Peripheral devices PC: WHAT, WHERE and AS

The question that we are considering today concerns the peripherals of your PC: what are peripherals, what they look like, why they are needed, with which connectors they can be connected to their machine. Ready? Go….

Question number 1. What are Peripherals?

Our computer consists of several blocks:

1. System unit.
2. Monitor.
3. Keyboard.
4. The mouse.
5. Speakers for sound reproduction.
6. Webcam.
7. Microphone, etc ...

The list of devices that connect to the computer can be expanded. Under the category of "peripheral devices" falls all equipment that connects to the system unit. There are certain equipment inside the system unit. All that connects to a PC from the outside (or rather, to its system unit), can also be described as external PC devices.

Question number 2. What are they needed for?

The system unit, in which the main equipment of the computer is located, in itself does not represent any value to the user. It's just a big, expensive and useless piece of iron stuffed with plastic and metal parts. Without external auxiliary devices, it simply can not function fully.

Thus, we come to the understanding that the system unit is, if we draw parallels with the car, the engine of our PC, and peripherals - controls and auxiliary equipment for input, output, storage and display of information. In addition, they serve to expand the functionality and create additional amenities for the user.

Question number 3. How to connect them?

All peripheral devices that connect to your computer have certain standardized connectors. Peripheral interfaces look like this:

1. Monitor - connect using VGA / D-Sub or HDMI;
2. The keyboard and mouse are connected using the PC / 2 connector or the standard USB;
3. A standard USB connector is used to connect to the vast majority of peripherals - devices for storing, displaying and storing information, printers, scanners, plotters, external HDD, etc.
4. To connect the microphone and speakers, a 3.5mm mini jack connector is used. At the same time, a standard USB connector can be used to connect the headset (microphone + headphones).
5. Some peripheral devices can be connected using a serial port (COM port). This version of the connection is gradually becoming a thing of the past.
6. The RJ-45 connector will connect the network card and the cable through which the Internet connection is made.

Recently, wireless connections to computers and various peripheral devices have become very popular. If we review the wireless options for connecting and transferring data, the picture will look like this:

• Wi-Fi - a way to connect to a wireless network to access the Internet and share access to various network devices that support this protocol.
• Bluetooth - most often used to connect modern mice, keyboards, headphones, data transfer to other devices, modem, etc.
• IR (infrared) - a variant of wireless connection, which gradually dies due to the low data transfer rate, short range and the termination of support for device manufacturers.

If we consider a universal way to transfer digital high-definition video and multi-channel digital audio, it is worth noting the single leader - the digital HDMI connector. Today, it is the most popular method of data transmission, which provides an incredible transfer rate and virtually no loss in connection.

At the approach of several new options for wireless data transfer protocols, when using which it is possible to connect a computer and monitor / TV for wireless transmission of high-definition video and multi-channel digital audio.

Now in this direction, the main players of the market are working - developers who are trying to bring to the market a universal product, which in the future will become the standard for all producers. In any case, in the end, consumers will benefit, for which the use of PCs and various peripheral devices will become easier, more convenient and more pleasant.