PCI Express (x16): The PCI Express is more recent standard, and uses different slot type. PCIe
(x16) offers performance much faster than the AGP 8X slot. Recently, PCs are coming with at
least one PCI Express slot type. Although the names are similar, PCI Express is separate and
different from PCI. They are physically different shapes and use different standards of data
transfer. A PCI Express video card will not fit into a PCI slot and vice-versa.
Video cards provide additional functions beside the ability to render 3D graphics for gaming. The
video card interface to monitor may include:
• DVI: DVI is a higher-definition output used with some newer monitors as well as some
high-end TVs. If you are using an older monitor, you can convert the DVI signal to VGA
using a DVI-to-VGA adaptor.
• S-Video and/or TV-Out: Most video cards provide the ability to send the video signal
from your PC to your TV. This feature is labeled as "TV-Out" on the video card package.
In most cases, the TV-out jack is an "S-video" type jack designed to send a high-quality
s-video signal to TV's.
• Dual Monitor Support: Dual monitor support refers to splitting your video signal to go
across two monitors instead of one. This is very useful for designers, engineers, and
others who need to view large files on their desktop and still have other windows open.
Most home and portable computers connect to the Internet through dial-up connection. The
modem provides the connection interface to the Internet service provider.
An modem card will have two RJ-11 connectors, one for the phone line input, and the other for
the phone line output. The PCI interface plugs into a PCI slot on the motherboard.
• Identify the names, purposes and characteristics of ports and cables for example: USB 1.1
and 2.0, parallel, serial, IEEE 1394 / firewire, RJ45 and RJ11, PS2 / Mini-DIN,
centronics (e.g. mini, 36) multimedia (e.g. 1 / 8 connector, MIDI Coaxial, SPDIF)