Hardware Visual Reference
Visual diagrams for connectors, ports, and components covered on the CompTIA A+ 220-1201 exam. These appear in exam questions to help you identify hardware on sight.
Fiber Optic
LC Connector
Lucent Connector — small form-factor fiber optic connector used in SFP modules, data centers, and high-density patching. About half the size of SC.
SC Connector
Subscriber Connector — square push-pull fiber optic connector. Common in enterprise networks and older fiber installations.
ST Connector
Straight Tip — twist-lock bayonet fiber optic connector. Common in legacy campus networks and multimode fiber runs.
Motherboard
Northbridge
The northbridge chip connected the CPU to RAM and GPU (PCIe). Replaced by integrated memory controllers in modern CPUs. Handles high-speed communication.
Southbridge
The southbridge chip managed slower peripherals: USB, SATA, audio, PCIe x1, and BIOS. Now integrated into the CPU or a single PCH (Platform Controller Hub).
M.2 Slot (M-Key)
M.2 M-key slot supports NVMe SSDs via PCIe lanes and/or SATA. Identified by the keying notch position. PCIe NVMe is significantly faster than SATA M.2.
Network
RJ-45
Registered Jack 45 — the standard 8-pin connector for Ethernet (Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6a). Used for 10/100/1000/10GbE wired network connections.
RJ-11
Registered Jack 11 — 6-pin (typically 2-4 active) connector used for analog telephone lines and legacy DSL connections. Smaller than RJ-45.
USB
USB Type-A
The standard rectangular USB host connector found on computers and chargers. Used for USB 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, and 3.2 Gen 1/2 depending on color (black=2.0, blue=3.x).
USB Type-C
Reversible oval connector supporting USB 3.1/3.2, Thunderbolt 3/4, USB4, Power Delivery (up to 240W), and DisplayPort Alt Mode. Universal modern standard.
USB Micro-B
Small trapezoid connector used on Android phones, cameras, and accessories before USB-C. Common on USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 (wider) devices.
USB Mini-B
Older small rectangular connector used on digital cameras, early MP3 players, and some networking devices. Largely replaced by Micro-B and USB-C.
Display
VGA
Video Graphics Array — 15-pin analog video connector (DE-15). Legacy display standard supporting resolutions up to 1080p but with quality degradation. Being phased out.
HDMI
High-Definition Multimedia Interface — carries digital audio and video. HDMI 2.0 supports 4K@60Hz; HDMI 2.1 supports 8K and 4K@120Hz. No screws required.
DisplayPort
Digital display interface supporting high resolutions and refresh rates. DP 1.4 supports 8K. Supports daisy-chaining multiple monitors. Common on professional monitors and GPUs.
Power
ATX 24-Pin Power
Main motherboard power connector from the PSU. Provides +3.3V, +5V, and +12V rails. Modern ATX; older boards used 20-pin (24-pin is backward compatible).
SATA Power
15-pin SATA power connector providing +3.3V, +5V, and +12V to SSDs and HDDs. L-shaped to prevent reverse insertion.
PCIe x16 Slot
PCI Express x16 slot — the primary GPU slot. Provides 16 PCIe lanes for maximum bandwidth. PCIe 4.0 x16 provides ~32 GB/s; PCIe 5.0 doubles that.
Storage
SATA Data
7-pin SATA data cable connecting drives to the motherboard controller. Maximum transfer rate: 6 Gbps (SATA III). L-shaped connector prevents backward insertion.
Memory
DIMM (Desktop RAM)
Dual Inline Memory Module — 288-pin DDR4/DDR5 module for desktop computers. 133mm long. Notch position varies by DDR generation to prevent incorrect installation.
SO-DIMM (Laptop RAM)
Small Outline DIMM — 260-pin DDR4/DDR5 module for laptops and small form-factor PCs. About half the length of a DIMM (68mm). Same DDR generation compatibility applies.