What are the Serial and Parallel motherboard ports used for

[lVlrBuilder]

Hey guys,

I got a MSI Z170-A pro motherboard not too long ago. I was puzzled by two motherboard ports, the serial ports and parallel ports.

The links to the ports:

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2ajs83t&s=9

and

http://tinypic.com/r/2ajs83t/9

What are those ports used for? Is it for internal connection with IDE master/slave cable? or is it for connecting some external serial and parallel ports for old printer and PDA devices?

Thanks for the help

 

[kanewolf]

Serial and parallel connectors are to allow a flexible ribbon cable to an expansion slot adapter for those types of connections.
Parallel ports WERE used for printers. -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_port
Serial ports WERE used for mice, modems, other low speed devices. -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_port

For most users, the USB port has replaced the serial port and parallel port. That is why the ribbon cable connector is on the motherboard, but the back plane hardware may be "optional".

 

[lVlrBuilder]

Oh, so the connectors are for this kind of cables:

https://cnc4pc.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/420x487/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/1/a16.jpg

Can we use IDE devices (like some very old optical drives and hard drives) with those connectors? Is there any such thing as IDE to serial/parallel converter, which I can use to internally connect my old optical drive to the serial/parallel connectors.

BTW, is IDE a serial or parallel connector? By counting the number of pins, I think it's probably a parallel connector.

 

[kanewolf]

Oh, so the connectors are for this kind of cables:

https://cnc4pc.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/420x487/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/1/a16.jpg

Can we use IDE devices (like some very old optical drives and hard drives) with those connectors? Is there any such thing as IDE to serial/parallel converter, which I can use to internally connect my old optical drive to the serial/parallel connectors.

Yes the port is for that kind of cable. No you can't use an IDE on that port. You would have to buy an add on card if your motherboard does not have an IDE cable header.

 

[lVlrBuilder]

Oh, so the connectors are for this kind of cables:

https://cnc4pc.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/420x487/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/1/a16.jpg

Can we use IDE devices (like some very old optical drives and hard drives) with those connectors? Is there any such thing as IDE to serial/parallel converter, which I can use to internally connect my old optical drive to the serial/parallel connectors.

Yes the port is for that kind of cable. No you can't use an IDE on that port. You would have to buy an add on card if your motherboard does not have an IDE cable header.

Those add-on cards use PCI ports right? I think my motherboard doesn't have any IDE ports, but it has a couple of PCI ports.

 

[kanewolf]

You could get a PCIe card (but it doesn't look there are many choices) or you can get an adapter that fits on the drive like this one -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812107112 The drive adapter is (after thinking about it again) the much better choice.

If you only need to read data off the drive, a USB to sata and IDE combo adapter is a good thing to have in your parts box.

 

[lVlrBuilder]

You could get a PCIe card (but it doesn't look there are many choices) or you can get an adapter that fits on the drive like this one -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812107112 The drive adapter is (after thinking about it again) the much better choice.

If you only need to read data off the drive, a USB to sata and IDE combo adapter is a good thing to have in your parts box.

Okay, thank you for the help