List of Computer Connectors
- Whether you are new to computers or you have been using them for years, you still may not understand the types computer connectors and their individual functions. Understanding computer connector types and functions can help you decide on the proper peripheral devices and other computer hardware you may want to purchase for your computer.
- Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports are flat, and accept USB connectors typically found on printers, external hard drives, keyboards, flash drives and other peripheral devices. You can recognize a USB connector by its slim shape; the connector is usually about 1-inch wide and about 1/4-inch tall. Created by Intel, USB makes installing hardware faster and easier.
- The parallel port connector has a metal lip that surrounds a series of small pins. You can usually find one fastening screw on each side of the connector; these hold the connector to the port, which is located on the back of your PC. There are a few different styles of parallel connectors, which have separate functions. You may have both a male port (with pins) and female port (pin holes) on your PC.
- Most laptops come with monitor connectors, which look like parallel connectors only smaller. Monitor connectors have either 15 pins over three rows (HD 15) or 15 pins over two rows (DB 15), and connect to the female port on the back or side of the laptop. Monitor connectors typically are used in classrooms where a presenter needs to hook to a data projector that will display information on a screen in front of the audience.
- Serial connectors, which consist of nine pins over two rows, connect to serial ports located on the back or side of your computer. These connectors are female and connect to your computer's male ports. Serial connectors may appear on digital cameras and modems.
- PS/2 connectors are usually found on keyboard and mouse cables, and connect to a female port on the back or side of your PC. The male ends are small and round with six round pins and a rectangular pin, and the female ports on the back of the computer are colored purple for the keyboard and green for the mouse.
