External Ports
Ethernet is a very common type of computer connection that is used in a local area network. An Ethernet port looks much like a regular phone jack, but its bigger in width. This port can be used to connect a PC to the internet, a local area network, another computer/group of computers or a modem/ router.
Modem - A modem is a network firmware device that processes many of the carrier wave signals that are used to encode information that is digital for transmissions and signals. The purpose of this is to produce a signal that can be transmitted easily and decoded to reproduce the first original piece of data. Modems can be used to transmit analog signals by light outputting diodes to radios. A common, well known type of modem is a modem that turns the digital data into a modulated signal which can be used for communication over telephone lines and demodulated by another modem at the receiver side to recover digital data.
​
EsATA - An eSata port is a a combination for external storage device. An eSata or USB device can also be plugged into an eSata port.
​
Display port - The display port is mainly used to connect different video sources to a display device, for example a computer monitor, even though it can also be used to carry audio, USB and other different types of data inputs/ outputs.
​
HDMI - High definition multi -media interface is a main audio/ video area for transferring uncompressed video data and compressed or uncompressed digital audio data which is from a HDMI source, for example, a display controller which goes to a computer monitor.
​
VGA - A video graphics array, connector is a 15 pin, 3 row DE -15 connector. The 15 - pin VGA connector is used to connect to a video source, such as a video display controller to a device that displays data, e.g. a computer monitor.
​
DVI - Digital Visual Interface is a video display interface that is produced by a digital working group. The digital device is used to connect to a video source, e.g. a video display controller to a display device, such as a computer monitor.
​
S -Video is a signal for SD video, this is either 480i or 576i. If the black/ white and colour symbols are separated then there will be better image quality than standard video. However it has lower colour resolution compared to component video.
​
Serial - A serial port is a communication systems that transfers information either in or out, for a short while. In the past, the data was transferred through serial ports and then into devices, e.g. modems, and other peripheral devices.
​
Parallel - A parallel port is a interface that is seen on most PC's, for either personal or business, it is used for connecting different peripherals. Parallel ports refer to the data being sent, for example parallel ports transfer a lot of different bits of data at once, in a parallel form of communication compared to serial interface ports which sends data bits once at a time. For this process to actually happen the parallel ports require lots of data lines in cables and ports, which are usually bigger than the modern serial ports which only require a single data line.
​
Audio in - Audio in can also mean sound in is a jack that is found on PC sound cards that allow a certain user to connect another external audio device, e.g. a speaker or a headset/ pair of headphones.
​
Audio out - Most HD TV sets and blu - ray players/ DVD players, games consoles and other media devices, which all still have TOSLINK out ports. The HDMI video can be piped into a TV and right back around again and then the optical audio out can be piped to the receiver and the speaker system.
​
USB - The term USB stands for a universal serial bus, is an industry standard developed in the mid 1990's that creates cables, connectors and communication protocols that are used in a bus for connection, communication and power supply's that are between PC and other devices that requires electricity.
​
PS/2 - The PS/2 connector is a 6 - pin mini connector that is used for connecting different peripherals like keyboards and mice to an older generation of computer. The PS/2 mouse connector replaced the older "serial mouse" connector and then the PS/2 keyboard connector also replaced the bigger 5 - pin connector used in the AT design. A lot of the designs of the PS/2 designs are electrically similar and employ the same type of communication routine for keyboard and mouse interfaces.
​
Power - PC main is the power connector, which is also called P1, it connects to the motherboard and also powers it and all of the components that are in a PC up as well. 12 volts are only P10 which is for system monitoring that is used for providing power to the power supply units fans. the ATX 12 volt 4 pin cable is the second cable that also connects to the motherboard.
​