Can someone tell me what this connector is

System

forgotmyname wrote: »

Tried updating a Dell machine a while back, it would only accpt DELL memory, they had done something to the BIOS clock timings where standard generic memory would not work.

I've come across this before at my last job where we used to use older Dell Optiplexes. It is a limitation of the motherboard chipset, not something Dell have done themselves.

arciere

rmg1 wrote: »

To me, it looks like the connector I had for an old 3 1/2" floppy drive (anyone remember those??).

Not sure what it's connected to at the other end of the cable or if it will connect to any modern motherboard.

No, that's different. The one you are referring to (I think) it's the power connector that gives +5 and +12V, the actual data cable was (is) the flat ribbon.
This does look like a USB connection, but obviously as it has been already pointed out, USB requires 4 wires, not 3 (unless the forth wire is there and we can't see it).
Most card readers are indeed USB, some use special connectors, but it's almost impossible to have less wires than required (given that that thick, black cable is 99% Ground, it only leaves you with 2 wires to transfer data + power).

stragglebod

Definitely not a floppy power connector, which looks like this:



Definitely a USB 2 connector.


Here's a description of the USB pins in detail
https://www.electroschematics.com/4856/usb-how-things-work/


I expect the OP's connector is missing the ground connection.

arciere

stragglebod wrote: »

I expect the OP's connector is missing the ground connection.

Ground connection is the black, thick wire in the picture.

Biggus_Dickus

rmg1 wrote: »

To me, it looks like the connector I had for an old 3 1/2" floppy drive (anyone remember those??).

Not sure what it's connected to at the other end of the cable or if it will connect to any modern motherboard.

I still remember 8” floppies;...and no, it’s not a crude joke,...they really did exist!

rmg1

Biggus_Dickus wrote: »

I still remember 8” floppies;...and no, it’s not a crude joke,...they really did exist!

I can only go back as 5 1/4" floppys.
In fact, I can remember being unable to load DOS 5.1 (I think) onto my ancient 8086 machine as it didn't recognise dual-density disks.

arciere

rmg1 wrote: »

I can only go back as 5 1/4" floppys.
In fact, I can remember being unable to load DOS 5.1 (I think) onto my ancient 8086 machine as it didn't recognise dual-density disks.

Just put a tape on the second hole

stragglebod

arciere wrote: »

Ground connection is the black, thick wire in the picture.

I see what you mean.

So unless there's a hidden wire going to the other end, there's no +5V.

Huh?

Or they've wired it the wrong way round and that thick wire really is the +5V and there's no ground.

I am very confused!

Wonder if the OP can see where the wires go at the other end?

I should add that unless turning it around reveals a hidden white wire, I'd be a bit wary about plugging that into my motherboard without any of the keying protection

forgotmyname

Biggus_Dickus wrote: »

I still remember 8” floppies;...and no, it’s not a crude joke,...they really did exist!

Tandy Model 1

But they had just stopped using that and installing the model 3, so had to make do with only 5 1/4 inches.. but still floppy.



Re the DELL, no they may not make the RAM, but they can spec it differently to everything else sold and lock the BIOS so its not visible. I did use CPU Z at the time and the timings were way off everything else off the shelf.
Yes you could buy the RAM but it was very expensive.

Every MB i had bought at that time had the settings for RAM timings. Rarely ever used them, except my overclocked watercooled 1GHZ "AXIA Y" running at 1.483 GHZ.

that

I think it is either a speaker cable, or possibly speaker/mike cable. The ground is common and goes to the chassis if the connector?

Does the correct guess win a prize