Legacy port

A parallel port implemented as a PCI card. Users can use expansion cards to add deprecated legacy ports to newer computer systems that do not provide them.

A legacy port is a computer port or connector that is considered by some to be fully or partially superseded.^[1] The replacement ports usually provide most of the functionality of the legacy ports with higher speeds, more compact design, or plug and play and hot swap capabilities for greater ease of use. Modern PC motherboards use separate Super I/O controllers to provide legacy ports since current chipsets do not offer direct support for them. A category of computers called legacy-free PCs omits these ports, typically retaining only USB for external expansion.

USB adapters are often used to provide legacy ports if they are required on systems not equipped with them.

Common legacy ports

• Centronics parallel port (typical uses: printer)^[2]
• External parallel SCSI
• AT connector / DIN (typical uses: keyboard)
• Serial port / RS-232 (typical uses: console, modem, mouse)^[2]
• PS/2 connector / 6-pin mini-DIN (typical uses: keyboard, mouse)^[3][4][2]
• Game port / DA-15 (typical uses: MIDI, gaming devices such as joysticks)^[2]
• Apple Desktop Bus / mini-DIN (typical uses: low speed external peripherals; such as keyboard, mouse, or joystick)
• Localtalk / mini-DIN (typical uses: OldWorld Macintosh printer and LAN)
• Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus (typical uses: connect peripheral cards to motherboard)^[2]
• VGA / DE-15 (typical uses: display connector)^[5]
• Parallel ATA^[6]
• Floppy drive connector
• IEEE 1394
• Accelerated Graphics Port
• PC Card

See also

• Connector conspiracy
• Legacy code
• Legacy encoding
• Legacy system

References