Please help identify this unknown port

elfavrefan · 10-19-2009, 11:52 PM

Hi, I was looking at my laptop earlier and I am unable to figure out what this port is for or what plugs into it. I'm pretty sure it is used to connect a monitor, but i've been looking online and cannot find its name or anyone with a port similar to it.. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Guardian01 · 10-20-2009, 01:04 AM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compute...%28hardware%29

tremmor · 10-20-2009, 01:09 AM

looked like an old RS232 printer port i think. could not find my plugs. that means i through them away. the only old ones i know of that are being used today is a 9pin serial. (engineers mostly) for compatibility in industry. plc's and smart cards for example.

**The_Other_One** · 10-20-2009, 01:31 AM

I know that's not a printer port. Unless it requires a special cable, a printer port normally is a 25-pin female plug. Is your laptop an HP? That symbol reminds me of their docking station port.

elfavrefan · 10-20-2009, 01:35 AM

yeah, I have an HP dv4 laptop. its about a year old. the little picture right above it looks like a monitor with a 3. I already have one monitor plugged into the VGA port. I was hoping this was some sort of third monitor plug i just hadn't seen before.
hehe thanks for the help. I'll keep looking around.

**The_Other_One** · 10-20-2009, 01:48 AM

Thought it looked familar... It's called "HP expansion port 3". It allows for port replicators and such. In a way, it can be considered another video port, but I suspect it disables the onboard one.

There is no way you could have a third monitor because the hardware is not capable. However, you could get one of these Express-card or external USB displays and use it for simple stuff. No gaming though.

10-19-2009, 11:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
elfavrefan New Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2	Please help identify this unknown port Hi, I was looking at my laptop earlier and I am unable to figure out what this port is for or what plugs into it. I'm pretty sure it is used to connect a monitor, but i've been looking online and cannot find its name or anyone with a port similar to it.. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

10-20-2009, 01:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
Guardian01 Bronze Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 52	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compute...%28hardware%29 __________________ CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33GHz RAM: Corsair 2x1GB DDR2 Graphics: E-GF 8600GT 256MB MB: Asus P5K HD: WD 160GB SATA HDD PSU: Thermaltake Purepower 600W Tower: Cooler Master HAF932 OS: XP Pro

10-20-2009, 01:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 25 Posts: 13,423	I know that's not a printer port. Unless it requires a special cable, a printer port normally is a 25-pin female plug. Is your laptop an HP? That symbol reminds me of their docking station port. __________________ Primary- i7 920 \| 6GB RAM \| 9800GT \| 160+160+500GB Secondary- Athlon X2 4200 \| 2GB RAM \| 7600GT \| 80+250GB Netbook - Atom N280 \| 2GB RAM \| GMA945\| 160GB

10-20-2009, 01:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 25 Posts: 13,423	Thought it looked familar... It's called "HP expansion port 3". It allows for port replicators and such. In a way, it can be considered another video port, but I suspect it disables the onboard one. There is no way you could have a third monitor because the hardware is not capable. However, you could get one of these Express-card or external USB displays and use it for simple stuff. No gaming though. __________________ Primary- i7 920 \| 6GB RAM \| 9800GT \| 160+160+500GB Secondary- Athlon X2 4200 \| 2GB RAM \| 7600GT \| 80+250GB Netbook - Atom N280 \| 2GB RAM \| GMA945\| 160GB

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10-20-2009, 01:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
tremmor Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,819	looked like an old RS232 printer port i think. could not find my plugs. that means i through them away. the only old ones i know of that are being used today is a 9pin serial. (engineers mostly) for compatibility in industry. plc's and smart cards for example.

10-20-2009, 01:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
elfavrefan New Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2	yeah, I have an HP dv4 laptop. its about a year old. the little picture right above it looks like a monitor with a 3. I already have one monitor plugged into the VGA port. I was hoping this was some sort of third monitor plug i just hadn't seen before. hehe thanks for the help. I'll keep looking around.

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