Computer Cable

Your guide
to computer
cabling
The type of cabling you use for your PC
can dramatically affect its performance.

Computer Cabling
In the age of wireless technology, cables still play a crucial part in your PC’s performance. There is a broad range of cables; each undertaking a specific task. With so many connections, pin types and lengths to link everything from printers to scanners to your PC, it is important you know what to choose.

Check the spec:

P = Plug
S = Socket

USB - the most common method to connect equipment such as printers and scanners to your
PC, with speeds up to 480Mbps.

Types of USB connectors:
	Found on your PC for connection of USB devices of any description.	Found on smaller devices such as MP3 players, cameras etc.
	Found on the USB device, such as a printer, scanner etc.

USB Mini 4-Pin*
	Occasionally found instead of Mini B
Firewire - alternative connection to USB with speeds up to 400Mbps. Also known as IEEE1394.
Types of Firewire connectors:
6-Pin	Found on the PC and many Firewire devices such as camcorders or professional audio equipment.

Mini 4-Pin	Found on some laptop PCs and now commonly found on DV camcorders. Works in the same way as the full size 6-pin but is a fraction of the size.

9-Pin	New connector for Firewire 800. Found on the PC and the connected device.

HDMI - new connection for use with High Definition TV. Can transmit both digital video and audio.
Types of HDMI:
21-Pin	Found on HDTV- ready equipment such as TVs, DVDs, satellite and cable boxes.

DVI - a new way to connect monitors to PCs, usually via a digital signal.
Types of DVI:
DVI-D single link	Found on more modern PCs and the latest flat panels. Transmits a single channel of digital.

DVI-D dual link	Found on more professional graphics PCs and high-spec flat panels. Transmits two channels of digital.

DVI-I single link	Found on modern PCs and the latest flat panels and some CRT monitors. Transmits both analogue and digital signals.

DVI-I dual link *	Found on modern PCs, the lastest flat panels and CRT monitors. Transmits both analogue and two-channel digital signals.

DVI-A *	Found on modern PCs and some monitors. Carrys analogue signals.


VGA - connects a PC to a monitor
Types of VGA:
15-Pin	Found on the majority of PCs and monitors

Parallel - commonly used to connect older parallel equipment such as printer and scanners. Been phased out by in favour of USB.
Types of Parallel:
25-Pin DSub
	Found on the PC, sometimes on scanners.
36-Pin Centronics
	Found on equipment such as printers and scanners.
Serial - the original way of connecting equipment to PCs. Very slow by modern standards and usually found on older equipment. Like parallel, is been phased out in favour of USB and Firewire.
Types of serial:
9-Pin DSub

25-Pin DSub
	Found on older mice, and a wide variety of older equipment and on PCs.

PS/2 - The way most mice and keyboards were connected until recently. Again being phased out in favour of USB.
Types of PS2:
6-Pin mini DIN
	Found on keyboards, mice and on PCs.
DIN - The way keyboards were connected prior to PS/2
Types of DIN
5-Pin DIN
	Found on older keyboards and PCs.
* Due to its rare usage, Maplin does not stock this cable