connector - What is this small port on my laptop?

06
2014-04
  • Moses

    I have a laptop that is a couple years old, and noticed a port on the side that I don't recognize. It is small and looks like a USB mini jack, and has a symbol next to it that looks like a computer monitor with two bars next to it.

    enter image description here

    Does anyone know what this port is, and what's it's for?

    • Answers
  • Moses

    I found it in the manual (laptop is a Lenovo U510). I should have looked there first!

    It is a Mini-VGA port.

    enter image description here

  • Dave Rook

    I'm fairly sure it's a mini VGA port OR a micro DVI port (my money on the micro). Even looking at the connectors you can see it could fit. Even the symbol is pretty much the same, the problem is the ports can differ slightly making it much harder to be sure what it is!

  • Daniel Andersson

    This is a Mini-DVI port. Here is a drawing of some common display port types:

    Display interface connections

    Source


    • Related Question

    display - Options for fixing or working around a bent pin on a laptop monitor connector?
  • Dmatig

    I was cleaning out my laptop, when the ribbon connecting the screen to the motherboard came loose, When reconnecting it, I bent 2 of the pins on the connector on the motherboard (doh!).

    Everything still works fine except obviously the screen (I'm using an external monitor).

    What options have I? Seems to me, I can either try to bend the pin back straight (risking snapping it off entirely, and I don't know how I'd GET it perfectly straight), or replace the motherboard (bah!).

    Do I have any other options than replacing my motherboard?

    I don't think I do, but I wanted to ask to be safe before I go trying to bend pins back. Any tips on how to straighten them?

    Presumably I can't claim on my warranty after this.

    I'm not sure what the connector type is actually called, the best picture I can find is this:

    enter image description here

    This is a Samsung r560 laptop.

    Edit: Two of them have entirely snapped off now, with 3 other bent ones.


    • Related Answers
  • ChrisF

    You shouldn't have to get the pins perfectly straight. If you can get them straight enough there might be enough leeway in the socket to gently force it over the bent pins which will straighten them some more.

    As to how to get them more or less straight - use the finest pliers you have or a pair of tweezers.

  • outsideblasts

    Make sure to do the bending in a warm place. Cold metal is brittle and more likely to snap.