What is IEEE 1394?

You have purchased a new computer that includes a port marked “IEEE 1394.” What is a more common name for this port?

A) FireWire

B) HDMI

C) USB

D) eSATA

The answer: A) FireWire

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers has created a standard interface for connecting peripheral devices called the IEEE 1394 standard. When Apple added these ports to their computers, they created “FireWire,” a more user-friendly name to refer to the IEEE 1394 ports. Although the name might be different, the interfaces and ports are technically identical.

Want to know more? Watch “Motherboard I/O Connections.” All motherboards have input and output ports on the back, but what do all those connections mean? In this module, we’ll turn the PC around and show you exactly how each port works and how to instantly recognize the most common input and output connections.