What are internal connectors?

Internal connectors are found inside a computer case. There are two primary types of connectors
found internally: socket connectors and power connectors. Socket connectors are designed for
use with flat ribbon cable, and are generally used to transfer data among devices. A socket
connector mates with pins arranged into a header. Usually a header is built onto a piece of circuit
board, or integrated into an electronic device. Socket connections are held in place by the friction
of the pins. Most socket/header interfaces are built to similar dimensions; header pins are 0.025
inches in width and spaced 0.10 inches apart. Power connectors are used to supply and distribute
power to internal devices inside the computer. They normally use the friction of the connector
bodies to stay in place.

Select the internal connector that you want to learn more about:

10-PIN

26-PIN
34-PIN

40-PIN

50-PIN
 68-PIN

4-PIN POWER (5.25”)

SERIAL ATA (SATA)

EXTERNAL SERIAL ATA (ESATA)

SERIAL ATA (SATA) POWER

32-PIN SAS
 29-PIN SAS
More Connectors Available:
4-PIN POWER (3.5”)
ATC 20-PIN POWER
ATC 24-PIN POWER
3-PIN FAN
4-PIN FAN
6-PIN PCI EXPRESS
4-PIN PENTIUM 4 POWER
10-PIN SOCKET INFO
10-PIN SOCKET IMAGES
10-Pin Socket
This connector has two rows of five pins and is normally used to
connect an external port to header pins on a motherboard. This
connector is typically used for USB, or Serial (DB9) ports.

26-PIN SOCKET INFO

26-Pin Socket
This connector is typically used to add a DB25 Parallel Port interface.
Most of today's motherboards do not have this type of connection.
SHOP 26-PIN SOCKET

34-PIN SOCKET INFO

34-Pin Socket
34-pin sockets are used for floppy drive cables. The floppy controller
on a motherboard is a 34-pin header, as are the connections on 3.5
inch floppy drives. "Antique" 5.25 inch floppy drives used a card-
edge connection to interface to the floppy cable, so many floppy
cables will come with both socket and card-edge connectors. For
many of today's computers, floppy drives are no longer standard
equipment.
40-PIN SOCKET INFO
40-PIN SOCKET IMAGES
40-Pin Socket
This interface is still in wide use. It is found on IDE/ATA hard drives,
optical drives, and tape drives. Many motherboards come with a pair
of 40-pin controllers (described as primary and secondary). Each
controller can handle one or two drives, so most standard PCs can
have a maximum of four IDE drives. A few years ago, the IDE/ATA
standard for hard drives was improved, and a new cable was
specified. This new standard is referenced by many names—Ultra
ATA, Ultra-DMA, Ultra-66/100/133, etc. Ultra ATA hard drive cables
use an 80-conductor ribbon cable, although the same 40-pin
socket/header interface is still used.

50-PIN SOCKET INFO

50-Pin Socket
50-pin socket connectors are used for basic internal SCSI buses.
The connector looks identical to a 40-pin IDE interface, only with
more pins. The 50-pin interface is used for older, narrow SCSI
buses.
SHOP 50-PIN SOCKET
68-PIN SOCKET INFO
68-Pin Socket
The 68-pin socket internal connection is the same size and shape as
the external MD68 pin interface used for SCSI devices and cables.
However, the internal flat ribbon version does not use any
thumbscrews or latch clips to hold the connector in place; it is held in
solely by the friction of the connector and pins. The 68-pin flat ribbon
connector is unique in that the connectors on the cable are male,
and the interfaces on SCSI drives and host controllers are female.
This connector is very commonly used for wide SCSI buses.

4-PIN POWER INFO

SHOP POPULAR 4-PIN POWER (5.25 INCH) PRODUCTS
4-PIN POWER IMAGES
4-Pin Power (5.25 inch)
The common 5.25 inch 4-pin power connector is impossible to miss
inside a PC case. A computer's power supply normally provides
several of these connectors, which mate to male interfaces on hard
drives, CD/DVD drives, and other internal devices. Because these
drives often have a 5.25-inch form factor, the power connector itself
became known as a "5.25" connector. The plug is also commonly
referenced as a "Molex" connection, after the well-known connector
manufacturer. The connector is typically white in color, and made
from hard nylon or similar plastic material.
SHOP 4-PIN POWER
SATA INFO
SHOP POPULAR SERIAL ATA PRODUCTS
SATA IMAGES
Serial ATA (SATA)
The Serial ATA (SATA) Power connector has 15 pins and is slightly
larger than the SATA data connector. One main advantage the
SATA power connector provides over the 4-pin power connector is a
pin that provides 3.3 V of power. Certain SATA drives have specific
power requirements.
SHOP SATA

EXTERNAL SATA POWER INFO

EXTERNAL SATA POWER IMAGES
External Serial ATA (eSATA)
Similar to the standard SATA connector, the eSATA connector is
shielded and designed to connect external mass storage devices or
optical drives to an eSATA port. This connector is sometime referred
to as the SATA "I" connector due to the shape of the connector.
SHOP ESATA

SATA POWER INFO

SHOP POPULAR SERIAL ATA POWER
SATA POWER IMAGES
Serial ATA (SATA) Power
The Serial ATA (SATA) Power connector has 15 pins and is slightly
larger than the SATA data connector. One main advantage the
SATA power connector provides over the 4-pin power connector is a
pin that provides 3.3 V of power. Certain SATA drives have specific
power requirements.
SHOP SATA POWER

32-PIN SAS INFO

32-PIN SAS IMAGES
32-Pin Serial Attached SCSI (SAS)
The 32-pin SAS connector is typically found on SAS controller cards.
SAS technology is a replacement for SCSI and is typically used to
connect hard disk drives in data center applications. However, this
connector can be used to connect a SAS expander. This connector
is also referred to as the SFF-8484 connector. In many cases the 32-
pin connector is being replaced by the mini-SAS connectors due to
mini-SAS' smaller form factor.

29-PIN SAS INFO

29-PIN SAS IMAGES
29-Pin Serial Attached SCSI (SAS)
SFF connectors grew from the effort to make fiber connections
smaller. In a rack or closet environment, space for several
connections is limited, and thus manufacturers sought a way to
increase port density. A standard was developed for smaller
connectors called SFF (Small Form Factor). There are many
different types of SFF connectors, but they are all smaller than
normal ST or SC connections.
4-PIN POWER INFO
SHOP POPULAR 4-PIN POWER (3.5 INCH) PRODUCTS

4-Pin Power (3.5 inch)

A less common 4-pin power connector is the 3.5 inch plug. This
connector is smaller in size than the 5.25 inch, and it is not as widely
used. It can be found mainly on 3.5-inch floppy disk drives.
SHOP 4-PIN POWER
ATX 20-PIN POWER INFO

ATX 20-Pin Power

This is a 20-pin interface that supplies power to a computer's
motherboard. It has two rows of 10 pins, with a locking tab that holds
it firmly in place after connection.
SHOP ATX 20-PIN
ATX 24-PIN POWER

ATX 24-Pin Power

Newer computers with ATX-form factor motherboards use a 24-pin
power connector. The newer, larger connector eliminates the -5V
rail, and adds additional +3.3V and +12V rails.

3-PIN FAN INFO

SHOP POPULAR 3-PIN FAN PRODUCTS
3-Pin Fan
The 3-pin Fan power connector is found on power supplies within a
computer case. This connector provides power to cooling fans.
SHOP 3-PIN FAN
4-PIN FAN INFO
SHOP POPULAR 4-PIN FAN PRODUCTS

4-Pin Fan
The 4-pin Fan power connector is found on motherboards within a
computer case. This connector provides power to cooling fans and is
typically used on the fan that cools the CPU. This connector uses the
same power arrangement as the 3-pin connector, therefore, a 3-pin
connector can be used on a 4-pin fan. The 4th pin is a sensor that
allows the fan to be controlled for speed and may give the ability to
turn the fan on or off. If you use a 3-pin connector in a 4-pin slot, you
will not be able to control the fan as it will always be powered on.
SHOP 4-PIN FAN
6-PIN PCI EXPRESS INFO

6-Pin PCI Express

The 6-pin PCI Express connector is found on some PCI Express
graphics cards. This connector is used for auxiliary power.
6-PIN PCI EXPRESS
4-PIN PENTIUM 4 POWER

4-Pin Pentium® 4 Power

The 4-pin Pentium 4 power connector is found on Pentium 4
motherboards. This connector delivers dedicated power to the CPU.
4-PIN PENTIUM® 4
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