Test your hardware knowledge.

Suprisingly, I got this question wrong.

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Q: How many pins does a parallel printer port have?

A. 10
B. 25
C. 36
D. 34

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Good luck.

 

25 it says on the p// port.

 

i knew it

 

Wrong. Try again.

 

The end that goes into the printer has 36. The Parallel port itself on the computer has 25. Dont dispute me on this or go saying Im wrong; I just counted to make sure.

However, the port in use on the back of a printer is not supposed to be called a parallel port; thats what the end that plugs into your computer is called. Its a stupidly misleading question.

 

The theory behind the question is to eliminate the common misconception of calling the parallel port the printer port. The parallel port is not the printer port because it can handle other devices that have a 25pin DB male connector.

The parallel port on a parallel printer does have 36 pins.

The parallel port on a motherboard has 25 holes.

In case you were wondering why I asked this question, its one of the test questions in the A+ Certification book that Im reading. At first I thought it was a typo but if you read the question properly, you will see why the answer is 36 and not 25.

 

Meh

/plugs in usb.

 

my friend claims he had an old lexmark (dosenr remember model) which had a 25 pin DB connecroe not thr printer port connector....... i disagree with him... ive never seen his on any printer.....

anyone know of this?

Snood

 

that was kinda pointless

 

@ snood: probably one of the bigass oldsytle serial ports...

 

Pointless? I think not. Thats one question wrong that could keep you from getting certified. Grow up.

 

I do see your point - if it's a legitimate question then you need to know it. But exactly how many printers these days use P// connections and of those how many would you need to work with knowing there is 36 connections?

Spose its like maths at school.

 

Very much like the "new math"...

Isn't the actual port on a mobo called an lpt port (whatever lpt stands for..)

I'll stick to the USB, thanks...

 

LPT1 to be precise. This more so specifies the traditional I/O Address of 378 and IRQ 7. Both important to know for the test!

 

nobody uses centronix any more, mostly usb/networked

 

Ugh, I know that but that is not the point. The point is that it is a question on a test that could mean the difference getting certified or not getting certified.

 

Ahem, I have an ancient behemoth of an old laser printer next to me that has both centronix and parallel ports on the back of it. Prints slower than molasses on a cold January (8ppm) but heck I got it for free and it had a full thing of toner.

 

They really need to update some of the questions on the A+ exam! I remember some of the questions having to do with memory types that are all but impossible to even buy anymore.

I never studied much for the exam. I wanted to take it first without studying, just to see if I knew as much as I had hoped...I did.

And...I've never used one bit of information from that damn test in any computer work I've done (at least not consciously.) Still, there are some people *cough*CompUSA techs*cough* that somehow actually managed to pass it, and still don't know a friggin' thing.

 

my life goal is to get ceritified

 

Perhaps you should focus on the last two words of my quote.