that are designed to close unused ports. Such programs are called Firewalls. What are these programs and how to work with them, we will learn with you in the next article. In the meantime, check your computer for open, most dangerous ports, you can
Modern computers or mobile gadgets are equipped with a wide range of ports, from traditional USB 2.0 to the newfangled Thunderbolt 3. Even if you are all familiar with them, time passes and technological progress generates a new standard of power or transmission that requires new adapters. Let's find out what wires and adapters are needed in order to connect a computer to a monitor, TV, network, gadget, and other peripheral device.
When you get a new laptop or desktop computer, it is always interesting to know what connectors and ports are present on board. In addition, knowledge will always come in handy to help you find out if your device will benefit in transfer speed if you attach it to a modern usb type-c port, and not the already outdated usb 2.0. That is why I have tried to compile a complete list of ports, as well as the type and cost of adapters that you may encounter when pairing a computer or laptop with your gadgets.
Description: The most common audio connector in the world. On most computers, tablets and phones, it is made as a 3.5 mm jack and connects most wired headphones, speakers to a computer or gadget. Moreover, computers, as a rule, have two or more audio jacks for a microphone and headphones, speakers for sound format 3.1, 5.1 or even 7.1. And mobile gadgets have only one headset port.
Need an adapter A: If your device does not have a 3.5mm jack, you may consider purchasing a wired USB headset or Bluetooth wireless audio device or adapter USB-to-3.5mm. Fortunately, the cost of each option exceeds $ 10.
3.5 mini jack adapter options
Ethernet network port (RJ-45)
Also known as: Gigabit Ethernet, 10/1000 Ethernet, LAN port.
Description: Focused primarily on the business segment of devices - servers and switches, laptops and computers. This port allows you to connect directly to wired networks. While Wi-Fi continues to increase wireless speeds, Ethernet has been able to run at 1Gbps over wire for a long time. It is really very convenient to have such a speed, because the data transfer rate in our time plays a decisive role if it is possible to choose the interface for connecting to the Internet. Ethernet in business connects millions of office computers into a local network, transmits tens of gigabits of traffic in the largest data centers.
At home, if you have more than one computer, a TV with a LAN port, you should think about organizing a local network. No network standard available today will offer you such a data transfer rate and at the same time the stability of the network and the absence of interference.
Need an adapter: If you do not have a built-in Ethernet port, you can consider purchasing an adapter USB-to-Ethernet. The cost is on average from $15 to $30, depending on the type of USB: Type-C or Type-A. For some mobile devices, it is possible to get Ethernet by connecting to the Docking Station.
RJ-45 Ethernet cable
HDMI connector
Also known as: Interface for high definition multimedia.
Description: This popular connector is the most common for connecting devices to your TV and also appears on many monitors and projectors. Depending on your laptop or desktop PC with a graphics card, the HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) port may be able to output resolutions up to 4K. However, you may not output an image for two displays from one port. Also, HDMI transmits the audio signal along with the video. So if your monitor or TV has speakers, you will also get sound.
If your computer has an HDMI output and your monitor has a DVI output, you can convert the signal from one to the other with an adapter that costs less than $5.
Most laptops that have HDMI use a full-size port (Type A), but there are also ultra-slim devices that use mini-HDMI connectors: mini-HDMI (Type C) and micro-HDMI (Type D), which are physically smaller. -factor.
Need an adapter: If you need to connect to a DVI port, then use HDMI-DVI an adapter that costs $5. You can find an adapter for about $25 USB (Type-C)-HDMI.
If you want to convert a signal from an HDMI port on your computer to a DisplayPort device, such as a monitor, you will need to purchase a fairly expensive active converter that requires its own power connection and costs over $30. Cables DisplayPort-to-HDMI will not work without power.
DVI-HDMI adapter, mini-HDMI port
DisplayPort / Mini DisplayPort
Also known as: dual purpose port.
Description: DisplayPort is the most advanced standard for connecting monitors to a computer today, with the ability to display 4K 60Hz resolution on one monitor, or up to three Full HD monitors (using a hub or docking station). Most laptops that have DisplayPort use a Mini DisplayPort or DisplayPort Type-C connector over a USB port.
Still, most monitors and TVs don't have a DisplayPort connector, but you can output to an HDMI-compatible display with an adapter that costs less than $10. Like HDMI, DisplayPort can output audio on the same cable as video.
Need an adapter: If you want to output to more than one monitor from one mini DisplayPort on your laptop, then you need a multi-threaded DisplayPort hub, which costs between $70 and $100 and needs electricity. One cable USB (Type-C)-to-DisplayPort or mini DisplayPort-to-DisplayPort cable cost just over $10.
mini-DisplayPort, DisplayPort
DVI port
Also known as: DVI-D, DVI-I, Dual-Link DVI.
Description: Due to the physical size of DVI, not every laptop is equipped with this interface. But almost every Full HD monitor has a DVI port. Often DVI will be the best connection between a computer and a monitor, as many budget displays only have DVI and VGA connectors. Fortunately, if the need arises, you can purchase an adapter to go from HDMI or DisplayPort to DVI.
DVI can output images up to a resolution of 1920 x 1200 at 60 Hz. For 2K or 4K monitors at 30Hz, a second connection is required - the so-called Dual-Link DVI. By virtue of its name, it can provide image output with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 at 120 Hz.
Most basic USB docking stations have at least one DVI output.
Need an adapter: You can find the cable HDMI-DVI for less than $10 and DisplayPort-DVI cable for less than $15. The cheapest cable DVI-VGA about 5$. USB docking stations with dual DVI monitor output start at $90.
HDMI to DVI adapter, DVI cable
MicroSD adapter
Also known as: MicroSD card slot, MicroSDHC reader, microSDXC.
Description: This slot reads MicroSD memory cards, which are used by the vast majority of modern smartphones, tablets, players and other mobile gadgets. If your laptop or tablet has a very limited amount of internal disk space, then microSD adapter Will save you. It will allow you to expand the internal memory with a large microSD memory card of 64 GB or 128 GB.
Need an adapter: If your device does not have a built-in microSD card slot, then I advise you to purchase an external microSD adapter which will cost you around $10.
Micro SD adapter
SD adapter
Also known as: 3-in-1 card reader, 4-in-1 card reader, 5-in-1 card reader, SDHC card reader.
Description: This slot can be used to read memory cards from an SD digital camera.
Need an adapter A: If you frequently transfer photos from your DSLR to your laptop or desktop computer, I highly recommend purchasing an SD card reader. It connects via USB and costs just under $10.
5-in-1 card reader, SDHC adapter
USB / USB Type-A
Also known as: USB Type-A, regular USB,
Description A: USB (Universal Serial Bus) is the most common connector for laptops and computers today. A regular USB port is known as USB Type-A and has a simple, rectangular shape. Depending on the hardware version, it can be either USB-2.0 or USB-3.0, which differ significantly in speed.
Speed indicators
USB 1.1
- low-bandwidth mode (Low-Speed) - 1.5 Mbps maximum;
- high-bandwidth mode (Full-Speed) - 12 Mbps maximum.
- Retains physical and functional compatibility with USB 1.1;
- Low-speed mode, 10-1500 Kbps (keyboards, mice, joysticks, gamepads);
- Full-speed mode, 0.5-12 Mbps (audio, video devices);
- High-speed mode, 25-480 Mbps (video devices, storage devices).
- Maintains physical and functional compatibility with USB 2.0;
- maximum data transfer rate up to 5 Gbps.
You can connect an almost endless variety of peripherals to the USB port, from keyboards and mice to printers and Ethernet adapters. Regular USB does not have its own video transfer standard, but you can connect to a monitor using a Universal Dock or Adapter with DisplayLink technology.
Regular USB 2.0 Type A cable
USB Type-B
Description Note: You will not find this square connector on the motherboard of a computer, it is not placed on the side of the laptop. It is used in peripheral devices as an input port: docking stations, printers, scanners and others. All of these devices require a cable. USB Type-A to Type-B, which can be easily found in any computer store.
USB Type-B
USB Type-C
Also known as: USB-C.
Description A: This slim USB port is the newest USB standard. The port is already available on a number of devices and will likely replace USB Type-A, USB Type-B and MicroUSB on all new systems in the near future. It is much thinner than its predecessors. Type-C can fit on very thin laptops like the MacBook 12". The Lightning connector clearly demonstrated this by introducing USB Type-C into all their devices.
USB Type-C ports can support several different standards, but not all of them offer the same functionality. Type-C can transfer files to either USB 3.1 Gen 1 (at 5Gbps) or USB 3.1 Gen 2 (at 10Gbps) . It can be used as a charging port (USB-PD) so you can charge your laptop with it. It can also carry DisplayPort signals, and even work as a Thunderbolt port.
Need an adapter: If you have a rectangular USB Type-A port, but need to connect a USB Type-C device, use a cable USB-C 3.0 (Type C) - USB-A 3.0.
USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable
USB 2.0 interface
Also known as: Hi-Speed USB, USB 2.
Description A: Able to transfer data at speeds up to 480 Mbps, USB 2.0 is the most common USB and works effectively with most peripherals. The USB 2.0 port can be made in various form factors: Type A - Type A (rectangular), Type B - Type-B (square), mini - mini USB or micro - micro USB. On laptops and desktops, the USB 2.0 port will always be type A, while on tablets and phones it will most likely be micro USB.
USB 2.0 ports
USB 3.0 interface
Also known as: SuperSpeed USB, USB 3.
Description: Great for external hard drives, SSDs, HD monitors, docking stations, USB 3.0 has a maximum transfer rate of 5Gbps. This is over 10 times faster than its USB 2.0 predecessor. USB 3 ports are automatically backward compatible with USB 2.0 cables and devices. USB 3 ports on a computer use a rectangular connector type and, as a rule, are no different from their younger counterparts. Sometimes SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports are painted light blue or have a tiny "SS" logo next to them to indicate their higher data transfer speed.
USB 3.0 cable
USB3.1 Gen1
Also known as: USB 3.1, SuperSpeed USB.
Description A: USB 3.1 Gen 1 is a communication protocol that operates at the same 5Gbps speed as USB 3.0, but it only works with USB Type-C. This gives backward compatibility with USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 devices, provided that the cable has a Type-C connector on at least one side. USB 3.1 devices can support USB device charging, which allows them to receive or transmit power at up to 100W, enough to charge most laptops.
USB3.1 Gen1
USB3.1 Gen2
Also known as: USB 3.1, SuperSpeed + USB, SuperSpeed USB 10Gb.
Description: The USB 3.1 Gen 2 form factor is the same as USB 3.1 Gen 1, but with double the bandwidth, allowing it to transfer data at speeds up to 10Gbps. To be backwards compatible with USB 3.1 Gen 2 adapters, a Type-C connector is required, but to use it at full speed, you need to make sure the cable is rated for 10Gb. This is usually marked with the "ss" logo or in blue.
USB3.1 Gen2
Micro USB
Also known as: Micro-B, MicroUSB.
Description: This small port has gained a reputation as a charging port for smartphones and low-power tablets. Notebooks and PCs do not use this port. Ordinary micro USB supports USB 2.0 speed (480 Mbps) and allows you to connect multiple devices, mainly external hard drives. Micro USB 3.0 ports have some extra pins and offer faster transfer speeds, but the form factor is exactly the same as micro USB 3.0.
Need an adapter: To connect your phone or tablet to your laptop, you need to USB Type-A - micro USB a cable that costs about $5. You can also use an adapter Type-C - micro USB for 10$.
Micro USB 2.0, Micro USB 3.0
Mini USB
Also known as: Mini-B, mini USB.
Description: The interface is already less popular than micro USB, as it is older. Used on some external hard drives, game consoles and other accessories. They, like micro USB, are not used on laptops and computers. They can be found on mobile phones, or some players. But even then, with the advent of micro USB, the use of this port is a rarity these days.
Need an adapter: cable Type-A - mini USB costs around $5, A cable Type-C - mini USB available for under $10, and an adapter micro USB - USB will cost about $5.
Type-A to mini USB cable, micro USB to USB adapter
Thunderbolt 3
Also known as: Thunderbolt.
Description A: The fastest connection on the market today. Thunderbolt 3 can transfer data at up to 40Gbps, four times faster than the fastest USB (USB 3.1 Gen 2). This high-speed standard can also output to two 4K monitors at once because one Thunderbolt 3 port carries dual DisplayPort signals. Thunderbolt 3 can be used to connect an external graphics card, which allows you to play games at maximum resolution using even an ultra-slim laptop.
All Thunderbolt 3 ports use the USB Type-C standard, allowing them to connect to a wide range of USB peripherals.
Before Thunderbolt 3, which arrived on laptops in late 2015, there was the Thunderbolt 2 standard, but very few vendors were keen to use it in their systems. The backward compatibility of the connection is preserved in Thunderbolt 3 and if you have a device with Thunderbolt first edition, you don’t have to buy anything.
Thunderbolt 3
VGA connector
Description: Now we can already say: VGA is the great-grandfather of video outputs. VGA (video graphics array) appeared back in 1987, but this connector is still a common feature on many monitors and projectors even today. However, since the 15-pin connector is quite large, you won't find more current generation laptops or desktops that have a VGA output. This analog connection results in signal distortion over longer cables, and outputs images up to a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels.
Need an adapter: You cannot convert VGA to any other video signal due to the fact that VGA is an analog signal, and the rest are already digital (DVI, DisplayPort, HDMI). But you can connect a different connector to a VGA monitor using an inexpensive wire or adapter, such as cables or adapters: DVI-VGA, HDMI-VGA or DisplayPort-VGA. They rarely cost more than $10.
Port - a connector for connecting an external device to a computer adapter, as well as a logical address used by the processor to access various devices. Communication ports (ports) are used to interface a computer and external devices such as a mouse, printer, keyboard, etc. Often, various measuring instruments and sensors are connected to the ports. There are two types of ports - serial (communication, serial) (serial ports) and parallel. Since any device can interact with a computer through them (provided that it supports the port protocol), both parallel and serial ports are also called universal. External devices connected to serial ports are said to have a "serial" interface, and those connected to parallel ports are said to have a "parallel" interface. All ports can be configured for a given rate of transmission and reception of information.
Most desktop computers have two serial ports called COM1 and COM2 for connecting external devices, ports COM3, COM4 for devices built into the system unit, but more serial ports can be installed. A modem and a mouse are traditionally connected to the serial ports. Serial ports are called because they transmit information sequentially bit by bit. The maximum data transfer rate on the serial port is 115 kb/s. Currently, this port has been supplanted (not only from use, but also from the "boards" of some motherboards) by such successors of the modern IT industry as USB and FireWire.
In addition to serial ports in a computer, as a rule, there are parallel ports - LPT. Through such a port, a computer can send a group of bits of information to the device at the same time. The printer is usually connected to the parallel port. Printers, plotters, scanners, communication devices and data storage devices, as well as electronic keys are connected to LPT ports. Sometimes a parallel interface is used to communicate between two computers - a network is obtained. The LPT port can operate in one of the following modes:
Standard Parallel Port (SPP). Standard, as the name suggests, parallel port operation mode; The following variations extend the functionality of the parallel port:
Nibble mode. A mode that allows the LPT port to work in duplex (from PC to device and vice versa) and at the same time SPP mode of operation;
byte mode. A very rare mode of data transmission over the parallel port;
Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP). The added functionality provides bidirectionality and a data transfer rate of 2 Mb/s;
Extended Capabilities Port (ECP). There was a possibility of hardware data compression, use of the DMA mode, the buffer is added;
USB bus ports were first discovered as part of a computer in 1996 and have evolved quite widely so far, having grown several branches from the original standard. To date, there are four versions of this tire. Now there are already plenty of devices with a USB interface. The bus allows you to connect devices remote from the computer at a distance of up to 25 m (using intermediate hubs). The USB spike is geared towards peripherals connected to a PC. USB provides communication between a host computer and a variety of peripheral devices (PUs). Each device on the USB bus (there can be up to 127) automatically receives its own unique address when connected. Logically, a device is a set of independent endpoints with which the host controller (and client software) communicates.
Basic descriptive characteristics of a computer.
System unit
The system block is the main node, inside which the most important components are installed. Devices located inside the system unit are called internal, and those connected to it from the outside are called external and peripheral. The main characteristic of the case of the system unit is a parameter called the form factor. It determines the requirements for hosted devices. The form factor of the system unit must necessarily be consistent with the form factor of the main (system, motherboard) board. Currently, the ATX form factor is the most common case. The cases are supplied with a power supply.
Internal devices of the system unit.
-Motherboard - the main board of the computer. It hosts:
CPU - the main microcircuit that performs arithmetic and logical operations - the brain of a computer. The processor consists of cells similar to RAM cells, but in these cells data can not only be stored, but also changed. The internal cells of the processor are called registers. Some of the registers are co-index, that is, those that perceive data as commands that control the processing of data in other registers. By controlling the sending of data to different registers, you can control the processing of data. The execution of programs is based on this. The processor is connected to other devices by several groups of conductors called buses. There are three main buses: data bus, address bus and command bus. The address bus consists of 32 parallel conductors (32-bit). It transmits addresses of RAM cells. A processor is connected to it to copy data from the OP cell to one of its registers. The copy itself takes place over the data bus. In modern computers, it is usually 64-bit, i.e. 8 bytes are processed simultaneously. The command bus transmits commands from the area of the OP in which the programs are stored. Most modern computers have a 32-bit command bus, but there are already 64-bit ones.
The main characteristics of the processor are bit depth, clock speed and cache memory. The bit depth indicates how many bits of information the processor can process at a time (one cycle). The clock frequency determines the number of cycles per second, for example, for a processor that performs about 3 billion cycles per second, the clock frequency is 3 GHz / sec. Data exchange within the processor is faster than with RAM. In order to reduce the number of accesses to the OP, a buffer area is created inside the processor - cache memory. Receiving data from the OP, the processor simultaneously writes them to the cache memory. On subsequent accesses, the processor looks for data in the cache. The larger the cache memory, the faster the computer runs.
microprocessor kit (chipset) - a set of chips that control the operation of internal devices and determine the main functionality of the motherboard.
tires - sets of conductors through which signals are exchanged between internal devices.
RAM - a set of chips designed for temporary data storage
RAM (RAM - random access memory) - an array of cells capable of storing data. memory can be dynamic or static. Dynamic memory cells can be represented as microcapacitors that accumulate an electric charge. Dynamic memory is the computer's main RAM. Static memory cells are triggers - elements that store not a charge, but a state (on / off). This type of memory is faster, but also more expensive and is used in the so-called. cache memory designed to optimize the performance of the processor. RAM is placed on standard sockets (modules, rulers). Modules are inserted into special slots on the motherboard.
ROM - read-only memory. When the computer is turned on, its RAM is empty. But the processor needs commands to start working. Therefore, immediately after switching on, the start address is set on the address bus. It happens in hardware. This address points to the ROM. The ROM contains "wired" programs that are written there when the ROM chips are created and form the base input / output system (BIOS - Base Input / Output System). The main purpose of this package is to check the composition and performance of the basic configuration of the computer and ensure interaction with the keyboard, monitor, hard drive and floppy drive.
connectors for connecting additional internal devices (slots).
HDD.
HDD- a device for long-term storage of large amounts of data and programs.
In fact, this is not one disk, but a group of disks that have a magnetic coating and rotate at high speed. Above the surface of each disk is a read-write head. At high rotation speeds, an aerodynamic cushion appears between the disk surface and the head. When the strength of the current flowing through the head changes, the magnetic field strength in the gap changes, which causes a change in the magnetic field of the ferromagnetic particles that form the disk coating. This is how it is written to disk. Reading occurs in reverse order. Magnetized particles induce self-induction EMF in the head, electromagnetic signals arise, which are amplified and transferred to processing. The operation of the hard disk is controlled by a special device - the hard disk controller. The controller functions are partly built into the hard drive, and partly located on the chipset chips. Certain types of high-performance controllers are supplied on a separate board.
Floppy disk drive.
For the rapid transfer of small (up to 1.4 Mb) volumes of information, floppy disks are used, which are inserted into a special drive - drive.
CD or DVD drive .
The principle of operation of the CD device is to read (write) data using a laser beam reflected from the surface of the disc. At the same time, the recording density, in comparison with magnetic disks, is very high. You can burn up to 650MB on a standard CD. The appearance of the DVD format marked a transition to a new, more advanced level in the field of storage and use of data, sound and video. Initially, the abbreviation DVD stood for digital video disc, these are high-capacity optical discs. These discs are used to store computer programs and applications, as well as feature-length movies and high-quality sound. Therefore, the decoding of the abbreviation DVD, which appeared a little later, as a digital versatile disc, i.e. universal digital disk - more logical. From the outside, DVD discs look like normal CD-ROM discs. However, DVDs have much more possibilities. DVD discs can store 26 times more data than a conventional CD-ROM. With the physical size and appearance of a regular CD or CD-ROM, DVD discs represent a huge leap in storage capacity from their 650MB ancestor. A standard single-layer, single-sided DVD disc can store 4.7GB of data. But this is not the limit - DVDs can be produced according to the two-layer standard, which allows you to increase the capacity of data stored on one side up to 8.5GB. In addition, DVD discs can be double-sided, which increases the capacity of one disc up to 17GB.
video card
Together with the monitor, the video card forms the video system of the computer. The video card (video adapter) performs all operations related to managing the monitor screen and contains video memory that stores image data.
Sound card.
The sound card performs operations related to the processing of sound, speech, and music. The sound is reproduced through speakers (headphones) connected to the sound card output. There is also a microphone jack. The main parameter of the ZK is the bit depth. The higher the bit depth, the smaller the error associated with digitization, the better the sound.
Peripherals
Peripheral devices are connected to computer interfaces and are designed to perform auxiliary operations. By value. Peripherals can be divided into:
input devices:
The keyboard is a character data input device.
Mouse - command control device
Scanners, tablets (digitizers), digital photo and video cameras - devices for inputting graphic data
data output devices:
-Printers:
Laser. Provide high quality printing and high speed.
Inkjet. The main purpose is color printing. Surpass laser in terms of quality / price.
storage devices:
Flash drives. A data storage device based on non-volatile flash memory. It has a minimal size and allows for "hot" plugging via a USB connector, after which it is recognized as a hard drive. The size of a flash drive can range from 32 MB to several GB.
communication devices:
Modem. A device designed to exchange information between remote computers via communication channels. Depending on the type of channel, modems are divided into radio modems, cable, etc. The most common modems for telephone lines.
Not all devices that we need are already connected to the computer in its case. There are a number of devices that need to be connected during operation or added to expand functionality; without many of them, working with a computer is impossible. These devices include USB flash drives, printers, mice, keyboards, external hard drives, speakers, and more. All this is connected through interfaces for connecting devices to a computer.
External ports - provide an interface or point of interaction between a computer and another peripheral device. The main purpose of these ports is to provide a connection point for the device cable to send and receive data from the CPU. In this article, we will look at what are the external ports of a computer, and also consider the main ports and their purpose.
External computer connectors are also called communication ports, as they are responsible for communication between the computer and peripheral devices. Typically, the base of the port is located on the motherboard.
All external computer interfaces are divided into two types, depending on their type and the protocol used to communicate with the central processor. These are serial and parallel ports.
A serial port is an interface through which devices can be connected using the serial protocol. This protocol allows one bit of data to be transmitted at a time over a single line. The most common type of serial port is D-sub, which allows the transmission of RS-232 signals.
The parallel port works a little differently, the communication between the peripheral device is carried out in parallel using several communication lines. Most ports for modern devices are parallel. Next, we will consider in more detail each type of external computer interfaces, as well as their purpose.
Input and Common Ports
In modern computers, serial ports are practically no longer used; they have been supplanted by more modern parallel ports, which have better performance. But many motherboards still have connectors for these interfaces. This is for compatibility with older devices such as mice and keyboards.
PS/2
The PS/2 connector was developed by IBM for connecting a mouse and keyboard. It has been used since the IBM/2 personal computer device. On behalf of this computer, the port name was formed. The interface has a special marking - purple for the keyboard and green for the mouse.
As you can see, this is a six-pin connector, here is its diagram:
Even though the bases and pinouts for the mouse and keyboard are the same, the computer will not detect the device if you plug it into the wrong connector. As I said, PS / 2 has already been supplanted by another technology at the moment. Now, connecting peripheral devices to a computer is most often done via USB.
Serial Port
Although a whole group of ports, including PS / 2, is called serial ports, this term has another meaning. It is used to designate an interface compatible with the RS-232 standard. These interfaces include DB-25 and DE-9.
DB-25- This is a variant of the D-Sub connector, originally designed as the main port for RS-232 communication. But most devices do not use all contacts.
Then it was developed DE-9, which worked on the same protocol, and DB-25 began to be used more often for connecting a printer instead of a parallel port. Now DE-9 is the main serial port that works on the RS-232 protocol. It is also called a COM port. This connector is still sometimes used to connect mice, keyboards, modems, IBLs, and other devices using this protocol.
Now interfaces for connecting devices to a computer DB-25 and DE-9 are used less and less, because they are being replaced by USB and other ports.
Centronics parallel port or 36-pin port
The Centronics or 36-pin port was designed to connect a computer and a printer using a parallel protocol. It has 36 pins and was quite popular before the widespread use of USB.
Audio ports
The audio ports are used to connect speakers and other audio output devices to the computer. Audio signals can be transmitted in analog or digital form, depending on the connector used.
3.5mm jack
This port is most commonly used to connect headphones or surround sound devices. The connector consists of six sockets and is on any computer for audio output, as well as for connecting a microphone.
The sockets are color coded as follows:
S/PDIF/TOSLINK
The Sony/Phillips Digital Audio Transfer Interface is used in various playback devices. It can be used for coaxial RCA audio cable and fiber optic TOSLINK.
Most home computers contain this TOSLINK (Toshiba Link) connection interface. Such a port can support 7.1 channel surround sound with only one cable.
Video interfaces
VGA port
This port is available on most computers. It is located on the video card and is designed to connect screens, projectors and high-definition TVs. This is a D-Sub type port connector, consisting of 15 pins arranged in three rows. The connector is called DE-15.
The VGA port is the main interface for communication between computers and older CRT monitors. Modern LCD and LED monitors support VGA, but the image quality is reduced to 648x480 resolution.
Due to the increasing use of digital video, VGA ports are being replaced by HDMI and Display. Some laptops also have VGA ports for connecting external monitors. Here is his diagram:
Digital Video Interface (DVI)
DVI is a high-speed digital interface for communicating between a video card and a computer screen. It was designed to minimize video transmission loss and replace VGA technology.
There are several types of DVI connectors, these are DVI-I, DVI-D and DVI-A. DVI-I is a port capable of transmitting both digital and analog signals. DVI-D only supports digital signals, DVI-A only supports analog. Digital signals can carry video at a resolution of 2560x1600.
In addition, several modifications have been developed. Apple has developed Mini-DVI which looks very similar to VGA and is much smaller than regular DVI:
Then there was Micro-DVI, which is even smaller than Mini-DMI and similar in size to a USB connector and is capable of transmitting only digital signals:
display port
Display Port is a digital interface that was developed to replace VGA and DVI and can carry not only video but also audio signals. The latest version can transmit video at resolutions up to 7680x4320.
Display Port has a 20-pin connector that is much smaller than DVI and allows for higher resolution video. Here is the pin layout:
RCA connector
The RCA port can transmit audio and video signal with three cables. The video signal is transmitted via the yellow cable and a maximum resolution of up to 576i is supported. The red and white ports are used for audio signal transmission.
Component Video
The Component Video interface splits the video signal into multiple channels and delivers higher quality than RCA. Both analog and digital signals can be transmitted.
S-Video
S-Video is only used for video signal transmission. The image quality is better than the previous two options, but the resolution is lower than in Component. This port is usually black and is found on all TVs and most computers. It is very similar to PS/2 but only has 4 pins:
HDMI
HDMI stands for High Definition Media Interface. It is an interface for transmitting and receiving high-definition digital video and audio signals to devices such as computer monitors, high-definition televisions, Blue-Ray players, game consoles, and cameras. Now HDMI is considered the standard port for transferring video data.
HDMI type A port looks like this:
The connector uses 19 pins, and the latest version 2.0 can transmit a video signal with a resolution of 4096x2160 and 32 audio channels. Contact connection diagram:
USB
The Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface has replaced serial and parallel ports, PS/2 game ports, and chargers. This port can be used to transfer data, act as an interface for connecting peripherals, and even be used as a power source. There are currently four types of USB: Type-A, Type-B, Type-C, micro-USB, and mini-USB. With the help of any of them, external devices can be connected to the computer.
USB Type A
The USB Type-A port has a 4-pin connector. There are three different, compatible versions - USB 1.1, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. The latter is a common standard and supports data rates up to 400 Mbps.
Later, the USB 3.1 standard was released, which supports speeds up to 10 Gbps. Black indicates USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 is blue. You can see it in the image:
Contact connection diagram:
USB Type-C
Type-C is the latest USB specification, and you can insert the connector into this connector in either direction. It is planned that over time it will replace Type-A and Type-B.
The Type-C port consists of 24 pins and can pass current up to 3A. This feature is used for modern fast charging technology.
Network ports
RJ-45 port
The RJ-45 interface is used to connect a computer to the Internet using Ethernet technology. The Registered Jack (RJ) interface is used to organize computer. RJ-45 is an 8-pin modular jack.
The latest version of Ethernet is called Gigabit Ethernet and supports data rates up to 10 Gbps. RJ-45 is usually called LAN Ethernet port with connection type 8P - 8C. Ports are often equipped with two LEDs to indicate transmission and reception of packets.
As I said, RJ-45 has 8 pins, they are shown in this diagram:
RJ-11
RJ-11 is another type of Registered Jack that is used as an interface for a telephone, modem, or ADSL connection. Computers are almost never equipped, but it is the main interface for all telecommunications networks.
RJ-45 and RJ-11 are similar, but RJ-11 is slightly smaller and uses 6 sockets and 4 pins (6p-4c) but a 6P-2C scheme would suffice. Here is a picture of this connector:
You can also compare how similar RJ-45 and RJ11 are:
HDD
E-SATA
E-SATA is an external serial port Serial AT Attachment, which is used to connect external mass storage devices. The modern E-SATA connector is called e-SATAp and is compatible with E-SATA.
These are hybrid ports that can be connected to E-SATA and USB. But neither SATA nor USB officially supports SATAp, so the user will use them at their own peril and risk.
conclusions
In this article, we examined the external interfaces of a computer for connecting peripherals. All of them were developed at different times and each new version is usually much better than the next. Do you know or use other external ports on your computer? Write in the comments!