Video and Storage Cables + other connectors

What s HDMI and what does it carry?

High Definition Multimedia Interface

• Uses both digital video and audio in a single cable

What are the two types of HDMI cables?

Standard and high speed

What are the characteristics of high-speed HDMI cables?

They support 1080p, 4K and 8K technologies

What is display port and how does it differ from HDMI?

Digital audio interface common on PCs and monitors

• Supports daisy-chaining multiple monitors

• Asymmetric connector

• Often preferred over HDMI on PC gaming monitors

What is DVI?

Digital Visual Interface

• Carries digital video and optionally analog

What are the three variants of DVI?

• DVI-D (digital only)

• DVI-A (analogue only)

• DVI-I (integrated - both digital and analogue)

VGA and where is it still seen?

Video Graphics Array

• Analog video only signal, no audio

• Uses a blue 15-pin DE-15 D-sub connector

• Grades over distance

• Can be found on older projectors monitors and some budget laptops

Is USB-C used for in the context of video output?

USB-C (with DisplayPort Alt Mode or Thunderbolt) can carry video signals over a USB-C cable/connector

• Common on modern laptops connecting to monitors

What is a molex connector?

Legacy 4-pin power connector used to power older PATA drives, optical drives, and case fans

• White in colour

• Can be found on some PSU cables and fan splitters

• Replaced by SATA power connectors for drives

What is a lightning connector?

Apple’s proprietary connector used on iPhones and iPads before the USB-C models

• Introduced 2012

• Supported charging and data sync

• Not compatible with USB-C

What is an adapter in the context of cables?

A passive or active device that converts one connector type or signal standard to another

What is a SATA cable?

Serial Advanced Technology Attachment

• The standard internal data cable for HDDs, SSDs and optical drives

What are the features of a SATA cable?

7-pin data connector plus a separate 15-pin SATA power connector

• in most desktop and server implementations

What is eSATA?

External SATA

• Extend the SATA interface outside of the case for external drives

• Same speeds as internal SATA

• No delivery, needs a separate power source

• Replaced by USB 3.0 and thunderbolt