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A Guide to the External Ports and Connectors on a Dell Computer

Summary: This article details the types of ports and connectors that you can find on a computer. Computers that Dell is shipping or has shipped in the last 10 years. We also provide a guide to the older color code convention for ports and connectors. ...

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Instructions

Visual Guide to Ports and Connectors

 

The following guide provides historical and up-to-date information about the various ports and connectors in use with Dell computers.

We provide a picture of the port, a picture of the corresponding connector, and the name of the technology in use.

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These ports and connectors are each limited to one purpose: Facilitating the flow of information into your computer. They are only found on older computers. Plug-and-play USB connectors and Wireless connections have replaced these connectors on newer computers.

Color Code Port Connector Name
Green PS2 Mouse Port PS2 Mouse Connector PS2 for Mouse
Purple PS2 Keyboard Port PS2 Keyboard Connector PS2 for Keyboard
Gold MIDI Port MIDI connector Game Port or Midi

These ports and connectors are associated with audio output from your computer to external devices or speakers.

Color Code Port Connector Name
Pink Audio Port Pink 3.5 mm Jack Analog line level: Audio input, mono, or stereo - Microphone
Light blue Audio Port Blue 3.5 mm Jack Analog line level: Audio input
Lime Green Audio Port Lime Green 3.5 mm Jack Analog line level: Audio output for the main stereo signal - Front speakers or headphones
Black< Audio Port Black 3.5 mm Jack Analog line level: Audio output - Surround sound rear speakers
Silver Audio Port Silver 3.5 mm Jack Analog line level: Audio output - Side speakers
Orange Audio Port Orange 3.5 mm Jack Analog line level: Audio output -  Center speaker and subwoofer
None UAJ Port UAJ TS Universal Audio Jack (UAJ) Tip Sleeve (TS): Mono sound from headphones
None UAJ Port UAJ TRS Universal Audio Jack (UAJ) Tip Ring Sleeve (TRS): Stereo sound from headphones
None UAJ Port Combi UAJ TRRS Universal Audio Jack (UAJ) Tip Ring Ring Sleeve (TRRS): Stereo sound and Microphone

NOTE: Dell computers have a feature named PowerShare. You can identify PowerShare ports by the symbol (a USB logo with a lighting bolt) found underneath the port. See the following article for more information about this feature: USB PowerShare Feature

These ports and connectors allow devices to communicate with each other. (Where the name is blue and underlined, it is a link that takes you to a Dell Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) article about that technology.)

Color Code Port Connector Name
None desktop power supply port desktop power cable Power Desktop
None laptop power port laptop power connector Power Laptop
None UAJ Port Combi UAJ TRRS Universal Audio Jack (UAJ) Combo Connector
Black USB Port USB1.0 Connector USB 1.0
White USB Port USB2.0 Connector USB 2.0
Blue USB3.0 Port USB3.0 Cable USB 3.0
None USB Micro Port USB Micro connector USB 4-pin Micro
None USB Mini Port USB Mini Connector USB 5-pin Mini
None USB AB Port USB TypeAtoB Connector USB A/B
None USB mtof Connector USB mtof Connector USB Male to Female extension
None USB3.0 Port USB3.0 Connector USB 3.2
None Type-C port Type-C connector USB Type-C
None Thunderbolt_Port Thunderbolt mini displayport Thunderbolt Mini DisplayPort
None Thunderbolt2 Port Thunderbolt2 mini displayport Thunderbolt 2 Mini DisplayPort
None Thunderbolt3 Port Thunderbolt3 connector type-c Thunderbolt 3 Type-C
None Thunderbolt4 Port Thunderbolt4 connector type-c Thunderbolt 4 Type-C
None ESATA Port Esata Connector ESATA
None Esatap Port Esatap Connector ESATAp
Gray Firewire Port 6Pin Firewire 6pin Connector Firewire IEEE 1394, 6-pin
Gray Firewire Port 4pin Firewire 4pin Connector Firewire IEEE 1394, 4-pin
Burgundy Parallel Port Parallel Connector Parallel Port
Teal and Turquoise Serial Port Serial Connector Serial Port
None Ethernet port RJ45 Connector Ethernet Local Area Network (LAN), Network Adapter, or RJ45
None Modem port RJ11 Connector Modem RJ11

These are the most common types of video port and connectors: (Where the name is blue and underlined, it is a link that takes you to a Dell Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) article about that technology.)

 
Color Code Port Connector Name
Yellow Svideo Port SVideo Connector SVideo Mini Din
Yellow Aerial Port TV Aerial TV Aerial
Yellow Iscart Socket SCART Connetor SCART
Yellow RCA Ports Composite Cables Radio Corporation of America (RCA) Composite
Blue VGA Port VGA Cable VGA
White DMS-59 Port DMS-59 Cable DMS59
White DVI-I Port DVI-I Singlel ink Connector DVI-I single link
White DVI-I Port DVI-I Dual link Connector DVI-I dual link
White DVI-D Port DVI-D Single link Connector DVI-D single link
White DVI-D Port DVI-D Dual link Connector DVI-D dual link
Blue and White DVI-I Port DVI-I Connector DVI-A VGA DVI-I
Black DisplayPort Port DisplayPort Connector DisplayPort
Black Mini DisplayPort Port Mini DisplayPort Connector Display Port Mini DisplayPort
None Thunderbolt Port Thunderbolt mini DisplayPort Connector Thunderbolt Mini DisplayPort
None Thunderbolt2 Port Thunderbolt2 mini DisplayPort Thunderbolt 2 Mini DisplayPort
None Thunderbolt3 Port Thunderbolt3 Connector Type-C Thunderbolt 3 Type-C
None Thunderbolt4 Port Thunderbolt Connector Type-C Thunderbolt 4 Type-C
Black HDMI Port HDMI Connector HDMI Type-A
Black HDMI_TypeB Port HDMI TypeB Connector_BK_01 HDMI Type-B
Black HDMI mini Port HDMI Mini Cables HDMI Mini to a Type-C
Black HDMI micro Port HDMI micro Cables HDMI Micro to a Type-D
Black HDMI_TypeE Port HDMI TypeE Connector HDMI Automotive Type-E

If you need additional assistance, contact: Dell Technical Support

Additional Information

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Affected Products

Alienware, Inspiron, OptiPlex, Vostro, XPS, G Series, G Series, Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, Fixed Workstations, Mobile Workstations
Article Properties
Article Number: 000132029
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 21 May 2024
Version:  12
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