Types of Computer Ports

A computer's audio ports link the computer's sound hardware with your speakers, microphone, headsets or other audio equipment. Every computer motherboard has at least a few basic audio ports built in, allowing you to connect stereo speakers and a microphone.

DVI (Digital Visual Interface) was developed by the industry body DDWG (the Data Display Working Group) to send digital information from a computer to a digital display, such as a flat-panel LCD monitor. HDMI took a step forward by integrating audio and video into a more compact interface. DisplayPort is an interface technology that is designed ...

DisplayPort debuted in 2006 as part of an effort to supplant the much older VGA (Video Graphics Array, an analog interface first introduced in 1987) and DVI (Digital Video Interface, introduced in 1999) standards used primarily for computer displays. DisplayPort is a royalty-free product.

Device Manager is a Windows utility where you can manage the drivers. In Device Manager, you can check for the driver status, update drivers, uninstall drivers, etc. So it’s very important to know how to access Device Manager.

Mini-Centronics 36 pin male connector (top) with Micro ribbon 36 pin male Centronics connector (bottom) The Apple II Parallel Printer Port connected to the printer via a folded ribbon cable; one end connected to the connector at the top of the card, and the other end had a 36-pin Centronics connector.

The PS/2 port is a 6-pin mini-DIN connector used for connecting keyboards and mice to a PC compatible computer system. Its name comes from the IBM Personal System/2 series of personal computers, with which it was introduced in 1987.

Ruby ports, unlike the Tawny, are put into stainless steel barrels to inhibit oxidization and evaporation. The result is a deep "ruby" color. Aging does little to improve this variety of port. The result is a deep "ruby" color. Aging does little to improve this variety of port.

The port is typically labeled “optical audio”, “TOSLINK”, “Digital Audio Out (Optical)” or something similar, but you certainly don’t need a label to identify it. The TOSLINK port is distinct among all other ports and looks strikingly like a tiny little doggie door into the bowels of your device.

Essentially, serial ports provide a standard connector and protocol to let you attach devices, such as modems, to your computer. In this edition of How Stuff Works, you will learn about the difference between a parallel port and a serial port, what each pin does and what flow control is.

What's the difference between a tawny Port and a Vintage Port? —Wes P., Tulsa, Okla. Dear Wes, Tawny Ports become tawny-colored from the oxidation they experience during their long maturation in porous wooden casks—generally 10 years or more, up to 40 years in some cases. They have a mellow, nutty, slightly woody, dried fruit character.

These are found on some PC-video ports for some brands of 18-inch LCD monitors. Function. The analog RGB connector on an LCD screen is used to connect the monitor to a computer -- which is an RGB video input source. Likewise, the VGA port is an analog port connecting the the monitor to a computer.