Computer - Ports

What is a Port?     

A port:

● is a physical docking point using which an external device can be connected to the computer.

● can also be programmatic docking point through which information flows from a program to computer or over the internet.

Characteristics

A port has the following characteristics:

● External devices are connected to a computer using cables and ports.

● Ports are slots on the motherboard into which a cable of external device is plugged in.

● Examples of external devices attached via ports are mouse, keyboard, monitor, microphone, speakers etc.

Following are few important types of ports:

Serial Port

● Used for external modems and older computer mouse

● Two versions : 9 pin, 25 pin model

● Data travels at 115 kilobits per second

Parallel Port

● Used for scanners and printers

● Also called printer port

● 25 pin model

● Also known as IEEE 1284-compliant Centronics port

PS/2 Port

● Used for old computer keyboard and mouse

● Also called mouse port

● Most of the old computers provide two PS/2 port, each for mouse and keyboard

● Also known as IEEE 1284-compliant Centronics port

Universal Serial Bus (or USB) Port

● It can connect all kinds of external USB devices such as external hard disk, printer, scanner, mouse, keyboard etc.

● It was introduced in 1997.

● Most of the computers provide two USB ports as minimum.

● Data travels at 12 megabits per seconds

● USB compliant devices can get power from a USB port

VGA Port

● Connects monitor to a computer's video card.

● Has 15 holes.

● Similar to serial port connector but serial port connector has pins, it has holes.

Power Connector

● Three-pronged plug

● Connects to the computer's power cable that plugs into a power bar or wall socket

Firewire Port

● Transfers large amount of data at very fast speed.

● Connects camcorders and video equipments to the computer

● Data travels at 400 to 800 megabits per seconds

● Invented by Apple

● Three variants : 4-Pin FireWire 400 connector, 6-Pin FireWire 400 connector and 9-Pin FireWire 800 connector

Modem Port

● Connects a PC's modem to the telephone network

Ethernet Port

● Connects to a network and high speed Internet.

● Connect network cable to a computer.

● This port resides on an Ethernet Card.

● Data travels at 10 megabits to 1000 megabits per seconds depending upon the network bandwidth.

Game Port

● Connect a joystick to a PC

● Now replaced by USB.

Digital Video Interface, DVI port

● Connects Flat panel LCD monitor to the computer's high end video graphic cards.

● Very popular among video card manufacturers.

Sockets

● Connect microphone, speakers to sound card of the computer