Explain Cables and Connectors
A USB specification running at 5Gbps, compatible with USB-A,-B,-C, or Micro.
What is USB 3.2 Gen 1 SuperSpeed USB?
Apple's proprietary cable used for iPhones and iPads.
What is a lightning cable?
The socket on a motherboard characterized by a large square in the center of the board.
What is the CPU socket?
A cable with many versions that supports video only. Different versions support analog, digital, or both.
What is a DVI cable?
A round tipped cable that often plugs into a sound card or a phone and is used to transmit audio.
What is an Auxiliary (aux) cable?
A USB specification running at 10Gbps compatible with USB-A, -C, and Micro.
What is USB 3.2 Gen 2x1?
A modern cable interface that can transmit audio, video, and power, with data transfer rates up to 40Gbps on its newest USB-C connector version.
What is Thunderbolt?
Four to eight slots next to the CPU to insert the component(s) responsible for the computer's short term memory.
What is the RAM slots, or Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMM) slots?
A 15 pin cable for transmitting analog video.
What is a Video Graphics Array (VGA) cable?
The main power cable used to supply power to the motherboard and many of the devices attached to it. Depending on the mobo, it may have 20 or 24 pins.
What is a P1 or 20 or 20+4 Cable?
A USB specification running 2 x 10 Gbps (20) compatible with USB-C only.
What is USB 3.2 Gen 2x2?
The standard cable for transferring data from a hard drive to a motherboard with 7 pins. Requires a separate 15 pin power cable.
What is a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) cable?
A drive that inserts directly into the motherboard rather than use a cable.
What is an M.2 SSD?
An old cable that uses parallel communications and has very slow transfer speeds with 68+ pins.
What is a Small Computer System Interface?
What is a USB cable?
A widely used audio and video cable generally used to connect a PC or laptop to a monitor or TV.
What is HDMI?
A 4 pin power cable with a white clip at the end.
What is a Molex cable?
Slots designed to insert adapter or expansion cards. Motherboards usually offer multiple lanes for different speeds and versions.
What is a Peripheral Component Interface express (PCIe) slot?
A legacy ribbon cable that connects hard drives to the motherboard. On the cable, pin 1 is identified with a red stripe.
What is a integrated drive electronics (IDE) cable?
1 pin cables used to power the drive light, the power button, audio ports, etc. One of the more difficult cables to plug in to the motherboard.
What are front panel cables?
A new and royalty free cable standard for transmitting both video and audio at high speeds.
What is DisplayPort?
A cable used to connect external peripheral drive (external hard drive) other than USB.
What is eSATA?
The difference between the size of ATX and Mini-ITX boards.
What is 12" x 9.7" vs 6" x 6"?
A cable where data is transmitted all over one wire, one bit at a time. Used with old modems and other older networking equipment. Exists in 25 pin or 9 pin variants.
What is a serial cable?
3 or 4 pin cables that are used to power a computer's fans.
What are Molex KK cables?