Below is an overview of the most common ports that you will find on a home computer:-
Keyboard / Mouse
Name
|
Connector
|
Cable
|
Wired USB |
|
|
Wireless USB |
|
|
PS/2
Usually only found on older computers |
|
|
Audio
Name
|
Connector
|
Cable
|
Audio Jacks |
Green - Front Speakers Pink - Microphone
Blue - Line In
Black - Rear Speakers Yellow - Centre Speaker / Subwoofer Grey - Side Speakers |
|
Digital Audio Out (Coaxial) |
|
|
Digital Audio Out (Optical / S/PDIF) |
|
|
Monitor / Display
Name
|
Connector
|
Cable
|
VGA |
|
|
DVI |
|
|
HDMI Standard |
|
|
HDMI Mini |
|
|
HDMI Micro |
|
|
DisplayPort |
|
|
Mini DisplayPort |
|
|
Power
Notes
|
Connector
|
Cable
|
Standard UK
Often referred to as a kettle lead |
|
|
Rectangular
Most often seen on Lenovo devices |
|
|
Round
Most often seen on HP devices |
|
|
USB
Name
|
Speed |
Connector
|
Cable
|
USB 1.1 / 2.0 |
USB 1.1 - 12 Mbit/s USB 2.0 - 480 Mbit/s |
|
|
USB 3.x |
USB 3.0 - 5 Gbit/s
USB 3.1 Gen 1 - 5 Gbit/s USB 3.1 Gen 2 - 10 Gbit/s
USB 3.2 Gen 1 - 10 Gbit/s USB 3.2 Gen 2 - 20 Gbit/s |
|
|
Micro USB 2.0 |
|
|
|
Micro USB 3.0 |
|
|
|
USB Type C / Thunderbolt |
USB 3.2 Gen 1 - 10 Gbit/s USB 3.2 Gen 2 - 20 Gbit/s
USB 4.0 / Thunderbolt 3/4 - 40 Gbit/s
|
|
|
Other
Name / Notes
|
Connector
|
Cable
|
Ethernet / Network
If you have a desktop computer and it is in same location as you internet / broadband router then using a cable is the most reliable connection method.
If you have a laptop or a desktop computer with wireless connection then you won't have this cable connected. |
|
|
Firewire
Used for connecting some audio and video devices such as cameras. |
|
|
Printer
They can either be connected using a USB cable (as shown), or they connect without needing a cable using wireless to your wireless internet / broadband router.
Some business printers can also connect directly to a router using an Ethernet cable |
Computer Connection
Printer Connection
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