subject: How To Recognize The Connectors Normally Found On Laptops [print this page] The majority of laptops have four or five different input and output connections so that owners can interface it with a assortment of devices to add additional functionality. However, the majority of users have little idea of the way to identify the connectors or how to connect any extra device to the laptop. This article assists the average laptop computer user identify and choose exactly what devices might be connected.
An incredibly large number of USB products are available and can be interfaced with a standard laptop computer as just about all have USB ports. Caution should be taken though as up until recently only USB 1 & 2 were available and were pretty much exchangeable, however, USB 3 is being supplied on the most recent laptop computers and is not compatible with the earlier designs. You are able to identify a USB 1 and 2 as it has a rectangular metallic connector together with 4 connection pins; the most recent USB 3 includes a similar connector but with 9 connection pins. The USB 3 connection offers much quicker connection than USB 1 or USB 2 connections but only accepts equipment designed for this type of connector. By trying to force a USB 2 connector into a USB 3 socket harm will result.
Most although not all laptops possess a VGA or HDMI output connection. A VGA connector is identified as an oblong connector with curved edges having three rows of five pin holes. The HDMI connector is identified as a rectangular connector with the two ends triangular shaped and having one row of 9 connectors and another row of 10 connectors. It is slimmer and longer compared to the VGA connector. The VGA output enables the laptop to be connected to a monitor and some models of Television. The HDMI connector enables the majority of the modern TVs to be linked to the latest laptop computers to give a hires TV picture.
Audio connectors are identified as small round holes. The simplest is a phono or jack connector either mono or stereo. There may be a variety of extra audio connectors associated with microphone input or line input or line output connectors; these are typically clearly marked near the connector.
To connect directly to a network or connect to the internet virtually all laptop computers have a network or RJ45 connector. This has 8 pins surrounded by a square metal or plastic cover. The cable is locked in and released by a springy plastic clip. Some of the older laptop computers have a smaller 4 pin connector intended for a dial-up modem to telephone connection that had been employed for internet connection.
When inserting an cable great care needs to be taken to make certain that the plug is not inverted as damage to a laptop connector is expensive to mend and may render the laptop computer completely useless.