Legacy Data Connectors
All Legacy Data connector types with specifications and compatibility.
Legacy data connectors include serial (DB-9/RS-232), parallel (DB-25/Centronics), and FireWire (IEEE 1394) interfaces. Serial ports remain in use for industrial equipment, embedded systems, and network device management. FireWire was once the standard for DV camcorders and external drives before USB 3.0 surpassed its speed. PS/2 connectors for keyboards and mice are still found on some desktop motherboards for BIOS-level input.
Centronics 36-pin
Wide connector on the printer end of parallel cables. 36 contacts with wire clips for secure attachment. The printer-side counterpart to the PC's DB-25 parallel …
FireWire 400 (4-pin)
Smaller IEEE 1394a connector without power pins. Found on laptops and DV camcorders. Requires a 4-to-6-pin cable to connect to powered FireWire ports.
FireWire 400 (6-pin)
IEEE 1394a connector providing 400 Mbps with bus power. Popular on Macs, DV camcorders, and audio interfaces through the 2000s. The 6-pin version supplies power.
FireWire 800 (9-pin)
IEEE 1394b connector doubling FireWire 400 speed to 800 Mbps. Found on Mac Pro towers and professional audio/video gear. Backward compatible with 400 via adapter …
Parallel Port (DB-25)
25-pin D-sub connector for Centronics parallel printing and early data transfer. Could reach 2 MB/s in ECP mode. The standard printer port on PCs from …
PS/2
6-pin mini-DIN connector once standard for keyboards (purple) and mice (green). Offered lower latency than early USB, making it popular with gamers. Extremely rare on …
SCSI 50-pin
High-density 50-pin connector for SCSI storage daisy chains. Supported up to 7 devices at 5-40 MB/s. The enterprise storage standard before SAS and Fibre Channel.
Serial (DB-9)
RS-232 serial port with 9 pins, once used for modems, mice, and industrial equipment. Still found on networking gear, UPS units, and scientific instruments for …