Talk:Computer port (hardware)

Pictures
I believe that we need more pictures on this page, or at least better focused ones. Maybe some pictures of individual ports, perhaps, or just a more focused image all together? I'll scout around tonight and see if I can pull up anything not copyrighted that would work for this. -Nick2253 00:59, 4 May 2006 (UTC)
 * I agree. There should be photos linked from subarticles at this point.  It would be nifty to be able to use this page to identify ports found "in the wild" by appearance or by the accompanying symbol. -- Beland (talk) 21:12, 8 June 2008 (UTC)
 * have started a table as requested. Hopeful other can continue to add. Traveler100 (talk) 17:56, 11 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Awesome! -- Beland (talk) 18:00, 12 July 2015 (UTC)

Under ports (computer)?
Should this go under ports (computer) to be more in keeping with other references?

JonShops 23:29, 10 December 2006 (UTC)

On a basic level eSata and HDMI are now common but they don't seem to be included —Preceding unsigned comment added by 95.151.55.227 (talk) 11:00, 9 January 2011 (UTC)

User:joshuaek Added eSata and HDMI with pictures I took myself.

no of ports
i guess numbers should be given in this page.....like the total no of ports that wold be avilable in a computer chip.etc...
 * Computer chips do not have ports themselves, the computers have them, and they are supported by chips in the computer. And a computer can have dozens of ports, or none at all, depending on it's design. DStaal 18:09, 25 April 2007 (UTC)

Confusing/incorrect?
From the article:

"The system bus (or expansion slots) that holds circuit cards for a computer motherboard (mobo) has traditionally been a form of parallel port, but current (2006) buses like x1 or x16 are bundled serial ports driven by a part of the motherboard called the "northbridge". For example, the x16 is a bundle of 16 connections and thus very fast for video graphics. The physical slot for an x16 is noticeably longer than for an x1. The "southbridge" of the motherboard goes out to the more familiar ports, such as USB and parallel printer ports."

The way I understand it is that a computer port connects to external devices, therefore a expansion slot is not a computer port as it is internal. There are also a number of problems with this paragraph. Firstly, a "system bus" is not related to a PCI or PCIe bus, which is what I believe "system bus" is referring to from its context. I also find it dubious that an expansion slot was originally a form of the parallel port and that the PCIe bus is a bunch of serial ports. Serial ports, after all, are implemented by UARTs are they not? Overall, this paragraph is mostly confusing, incorrect factually, in its use of terminology and conceptually. I will remove it if no one objects. Rilak (talk) 12:15, 18 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Thanks. I agree that this paragraph didn't add anything to the article. I agree that a "system bus" is not a "parallel port", although both are specific kinds of the general idea of parallel communication. I also agree that an external RS-232 serial port is significantly different from an internal PCI Express expansion slot, although both are specific kinds of the general idea of serial communication. --68.0.124.33 (talk) 18:31, 24 October 2008 (UTC)

Image copyright problem with Image:Firewire Icon.svg
The image Image:Firewire Icon.svg is used in this article under a claim of fair use, but it does not have an adequate explanation for why it meets the requirements for such images when used here. In particular, for each page the image is used on, it must have an explanation linking to that page which explains why it needs to be used on that page. Please check
 * That there is a non-free use rationale on the image's description page for the use in this article.
 * That this article is linked to from the image description page.

The following images also have this problem:


 * Image:USB Icon.svg

This is an automated notice by FairuseBot. For assistance on the image use policy, see Media copyright questions. --06:18, 11 September 2008 (UTC)

Why do we not call ports "sockets"?
Is a port defined differently from a socket? UBJ 43X (talk) 02:13, 7 January 2021 (UTC)


 * I would say yes. Typically a socket either describes a network port or colloquially a "wall socket" which refers to power connection points in walls of buildings. Igrokugrok (talk) 16:13, 22 February 2024 (UTC)

Outdated
Many of the “common standards” have been discontinued and replaced with USB in the last decade, such as the ps-2 port. HDMI is the most common display connector and it isn’t listed at all.

I was also hoping to see the various USB types here and not just it being briefly listed as if insignificant. It would be helpful for the specs of each type are, such as the USB 1.0 vs. USB 2.0 vs. USB 3.0 and so forth. USB type A, B, C; their “mini” and “micro” variations; and generation could also be listed to put the true significance of the USB on Wikipedia.

This page’s sources are also mainly scam sites.

All in all, this page needs a complete makeover. 2601:602:D000:B58:F4BB:42F7:D9E9:D64D (talk) 04:01, 11 March 2022 (UTC)


 * Display port or display protocols over USB C have become the main standards of new hardware in my experience. Most laptops that are new do not include an HDMI port directly on them but instead include a USB-C adapter to HDMI and other protocols. I agree that this page needs a complete overhaul. Listing out all of the ports that computers have had over the decades of computing history would prove a valuable resource. Many of those ports have their own pages on Wikipedia that could be linked to. The way they are listed now does a disservice to whoever reads this and most would know that this is not a good Wikipedia page that is sorely outdated Igrokugrok (talk) 16:07, 22 February 2024 (UTC)