It has three variants: 4-Pin FireWire 400 connector, 6-Pin FireWire 400 connector, and 9-Pin FireWire 800 connector.
Take a look at the front and back of your computer case and count the number of buttons, ports, and slots you see. Now look at your monitor and count any you find there. You probably counted at least 10, and maybe a lot more.
Each computer is different, so the buttons, ports, and sockets will vary from computer to computer. However, there are certain ones you can expect to find on most desktop computers. Learning how these ports are used will help whenever you need to connect something to your computer, like a new printer, keyboard, or mouse.
Watch the video below to learn about the buttons, ports, and slots on a desktop computer.
Looking for the old version of this video? You can still view it here.
Front of a computer case
Click the buttons in the interactive below to become familiar with the front of a computer.
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Optical Disc Drive
Often called a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, this lets your computer read CDs and DVDs.
The power button is used to power the computer on and off.
Audio In/Audio Out
Many computers include audio ports on the front of the computer case that allow you to easily connect speakers, microphones, and headsets without fumbling with the back of the computer.
USB (Universal Serial Bus) Port
Most desktop computers have several USB ports. These can be used to connect almost any type of device, including mice, keyboards, printers, and digital cameras. They will often appear on the front and back of the computer.
Back of a computer case
The back of a computer case has connection ports that are made to fit specific devices. The placement will vary from computer to computer, and many companies have their own special connectors for specific devices. Some of the ports may be color coded to help you determine which port is used with a particular device.
Click the buttons in the interactive below to become familiar with the back of a computer.
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Power Socket
This is where you'll connect the power cord to the computer.
Audio In/Audio Out
Almost every computer has two or more audio ports where you can connect various devices, including speakers, microphones, and headsets.
Ethernet Port
This port looks a lot like the modem or telephone port, but it is slightly wider. You can use this port for networking and connecting to the Internet.
USB Ports
On most desktop computers, most of the USB ports are on the back of the computer case. Generally, you'll want to connect your mouse and keyboard to these ports and keep the front USB ports free so they can be used for digital cameras and other devices.
Monitor Port
This is where you'll connect your monitor cable. In this example, the computer has both a DisplayPort and a VGA port. Other computers may have other types of monitor ports, such as DVI (digital visual interface) or HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface).
Serial Port
This port is less common on today's computers. It was frequently used to connect peripherals like digital cameras, but it has been replaced by USB and other types of ports.
PS/2
These ports are sometimes used for connecting the mouse and keyboard. Typically, the mouse port is green and the keyboard port is purple. On new computers, these ports have been replaced by USB.
Expansion Slots
These empty slots are where expansion cards are added to computers. For example, if your computer did not come with a video card, you could purchase one and install it here.
Other types of ports
There are many other types of ports, such as FireWire, Thunderbolt, and HDMI. If your computer has ports you don't recognize, you should consult your manual for more information.
Now you try it! Practice connecting the cables with the interactive game below.
Peripherals you can use with your computer
The most basic computer setup usually includes the computer case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse, but you can plug many different types of devices into the extra ports on your computer. These devices are called peripherals. Let's take a look at some of the most common ones.
Which of the following ports can be used to connect the following devices to your laptop pen drive?
USB (Universal Serial Bus) Port
These can be used to connect almost any type of device, including mice, keyboards, printers, and digital cameras.
What type of port can be used for connecting network devices?
A serial port is also called a communication port and they are used for connection of external devices like a modem, mouse, or keyboard (basically in older PCs).
What are the five types of ports?
There are five major types of natural or artificial ports: Inland port, fishing port, dry port, warm water port and seaport. Among all these types of ports, seaports are the largest and busiest type of ports. This is due to the reason that seaport serves both cargoes as well as passengers.
Which port is used to connect an external device to a computer?
USB port. Devices that can be connected to the USB port include the mouse, keyboard, digital camera, USB flash drive, scanner etc. There are several versions of the USB port. You can also charge various devices by connecting them to the computer through the USB port.
