What you need to know about cables for different hardware devices Different devices, such as your monitor, scanner, or keyboard, require different types of cable. Be sure to ask if the cables are included at time of purchase. For example, the keyboard plugs into the 5pin DIN receptacle that connects to the motherboard.
Monitors connect to the PC through the video port.
Generally, the monitor cable is permanently attached to the monitor, though on some models the cable detaches from the back of the display. Modem cables use the serial port, and are typically either 9pin male or 25pin male and referred to as COM1 and COM2. Printer cables plug into the parallel port, typically a female 25pin connector and referred to as LPT1. Scanners may plug into a proprietary interface, through a SCSI connector, parallel, or serial port. External CD-ROM drives may use parallel or SCSI connectors.