3.1+Hardware+Ports+Internal+&+External

=Strand 3: IT Systems= = = =3.1 Hardware=

[[image:ports02.jpg width="342" height="359" align="right"]]Ports - Internal & External

 * Ports(**//sockets on the outside of the computer chassis or on the system/mother board)//. These ports are generally used to attach **peripherals** //(devices that are outside of the computer but, directly under the control of the CPU)//. The peripherals are connected to the ports through the **external buses** //(cables designed to transmit data between the computers and peripherals e.g. a print command)//. A computer has a variety of different ports available for specific tasks, e.g. one or more video ports for connecting monitors; audio jacks for connecting speakers and/or headphones, USB ports for connecting keyboards, mice, printers, cameras, disk drives, portable storage drives, joysticks, card readers and many more,[[image:ports03.gif width="128" height="96" align="left"]] Fire wire ports for connecting video camera's, external hard drives/ DVD readers and many more. On many portable computers where size is critical, most of the ports are attached/ embedded onto the motherboard. Since portable computers do not have room for full sized cards, many have slots for express cards, PC cards, or small removable cards that contain memory or additional ports .PC cards are credit-card sized, newer express cards are considerably smaller. PC cards and express cards are **hot-swappable**(//they can be inserted or removed form a computers slot while the system is running i.e. switched on performing other tasks the user has assigned//.) However, the trend of express cards on new portables PC is diminishing with time. Slots and ports make it easy to add peripherals, such as keyboards and printers, serve as communication links between people and computers. Other peripherals link the computer to other machines, whilst others provide long-term storage media.

Sata Port || USB hubs || Serial Port || Switches ||
 * e.g:**
 * Internal Ports** ||
 * External Ports** ||
 * External Ports** ||