Common Types of Computer Cable

Computers are part of our day-to-day lives, and knowing a thing or two about computer cables can come in handy. Here is some information about some of the most common computer cable types that are used day to day.

USB (Universal Serial Bus)

The USB cable is probably the most used cable in the world today. It is the industry standard for connection, communication, and power supply between computers and devices. There are 3 main versions of USB cable: USB 2.0, USB 3.0 and USB 3.0.

HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface)

HDMI cable sends both video and audio signals together. It is compatible with all the latest computers as the signals are all digital. There are various types of HDMI cables which can be identified by the number of pins on the male head. Type A has 19 pins and is compatible with single-link DVI-D connections. Type B has 29 pins and B is compatible with dual-link DVI-D connections. Type C, with 19 pins, is commonly used with portable devices, like camcorders and digital cameras. Type D, also with 19 pins, is a micro connector that can shrink the connector size to that of a micro-USB.

DVI (Digital Visual Interface)

A digital visual interface is a cable that is used to connect a video source, such as a video display controller on a computer monitor. It is the market standard for transferring digital video contents. DVI connectors come in 3 varieties: DVI-Digital, DVI-Analog, and DVI-Integrated. There are three types of DVI connections: DVI-Digital, DVI-Analog, and DVI-Integrated. While DVI –D are used for direct digital connections between source video and LCD monitors and VI-A are used to carry a DVI signal to an analog display, DVI-I cables are integrated cables which are capable of transmitting either a digital-to-digital signal or an analog-to-analog signal.

SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment)

Serial Advanced Technology Attachment is a standard interface for connecting host bus adapters to storage devices such as hard disk drives, optical drives, and solid-state drives. SATA provides high data transfer speeds. It comes with 7 pins and an empty notch that looks like a subtle L-shape.

Ethernet

Ethernet connects the routers to modems and computers. It is used to set up local area networks (LAN). An Ethernet connects any type of computer to its network as long as the device has an Ethernet adapter or network card.