Types of Computer Ports
There are two types of computer ports discussed below:
- Internal port -Internal ports are used to connect internal devices like disk drives, CD drives, and other internal devices with the motherboard.
- External port-External ports are used to connect external devices modem, mouse, printer, flash drives, etc with the motherboard.
Let us now discuss a few important types of ports:
- Serial Port
- Parallel Port
- USB Port
- PS/2 Port
- VGA Port
- Modem Port
- FireWire Port
- Sockets
- Infrared Port
- Game Port
- Digital Video Interface(DVI) Port
- Ethernet Port
Now let us discuss these ports one by one:
1. Serial Port(COM Port)
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). Serial cables are cheaper to make in comparison to parallel cables and they are easier to shield from interference. There are two versions of the serial port, which are the 9-pin serial port model and the 25-pin serial port model. The rate of transmission of data in the serial port is 115 KB/sec.
- Serial ports are used for external modems and older computer mice.
- There are two versions of serial-ports that is 9-pin and 25-pin.
- The speed of data in the serial port is 115 kilobits per second.
2. Parallel Port (LPT Ports)
Parallel ports are generally used for connecting scanners and printers. It can send several bits at the same time as it uses parallel communication. Its data transfer speed is much higher in comparison with the serial port. It is a 25-pin model. It is also known as Printer Port or Line Printer Port.
- Parallel Ports are used for scanners and printers
- parallel ports are also known as printer port
- This is a 25-pin model.
3. USB (Universal Serial Bus)
In 1997 USB was first introduced. This can connect all kinds of external USB devices, like external hard disk, printer, scanner, mouse, keyboard, etc. There are a minimum of two USB Ports provided in most of the computer systems. It is a kind of new type serial connection Port that is much faster than the old serial Ports These USB Ports are much smarter and more versatile, as they allow the “daisy chaining” of up to 127 USB peripherals connected to one port. The data transfer rate in this is Data12 megabits per second. It also provides plug-and-play communication.
4. PS/2 Port
PS/2 ports are special ports used for connecting old computer keyboard and mouse. It was invented by IBM. In old computers, there are a minimum of two PS/2 Ports, each for the keyboard and the mouse. It is a 6-pin mini Din connector.
- PS/2 ports are used for old computer keyboard and mouse.
- This is also known as the mouse port.
- Most of the old computers have two PS/2 ports one for the mouse and one for the keyboard.
5. VGA Port
VGA ports also known as Video Graphic Array connectors are those which connect the monitor to a computer’s video card. VGA port has 15 holes and it is similar to the serial port connector. But VGA Ports have holes in it and the serial port connector has pins in it.
VGA-Port
- VGA port is used to connects monitor to a computer’s video card.
- There are 15 holes in the VGA port.
- VGA ports are similar to serial port connectors only difference is, that serial connector has pins and VGA has holes.
6. Sockets
Microphones and speakers are connected with the help of Sockets to the sound card of the computer.
7. FireWire Port
The IEEE 1394 interface, which is developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s by Apple as FireWire. It can transfer large amounts of data at very high speed. It is used to connect camcorders and video equipment to the computer. It comes up with three variants which are 4-Pin FireWire 400 connector, 6-Pin FireWire 400 connector, and 9-Pin FireWire 800 connector.
- It can transfer large volumes of data at a very high speed.
- Used to connect video equipment to the computer.
- The data transmission rate is 400 to 800 megabits per second.
- FireWire Port was invented by Apple.
- FireWire has three models: 4-Pin FireWire 400 connector, 6-Pin FireWire 400 connector, and 9-Pin FireWire 800 connector.
8. Infrared Port
An infrared port is a wireless communication interface that is used to send and receive infrared signals from other devices. The range of connectivity of the infrared port is 5-10ft. Infrared port allows devices to communicate without a physical connection.
9. Game Port
These ports are used previously to connect a joystick to a PC. But nowadays it is replaced by USB ports.
10. Modem Port
As the name suggests, a Modem port is used to connect a PC’s modem to the telephone network.
11. Digital Video Interface(DVI) Port
DVI Port is used to connect an LCD(flat panel) monitor to the computer’s high-end video graphic cards and it is very popular among video card manufacturers.
12. Ethernet Port
Ethernet Port helps to connect to a network and high-speed Internet(provided by LAN or other sources). It connects the network cable to a computer and resides in an Ethernet card. It provides a data travel speed of 10 Mb to 1000 Mb(megabits) per second.
- It is used to connect users with LAN (Local Area Network) and provide high-speed internet.
- Connects by using a network cable to a computer.
- The data transmission rate is 10 to 1000 megabits per second depending upon the network bandwidth.
Types of Computer Ports
Ports are nothing but it is connections between external and internal input/output devices such as keyboards, mice, mouse, Disk Drive, and many more with motherboards using cables. That allows to communicate between external devices or peripherals with a laptop or computer. Computer ports may be virtual or physical. In this article, we are going to discuss about different types of physical computer ports available in the market.