Computer Cable types and descriptions
1. VGA Cable
Also known as D-sub cable, analog video cable
Connect one end to: computer monitor, television (PC input port)
Connect other end to: VGA port on computer (see image below)
2. DVI Cable
Connect one end to: computer monitor
Connect other end to: DVI port on computer (see image below)
However there are 2 types of DVI, DVI-I and DVI-D.
DVI-D does not have the extra pins around the long pin, this is also a pure digital signal over DVI-I.
3. HDMI Cable
Connect one end to: computer monitor, television
Connect other end to: HDMI port on computer (see image below)
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.
4. PS/2 Cable
Connect one end to: PS/2 keyboard, PS/2 mouse
Connect other end to: PS/2 ports on computer (see image below)
- Purple PS/2 port: keyboard
- Green PS/2 port: mouse
5. Ethernet Cable
Also known as RJ-45 cable
Connect one end to: router, network switch
Connect other end to: Ethernet port on computer (see image below)
6. 3.5mm Audio Cable
Also known as phone connector (since 3.5mm jacks are often found on mobile phones too)
Connect one end to: computer speakers, 3.5mm headphones, 3.5mm microphone
Connect other end to: audio ports on computer (see image below use Green socket)
- 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)
7. USB Cable
For USB computer cable connections, there are two popular formats: 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.
Since USB was intended to be the one computer cable connection to replace them all, it's no surprise that the possible uses for a USB port are quite mind-blowing. For this computer cable guide, we have listed its more common uses below:
Connect one end to: USB device
- Storage devices: USB flash drive, external hard drive, external optical drive
- Input devices: USB keyboard (wired and wireless), USB mouse (wired and wireless), webcam, scanner, gamepad
- Output devices: printer, all-in-one office machine, USB speaker
- Wireless adapters: network (Wi-Fi) adapter, bluetooth adapter, 3G adapter
- Data (and charging) cable for mobile devices such as mobile phone, tablet, MP3 player
Connect other end to: USB ports on computer (see image below)
How to tell USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports apart: USB 2.0 ports have black tips while USB 3.0 ports come with blue tips. See image below:
USB 3.0 is backwards-compatible... meaning that you can connect a USB 2.0 device to a USB 3.0 port and vice versa (but the USB 3.0 devices hooked up to a USB 2.0 port will perform at lowered rates)
There are also USB cables which connect new external backup drives (see below), these are described as USB-A to Micro-B
8. Computer Power Cord (Kettle Plug)
Connect one end to: AC power socket
Connect other end to: power supply unit (see image below), 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.
9. ThunderBolt/USB-C
Mostly seen on laptops and Apple Macs these cables are high speed and are capable of carrying Data, video and other information.
There are 2 current types of Thunderbolt, the older version Thunderbolt 2 is seen below but this can also be confused with Mini Display ports as they look identical and only visual difference is the picture beside the port. Thunderbolt 2 (left) has a lightning symbol and carries Data and video.
The Mini Display Port (right) will only carry Video.
And Thunderbolt 3 also known as USB-C on Apple Macs.
10. Display Port
The cable has better quality over HDMI and is the best option if you have this interface.
Computer network cables
What is Network Cabling?
Cable is the medium through which information usually moves from one network device to another. There are several types of cable which are commonly used with LANs. In some cases, a network will utilize only one type of cable, other networks will use a variety of cable types. The type of cable chosen for a network is related to the network's topology, protocol, and size. Understanding the characteristics of different types of cable and how they relate to other aspects of a network is necessary for the development of a successful network.
The following sections discuss the types of cables used in networks and other related topics.
- Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable
- Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) Cable
- Coaxial Cable
- Fiber Optic Cable
- Cable Installation Guides
- Wireless LANs
- Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) Cable
अलग अलग तरह की नेटवर्क केबल्स को अलग अलग जगह use किया जाता है जैसे की Patch केबल्स को कम दूरी के लिए जैसे offices या home network मे कम्प्यूटर्स को कनेक्ट करने के लिए, एक building मे इलेक्ट्रिकल कनेक्शंस के लिए Twisted Pair या Coaxial Cable को, जबकि Optical fiber cable को लम्बी दुरी के लिए या फिर जहाँ पर जयदा speed व् high bandwidth की जरुरत होती हो use करते है |
Twisted Pair Cable Kya hai
जब दो separate insulated wires को एक साथ twisted pattern मे एक दूसरे के parallel रखते हुए बनाया जाता है तो इसको twisted pair cable कहते है | Wires के pair से एक circuit बनता है जिससे की data transmit होता है | जब wire मे electrical current flow होता है तो यह wire के चारो तरफ छोटा सा magnetic field crate कर देता है एवं जब दो wires electrical circuit मे एक दूसरे के पास होते है तो उनका magnetic fields एक दूसरे के exact opposite होता है और दोनों magnetic fields एक दूसरे के magnetic effect को खत्म कर देते है इसके साथ साथ outside magnetic fields को भी cancel कर देते है | wires को Twist करने से wires का cancellation effect increase होने के साथ crosstalk (साथ वाले wire से generated होने वाली noise) से protection मिलता है |
Twisted Pair Cable Kya hai
जब दो separate insulated wires को एक साथ twisted pattern मे एक दूसरे के parallel रखते हुए बनाया जाता है तो इसको twisted pair cable कहते है | Wires के pair से एक circuit बनता है जिससे की data transmit होता है | जब wire मे electrical current flow होता है तो यह wire के चारो तरफ छोटा सा magnetic field crate कर देता है एवं जब दो wires electrical circuit मे एक दूसरे के पास होते है तो उनका magnetic fields एक दूसरे के exact opposite होता है और दोनों magnetic fields एक दूसरे के magnetic effect को खत्म कर देते है इसके साथ साथ outside magnetic fields को भी cancel कर देते है | wires को Twist करने से wires का cancellation effect increase होने के साथ crosstalk (साथ वाले wire से generated होने वाली noise) से protection मिलता है |
इस तरह की cable बहुत सारे data and voice infrastructures (जैसे की टेलीफोन कम्युनिकेशन्स एंड बहुत सारे नए ईथरनेट नेटवर्क्स) मे use होती है | Twisted pair cable, signal interference को दूर करने का काम करती है | Twisted pair cable दो तरह की होती है : unshielded twisted pair (UTP) and shielded twisted pair (STP) | STP and UTP केबल design and manufacture मे different होती है लेकिन उनका purpose सेम होता है -रिलाएबल कनेक्टिविटी व् डाटा ट्रांसमिशन |