External connectors and connectors of a personal computer

An interface is the boundary through which information is transmitted. In this case, it is the boundary between the computer jack and the wire connector.

Power cable connector and on/off button of the power supply

The IEC connector cable is used to connect the PC.

• Main external connectors of the personal computer

1. PS/2 port for connecting a mouse and keyboard.
2. USB port.
3. Serial port. This port allows you to connect your computer to an uninterruptible power supply, satellite receivers, cash registers. You can also use this port to connect two computers on the same network.
4. VGA port. This is an analog connector for connecting monitors according to the VGA video interface standard.
5. Microphone input.
6. Line Input. This is a jack for low frequency audio signals. For example, the music center.
7. An input for computer speakers.
8. Connector for Internet cable.
9. Parallel port. It is needed to connect various peripheral devices.
10. Game MIDI-port. This port is used to connect an analog game console or music synthesizer / MIDI keyboard / MIDI controllers

1. Connecting Cable for the PS/2 port
2. USB Connector Cable
3. Serial Port Connector Cable
4. Connecting cable to VGA port for the monitor

5, 6, 7. Mini-jack connectors for audio devices

8. Twisted pair cable to connect to the Internet
9. Cable to connect the parallel port
10. Cable to connect to the game MIDI-port

• Connectors and cables for HDMI and DVI

• Connectors and cables for additional interfaces

1. USB-B interface connector and cable
2. Micro-USB interface connector and cable
3. USB-B Micro interface connector and cable
4. USB Type-C interface connector and cable
5. Thunderbolt interface connector and cable

Uninterruptible power supply

The main function of this device is to provide uninterrupted power to your computer or other devices during a power outage.

Working Principle

The device provides uninterrupted power from its built-in rechargeable battery. This battery generates a direct current, which the inverter converts into an alternating current of the desired voltage.

The computer connected to the uninterruptible power supply is normally powered by the mains and the battery is charged. If there is a power failure due to a power line failure, the computer is switched over to the uninterruptible power supply battery.

1 - Input power from the mains

2 - Charging unit

3 - Battery

4 - Inverter

5 - Automatic switch

6 - Mains filter

7 - Output power from the device to the equipment

The models of such devices are equipped with a light indication and audible alarm, which notifies you when autonomous operation begins.

The uninterruptible power supply autonomy time depends on the battery capacity level. The battery capacity is indicated in the certificate of the device or the specifications on the website of the official manufacturer of the uninterruptible power supply.  A five-minute run time is considered sufficient for the typical user, enough time for saving documents and shutting down the computer.

Types

Redundant uninterruptible power supply

It is a simple and affordable uninterruptible power supply. Its efficiency is about 60%. The network filtering is partial, which means that surges and interference in the network, which deteriorate the quality of the equipment, partially reach your computer.

Such an uninterruptible power supply is inexpensive and suitable for home use together with a PC.

Line-interactive uninterruptible power supplies

This type of uninterruptible power supply stabilizes the mains voltage using a switching device. If the mains voltage drops by more than 20%, the uninterruptible power supply automatically switches on and supplies power to the computer. The function of the switching device is to ensure that the UPS switches on only when the voltage is completely lost, not when it is reduced. Therefore, the output voltage of this type of uninterruptible power supply is stable. The efficiency is approximately 85%.

Double conversion uninterruptible power supply

This is the most reliable of the reviewed devices. The double-conversion technology provides almost 100% protection for the equipment. The current rectifier converts the incoming current from the mains to the direct current and the inverter converts the current back to alternating current. The batteries are installed between the rectifier and the inverter. Using this battery connection, delays when switching to stand-alone mode are minimized because the use of the inverter requires no additional switching.

Gaming Devices

The main difference between a gaming device and an ordinary device is the ease of use, ergonomics, and design. It should be pointed out that more high-quality and durable materials are used in gaming devices because they are subjected to high loads during the game.

Computer Gaming Mouse

The following factors are taken into consideration by the developers when designing a gaming mouse:

• Analysis of a comfortable and ergonomic shape for the user, because gamers may spend a long time keeping the mouse in their hand. At the same time, the hand should not get tired of the mouse and it should not cause any hand diseases. Gaming mice are supplied with special 4-gram mouse weights that increase the mouse weight. Increased mouse weight gives the user a better feel of the mouse;
• High-quality materials. Comparatively, the approximate number of buttons presses before they break down is 5 million times for ordinary mice, and 50 million times for gaming mice;
• Mouse sensor accuracy. DPI (Dots Per Inch) is the number of dots per inch, it means how many dots the mouse sensor can count from the surface. Generally standard for usual mice is 800 DPI, but for gaming mice, this number is up to 12,000 DPI.  The higher this value is, the smoother the mouse cursor moves and the smoother the controller reads the user's hand movements;
• Additional keys. These keys can be located on the sides of the mouse or on top of it. They are necessary for increasing mouse functionality. Additional keys can be set up for any command;
• Bright and memorable design with RGB backlighting.

Computer gaming keyboard

In addition to convenient shape, additional keys, and RGB backlighting, gaming keyboards mainly use mechanical key switches. They increase the lifetime of the keyboard.

Also, some gaming keyboards are equipped with additional USB connectors, as well as ports for headphones and microphones.

The gaming keyboard is characterized mainly by the wired type of connection to the computer. The wireless type of connection can cause delays in data transfer and the batteries in the keyboard can run out at the wrong time.

Audio gaming headset

Manufacturers pay attention to comfort and weight in the design of the audio headset. They use a wider range of sound frequencies and improved noise isolation from external factors

Gamepad

This is the main input device for game consoles, but it is also actively used in conjunction with PCs. The gamepad allows you to control your video game character more fluidly than with a keyboard and mouse, due to the force of the sticks.

Gamepads have several advantages over a keyboard and mouse:

• The vibration creates a deeper immersion in the game;
• Optionally, you can set the output from the monitor to the TV and play with the wireless gamepad from the comfort of your couch in front of the big screen.

Joystick

Game controllers are often called joysticks. However, this input device is designed for playing flight simulation games.

Car steering wheel and pedals

This device is designed mainly for racing games.  Combining the steering wheel, pedals, and a special fixed race seat chair creates the feeling of a real car in a video game.

Wireless modem

A wireless modem is used to access the Internet via cell phone operators' networks.

Description

• It is convenient to use in travel and in any situation where there is no access to a Wi-Fi network. It integrates into ATMs, vending machines, security systems, vehicles, remote control systems, etc.;
• Different mobile network rates can be used;
• Easy to install.

USB modem

It is connected to a laptop or tablet via a USB port. It looks like a flash drive.

It only connects one gadget to the Internet.

Standard Networking

Modems can use different standard networks. They differ from each other in the speed of data transmission and the quality of the received connection.

GSM, GPRS, and EDGE

These are the mobile communication standards for 2G. Data rates range from 14 Kbps to 400 Kbps. On your smartphone, this communication standard is indicated by the letter E.

3G

• UMTS – Data transfer rate is 284 Kbps
• HSPA – Data transfer speed is 1.8 Mbps
• HSPA+ – Data transfer speed is up to 42 Mbps

4G (LTE)

4G has a data transfer rate of up to 300 Mbps, while LTE-A has a data transfer rate of up to 1Gbps.

A 4G-supported modem, in case it cannot catch this standard, switches to 3G, since it automatically supports this standard as well.

5G

This is the new generation of the network, which is just getting started. The speeds can reach 20 Gbps.