what is this port for? [pic]

[blazin6543]

don't ask me what video card i have, it's some lame inboard one, and i can't find my manuals for the computer anywhere so i'm a little stuck if you know please let me know, it's driving me nuts all this time and not knowing what it does haha

what is the green/blue-ish one for?

 

[sniperchang]

It's a Serial Port. Used for general input/output, before USB came in.

 

[linkin]

Correct. it was for data transfers between 2 computers.

 

[Vampiric Rouge]

Also used for console access on *nix and Networking gear too.

 

[BigSteve702]

setting the irq's for those was such a damn annoyance.

 

[ultipig]

I have an old Mac Plus, and the mouse connects to the computer via serial port.

Just to prove that serial ports are pretty much identical to modern-day usb: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...67&cm_re=serial_to_usb-_-12-191-067-_-Product

 

[PohTayToez]

It can be used for all kinds of things, but it used to be really popular for gaming peripherals before USB took off.

 

[tlarkin]

I hate it when companies like, Cisco, still put serial ports on their equipment and then try to sell you a $40 serial to usb converter for it. Damn asshats!

 

[tremmor]

9 pin serial is still used in industry. If you are programming say PLC's you need a dedicated serial port for programming. something like usb to serial will not work. many engineers buy say laptops. Dell still makes with port.

 

[BigSteve702]

serial ports are still used regularly in pos systems, usually the scan guns use it

 

[WeatherMan]

I have a weather monitor that comes with serial

 

[bomberboysk]

I hate it when companies like, Cisco, still put serial ports on their equipment and then try to sell you a $40 serial to usb converter for it. Damn asshats!

well, cisco actually uses a console cable which is rs-232 on one end(goes to pc), ethernet on the other(connects to console port on device) so you can telnet to the device. In my experience with cisco or most serial devices such as pic programmers a simple usb->serial won't work.