A number of different types of Apple computer or Macintosh computer
pin-outs are listed below. A description is provided along with the
pinouts.
How ever, no electrical standards or cabling information is
provided.
Many but not all interfaces listed on this page are no longer
being used in the current production units.
These days, the IBM compatible PC and the Apple computer use the same
standardized interfaces.
Back in the early days of personal computers
different companies used different types of buses because no general
standard was available.
The current Mac mini offering from Apple shows the following interfaces:
120 volt Power, a 10/100 BASE-T Ethernet interface on a RJ-45,
a Modem interface on a RJ-11, a DVI/VGA video connector,
two USB connectors, a FireWire 400 connector, and an Audio
connector.
It's evident that the LocalTalk interfaces are no longer used in new product design by Apple.
The Power Mac G5 has the following electrical interfaces;
2 DVI video connectors, 2 USB connectors, 2 FireWire 400/800 interface, 1 Gigabit Ethernet
interface on a RJ45 connector, a Modem on a RJ-11 Telco connector.
In addition, there are a number of other interfaces which include; two
antenna ports [one being a Bluetooth interface, and a few audio
interfaces.
Follow these links to Connector manufacturers, or
Cable manufacturers, and a list of
Cable Assemblies manufacturers.
All listings for the LocalTalk protocol over an 8-pin circular DIN
connector are listed on the LocalTalk page.
There are 3 or more
different pinout tables which vary by device.
It's evident from the Mac mini interfaces listed above that the AppleTalk interfaces on this page
are no longer used in new product designs by Apple.
All listings for the Serial port over RS-232, using different connectors
are listed on the Apple RS232 page.
There are 3 or more different pinout tables which vary by device and size. A technical
discussion of the RS-232 interface bus is listed on the EIA-232 page.
All listings for the Monitor cables, using different connectors are listed on the Apple Video Bus page. How ever, the computer may just use a DVI interface.
The Apple Computer IEEE1284 36-Pin Centronic Connector Pinout.
Used on LaserWriter 12/600.
The original Centronic parallel interface was
replaced by the IEEE-1284 interface, but in many cases
the term Centronic is still used.
Both the obsolete Centronic interface and IEEE1284 interface are parallel buses operating at relatively slow
speed using a large connector and many data lines.
The newest approach is
to use the USB interface, which uses only four wires and
operates up to 800Mbps.
Many new computers are shipping with USB interfaces, some with out the old parallel
type interfaces.
So the interface may not be obsolete, but it may not be found on any of the newest printers.
| Pin # | Pin name | Pin Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Busy | Device is Busy |
| 2 | Select | High; Device on-Line |
| 3 | /ACK | Receipt of Data |
| 4 | /Fault | Asserted if problem |
| 5 | Paper ERR | Out of Paper |
| 6 | Data 1 | Data Bit 1 |
| 7 | Data 2 | Data Bit 2 |
| 8 | Data 3 | Data Bit 3 |
| 9 | Data 4 | Data Bit 4 |
| 10 | Data 5 | Data Bit 5 |
| 11 | Data 6 | Data Bit 6 |
| 12 | Data 7 | Data Bit 7 |
| 13 | Data 8 | Data Bit 8 |
| 14 | /INIT | Reset Signal |
| 15 | /STROBE | Strobes data into Printer |
| 16 | /Select IN | Select this port |
| 17 | /AUTO FEED | Paper Auto Feed |
| 18 | Tied High | Logic High at Host |
| 19 | Signal GND (Busy) | Ground For Busy Signal |
| 20 | Signal GND (Select) | Ground for Select Signal |
| 21 | Signal GND (/ACK) | Ground for /ACK Signal |
| 22 | Signal GND (/Fault) | Ground for Fault Signal |
| 23 | Signal GND (Paper ERR) | Ground for Paper ERR Signal |
| 24 | Signal GND (DATA 1) | Ground for DATA1 Signal |
| 25 | Signal GND (DATA 2) | Ground for DATA2 Signal |
| 26 | Signal GND (DATA 3) | Ground for DATA3 Signal |
| 27 | Signal GND (DATA 4) | Ground for DATA4 Signal |
| 28 | Signal GND (DATA 5) | Ground for DATA5 Signal |
| 29 | Signal GND (DATA 6) | Ground for DATA6 Signal |
| 30 | Signal GND (DATA 7) | Ground for DATA7 Signal |
| 31 | Signal GND (DATA 8) | Ground for DATA8 Signal |
| 32 | Signal GND (/INIT) | Ground for /INIT Signal |
| 33 | Signal GND (/STROBE) | Ground for /STROBE Signal |
| 34 | Signal GND (/SELECT IN) | Ground for /SELECT IN Signal |
| 35 | Signal GND (/AUTO FD) | Ground for /AUTO FD Signal |
| 36 | Peripheral Logic High | Line Pulled High |
The Apple Computer Ethernet Pinout and Signal names on a 14-Pin
AUI connector. Moved to the Apple AUI Pin Out
Used on the LaserWriter 12/600
Used on LaserWrite Pro 600/630 (Called EtherTalk)
Used on LaserWrite 12/640 (Called AppleTalk)
The Apple Computer Ethernet Port Pinout and Signal names on a
8-Pin RJ45 connector.
Used on Power Book G4 (12-Inch)
| Pin # | Pin name | Pin Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TXP | Transmit - Positive |
| 2 | TXN | Transmit - Negative |
| 3 | RXP | Receive - Positive |
| 4 | NC | Not Used |
| 5 | NC | Not Used |
| 6 | RXN | Receive - Negative |
| 7 | NC | Not Used |
| 8 | NC | Not Used |
The Apple Computer HDI-30 SCSI pinout is now listed on the HDI-30
SCSI page.
HDI stands for High Density Interconnect [HDI also comes in additional
pin configurations]
The Apple Computer Modem Pinout and Signal names.
| Pin | name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | n/c | Not connected |
| 2 | DSR | Data Set Ready |
| 3 | GND | Ground |
| 4 | n/c | Not connected |
| 5 | RxD | Receive Data |
| 6 | DTR | Data Terminal Ready |
| 7 | DCD | Output from modem |
| 8 | GND | Ground |
| 9 | TxD | Transmit Data |
9-Pin D-Sub connectors are no longer found on the newest Apple products, LAN interfaces are over the Ethernet Port connector.
| Pin | name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GND | Ground |
| 2 | n/c | Not connected |
| 3 | GND | Ground |
| 4 | TXD+ | Transmit Data + |
| 5 | TXD- | Transmit Data - |
| 6 | n/c | Not connected |
| 7 | RXCLK | TRxC of Zilog 8530 |
| 8 | RXD+ | Receive Data + |
| 9 | RXD- | Receive Data - |
| Pin | name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GND | Ground |
| 2 | TXD- | Transmit Data |
| 3 | RXD- | Receive Data |
| 4 | RTS | Request To Send |
| 5 | CTS | Clear To Send |
| 6 | DSR | Data Set Ready |
| 7 | GND | Ground |
| 8 | DCD | Data Carrier Detect |
| 20 | DTR- | Data Terminal Ready |
| 22 | RING | ? |
The current Joystick interface on the current Apple Computer offering may
use the USB interface and not use a
9-pin D-Sub connector.
However the pinout for the 9-pin connector is listed on the Apple IIc Joystick page.
The current Key Board interface on the newest Apple Computer offering may use the USB interface and not over the interface listed below.
| Pin | name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GND | Ground |
| 2 | KBD1 | Keyboard clock |
| 3 | KBD2 | Keyboard data |
| 4 | +5V | +5 VDC |
The newest Mouse interface on the current Apple Computer offering may use the USB interface and not over a 9-pin D-Sub connector.
| Pin | name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ground | |
| 2 | +5V | +5 VDC |
| 3 | GND | Ground |
| 4 | X2 | Horizontal movement line (connected to VIA PB4 line) |
| 5 | X1 | Horizontal movement line (connected to SCC DCDA- line) |
| 6 | TBD | TBD |
| 7 | SW- | Mouse button line (connected to VIA PB3) |
| 8 | Y2 | Vertical movement line (connected to VIA PB5 line) |
| 9 | Y1 | Vertical movement line (connected to SCC DCDB- line) |
Listed on the NUbus page.
ADB Bus {Apple Desktop Bus was
a serial bus used by Apple computer to drive the mouse and keyboard.
The cable consisted of one data line [ADB], a power line [+5v] and a ground
line. The maximum data rate was 125kbps, actual bus speed was much lower.
The ADB bus is OBSOLETE and was replaced by the Firewire bus.}
Navigation: Engineering Home > Interface Buses > Personal Computer Buses > Apple Computer Buses.
 | |||||||
| Home | |||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Distributors | Components | Equipment | Software | Standards | Buses | Design | Reference |