![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/6114724.jpg?161)
Back Panel Connectors & Ports
Connectors and ports for connecting the computer to external devices such as display ports, audio ports, USB ports, Ethernet ports, PS/2 ports etc.
Connectors and ports for connecting the computer to external devices such as display ports, audio ports, USB ports, Ethernet ports, PS/2 ports etc.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/2980212.jpg?159)
VGA Cable(VIDEO GRAPHICS ARRAY)
Connect one end to: computer monitor, television (PC input port)
Connect other end to: VGA port on computer.
Connect one end to: computer monitor, television (PC input port)
Connect other end to: VGA port on computer.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/2041888.jpg?153)
DVI Cable(Digital Visual Interface)
Connect one end to: computer monitor
Connect other end to: DVI port on computer.
Connect one end to: computer monitor
Connect other end to: DVI port on computer.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/9235967.jpg?164)
HDMI Cable(High-Definition Multimedia Interface)
Connect one end to: computer monitor, television
Connect other end to: HDMI port on computer.
Note: If you're hooking up a television to your computer, then we would recommend that you use a HDMI cable as your PC cable connection since it is able to transmit both display and sound - So you can not only use your TV screen as a monitor, but also make use of your TV speakers to play PC audio.
Connect one end to: computer monitor, television
Connect other end to: HDMI port on computer.
Note: If you're hooking up a television to your computer, then we would recommend that you use a HDMI cable as your PC cable connection since it is able to transmit both display and sound - So you can not only use your TV screen as a monitor, but also make use of your TV speakers to play PC audio.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/9654384.jpg?147)
PS/2 Cable
Connect one end to: PS/2 keyboard, PS/2 mouse
Connect other end to: PS/2 ports on computer.
Purple PS/2 port: keyboard
Green PS/2 port: mouse
Connect one end to: PS/2 keyboard, PS/2 mouse
Connect other end to: PS/2 ports on computer.
Purple PS/2 port: keyboard
Green PS/2 port: mouse
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/1947262.jpg?168)
Ethernet Cable(RJ/45)
Connect one end to: router, network switch
Connect other end to: Ethernet port on computer.
Connect one end to: router, network switch
Connect other end to: Ethernet port on computer.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/6032287.jpg?175)
5mm Audio Cable
Connect one end to: computer speakers, 3.5mm headphones, 3.5mm microphone.
Connect other end to: audio ports on computer.
Green audio port: computer speakers or headphones
Pink audio port: microphone
Blue audio port: MP3 player, CD player, DVD player, turntable, electric guitar etc (line-in port to play and record sounds from the above devices).
Connect one end to: computer speakers, 3.5mm headphones, 3.5mm microphone.
Connect other end to: audio ports on computer.
Green audio port: computer speakers or headphones
Pink audio port: microphone
Blue audio port: MP3 player, CD player, DVD player, turntable, electric guitar etc (line-in port to play and record sounds from the above devices).
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/4906900.jpg?179)
USB Cable
For USB computer cable connections, there are 2 formats that are in popular use: USB 2.0 and the newer USB 3.0.
How to tell USB 2.0 and 3.0 cables apart: USB 3.0 cables have a blue tip, and sometimes you can find a SS "Super Speed" label on it.
For USB computer cable connections, there are 2 formats that are in popular use: USB 2.0 and the newer USB 3.0.
How to tell USB 2.0 and 3.0 cables apart: USB 3.0 cables have a blue tip, and sometimes you can find a SS "Super Speed" label on it.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/3703608.jpg?174)
Computer Power Cord
Connect one end to: AC power socket
Connect other end to: power supply unit, computer monitor
Note: Always turn off your power supply unit (with the 1-0 switch at the back) before connecting a power cord to it.
Connect one end to: AC power socket
Connect other end to: power supply unit, computer monitor
Note: Always turn off your power supply unit (with the 1-0 switch at the back) before connecting a power cord to it.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/2022782.jpg?197)
PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect)
Slot for older expansion cards such as sound cards, network cards, connector cards. See image below for a close-up view.
Have been largely replaced by PCI-Express x1 slots.
Slot for older expansion cards such as sound cards, network cards, connector cards. See image below for a close-up view.
Have been largely replaced by PCI-Express x1 slots.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/942663.jpg?200)
PCI Express x1 Slots
Slot for modern expansion cards such as sound cards, network cards (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth), connector cards (USB, FireWire, eSATA) and certain low-end graphics cards.
Slot for modern expansion cards such as sound cards, network cards (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth), connector cards (USB, FireWire, eSATA) and certain low-end graphics cards.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/9252312.jpg?203)
PCI Express x16 Slot
Slot for discrete graphic cards and high bandwidth devices such as top-end solid state drives.
Slot for discrete graphic cards and high bandwidth devices such as top-end solid state drives.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/5787945.jpg?208)
North-bridge
Also known as Memory Controller Hub (MCH).
Chipset that allows the CPU to communicate with the RAM and graphics card.
Beginning from the Sandy Bridge generation of Intel CPUs, motherboards no longer have this component as it has been integrated within the CPU itself .
Also known as Memory Controller Hub (MCH).
Chipset that allows the CPU to communicate with the RAM and graphics card.
Beginning from the Sandy Bridge generation of Intel CPUs, motherboards no longer have this component as it has been integrated within the CPU itself .
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/9929595.jpg?209)
CPU Socket
Insert CPU here.
Insert CPU here.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/831145.jpg?205)
ATX 12V Power Connector
Connects to the 4-pin power cable of a power supply unit which supplies power to the CPU.
Connects to the 4-pin power cable of a power supply unit which supplies power to the CPU.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/3686867.jpg?212)
Front Panel USB 2.0 Connectors
Connects to USB 2.0 ports at the front or top of a computer case.
Connects to USB 2.0 ports at the front or top of a computer case.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/292786.jpg?212)
Front Panel Connectors
Connects to the power switch, reset switch, power LED, hard drive LED and front audio ports of a computer case.
Connects to the power switch, reset switch, power LED, hard drive LED and front audio ports of a computer case.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/130015.jpg?215)
IDE Connector(integrated derive electronics)
Connects to older hard drive disks and optical drives for data transfer.
Have been replaced over by SATA connectors.
Connects to older hard drive disks and optical drives for data transfer.
Have been replaced over by SATA connectors.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/8717693.jpg?219)
CMOS Battery
Supplies power to store BIOS settings and keep the real-time clock running.
The CMOS battery found on most motherboards is the CR2032 lithium coin cell.
Supplies power to store BIOS settings and keep the real-time clock running.
The CMOS battery found on most motherboards is the CR2032 lithium coin cell.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/4881899.jpg?215)
Southbridge
Also known as the Input/Output Controller Hub (ICH).
Chipset that allows the CPU to communicate with PCI slots, PCI-Express x 1 slots (expansion cards), SATA connectors (hard drives, optical drives), USB ports (USB devices), Ethernet ports and on-board audio.
Also known as the Input/Output Controller Hub (ICH).
Chipset that allows the CPU to communicate with PCI slots, PCI-Express x 1 slots (expansion cards), SATA connectors (hard drives, optical drives), USB ports (USB devices), Ethernet ports and on-board audio.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/2262410.jpg?218)
SATA Connectors
Connects to modern hard disk drives, solid state drives and optical drives for data transfer.
Connects to modern hard disk drives, solid state drives and optical drives for data transfer.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/9112759.jpg?222)
Fan Headers
Supplies power to the CPU heat sink fan and computer case fans.
Supplies power to the CPU heat sink fan and computer case fans.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/2247139.jpg?223)
RAM Slots
To insert RAM (Random Access Memory).
To insert RAM (Random Access Memory).
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/6140698.jpg?222)
ATX Power Connector
Connects to the 24-pin ATX power cable of a power supply unit which supplies power to the motherboard.
Connects to the 24-pin ATX power cable of a power supply unit which supplies power to the motherboard.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/6948022.jpg?227)
mSATA Connector
Connects to a mSATA solid state drive. In most cases, this SSD is used as cache to speed up hard disk drives, but it's possible to re-purpose it as a regular hard drive.
Connects to a mSATA solid state drive. In most cases, this SSD is used as cache to speed up hard disk drives, but it's possible to re-purpose it as a regular hard drive.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/9871141.jpg?226)
Parallel cable
Parallel cables are used to send data in two way like send and receive. example printer cable. A parallel port is used to connect parallel cable. A db25 has 25 pins.
Parallel cables are used to send data in two way like send and receive. example printer cable. A parallel port is used to connect parallel cable. A db25 has 25 pins.
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/5/5/18550310/1532066.jpg?216)
Serial cable
Serial cables are used to connect serial devices like modem, mouse to computer and is capable of transmitting one bit at a time.
Serial cables are used to connect serial devices like modem, mouse to computer and is capable of transmitting one bit at a time.