FIELD GUIDESource-led reference
Port & Cable

Compare look-alike forms

Choose documented candidate forms and compare their exact source scopes. These choices do not identify the physical connector in front of you.

Use exact documented inputs or leave the gap explicit

Nothing has been connected, measured or approved. Choose inputs to continue.

Update the inputs to show current documentation results.

Common comparison questions

Mini HDMI vs Micro HDMI

Type-C Mini and Type-D Micro are distinct HDMI connector forms.

3.5 mm TRS vs TRRS

Contact arrangement is a visual clue. Signal assignment still needs device documentation.

SD versus microSD

Compare physical card forms; verify capacity, bus and speed class separately.

SMA versus RP-SMA

The center contact matters as well as the threaded outer shell.

LC versus SC

Identify the optical connector family; verify fiber and end-face polish independently.

FireWire: 4-pin, 6-pin and 9-pin

Compare the end forms; document power and software support independently.

PS/2 form versus S-Video form

Compare the contact pattern and keying, not only a circular shell.

Five-pin DIN versus five-pin XLR

Five contacts do not establish the connector family or signal.

Telephone modular forms

Positions, populated contacts and port role are separate observations.

Telephone modular versus 8P8C

Identify the housing without inferring a network or telephone function.

DE-9 versus DB25

Find the exact documented interface before choosing a cable.

DVI-A, DVI-I single-link and DVI-D

The analog/digital distinction comes before an adapter choice.

Internal SATA data versus eSATA

External data cabling does not establish the device power arrangement.

CompactFlash versus CFast

Similar names refer to different card families.

CFexpress Type A versus Type B

Record the type letter and supported reader, not just the family name.

XQD versus CFexpress Type B

A shared form factor does not establish device or firmware support.

ST, SC and LC fiber forms

Identify exterior form only; no optical compatibility result.

Two-pole versus four-pole speakON

Pole count does not provide a wiring map or power approval.

Three-pin versus five-pin XLR

Contact count does not determine the device signal.

IEC C13 versus C15 cord connectors

Which IEC 60320 connector designation is documented for the appliance inlet and environment?

IEC C14 versus C16 appliance inlets

Which appliance-inlet designation is actually present? Similar outlines do not erase the C14/C16 distinction.

NEMA 5-15 versus 5-20 forms

Is the item a plug or receptacle, and does the 5-20 form/T-slot cue apply?

8-pin CPU power versus 8-pin PCIe auxiliary power

What does the PSU cable and motherboard/GPU manual call this connector? Pin count alone is not enough.

Legacy PCIe auxiliary power versus 12VHPWR

Is this the older 2x3/2x4 family or the separate 12+4-contact 12VHPWR form?

SATA, Slimline SATA and Micro SATA

Which physical SATA-family variant does the exact device specify?

SFP versus QSFP-family pluggable I/O

Which host cage and module family is documented? Form factor does not establish link capability.

Four-pin versus six-pin XLR

What is the pole count and the equipment application? XLR shape alone does not establish signal or power.

2-, 4- and 8-pole speakON

Which pole count and equipment wiring does the loudspeaker system document?

IEC C5 versus C7 cord connectors

Is the cord-side IEC connector the grounded C5 form or the non-grounded C7 form?

IEC C6 versus C8 appliance inlets

Does the equipment use the grounded C6 inlet or the non-grounded C8 inlet?

IEC C13 versus C17 cord connectors

Which IEC 60320 cord-connector designation is documented for the equipment?

NEMA L5-20 versus L6-20 locking plugs

Is the documented locking plug configuration L5-20P or L6-20P?

OSFP versus QSFP-DD host forms

Which pluggable-I/O host form does the equipment documentation identify?

CFP2 versus CFP4 host forms

Is the pluggable host connector the 104-position CFP2 form or the 56-position CFP4 form?

N-Type versus RP-N-Type

Is the center-contact convention standard N-Type or reverse-polarity N-Type?

TNC versus RP-TNC

Is the threaded TNC interface standard or reverse polarity?

MCX versus MMCX

Which miniature snap-on coaxial family matches the documented component?

BNC versus Mini-BNC versus HD-BNC

Which bayonet/coaxial interface family is actually documented for the equipment?

M12 D-coded versus X-coded Ethernet

Which M12 coding and position pattern is documented for the Ethernet port?

Mini-SAS internal SFF-8087 versus Mini-SAS HD SFF-8643

Is the internal storage connector legacy Mini-SAS SFF-8087 or Mini-SAS HD SFF-8643?

Mini-SAS external SFF-8088 versus Mini-SAS HD SFF-8644

Is the external storage connector SFF-8088 or the higher-density SFF-8644 form?

OCuLink versus SlimSAS

Which compact cabled storage/PCIe connector family is documented by the host and cable?

34-, 40- and 50-position IDC ribbon headers

Which 2.54 mm two-row position count and keying does the exact header use?

MDR 36 versus 50 versus 68

Which Mini Delta Ribbon position count and series does the exact component specify?

68-position MDR versus 68-contact VHDCI

Is the 68-contact legacy interface MDR or the narrower VHDCI family?

CHAMP 36 versus CHAMP 50

Is the full-size CHAMP/Centronics-style connector the 36-position or 50-position form?

M8 A-coded versus D-coded

Which M8 coding is documented: A-coded signal/sensor or D-coded data?

M12 A-coded versus B-coded versus L-coded

Which M12 coding and intended domain does the equipment documentation specify?

M8 D-coded versus M12 D-coded

Is the D-coded industrial Ethernet connector M8 or M12?

M8, M12 and M23 circular families

Which circular shell family and coding does the exact equipment specify?

etherCON versus ordinary 8P8C modular

Is the interface a ruggedized locking etherCON system or a conventional 8P8C modular port?

opticalCON DUO versus QUAD

Does the fiber system specify opticalCON DUO or QUAD, and how many optical channels are documented?

SMPTE 304M camera connector versus opticalCON DUO SMPTE

Does the camera link require the SMPTE 304M connector family or the distinct opticalCON DUO SMPTE system?

PCIe 8-pin, 12VHPWR and 12V-2x6 auxiliary power

Which exact GPU auxiliary-power connector family does the PSU and device documentation require?

PCIe x16 card edge versus MCIO cabled interconnect

Is the host interface a card-edge slot or an MCIO/SFF-TA-1016 cabled interconnect family?

USB 3.0 19-pin versus USB Key-A 20-pin front-panel headers

Which motherboard front-panel USB header form does the board and case cable specify?

M12 S-coded 3-position versus 4-position power

Which exact S-coded position count does the documented M12 power interface require?

M12 S-coded versus T-coded power

Is the documented four-position M12 power interface S-coded or T-coded?

M12 K-, L- and M-coded power

Which keyed M12 power coding and position count does the exact equipment documentation specify?

M12 D-, X- and Y-coded data/hybrid forms

Does the exact interface require D-coded, X-coded or Y-coded M12 rather than merely an M12 shell?

NEMA 1-15P versus 5-15P plugs

Is the documented plug the non-grounding 1-15P configuration or grounded 5-15P?

NEMA 1-15R versus 5-15R receptacles

Is the documented receptacle/connector the non-grounding 1-15R configuration or grounded 5-15R?

NEMA 6-15P versus 6-20P plugs

Does the equipment documentation specify NEMA 6-15P or 6-20P?

NEMA 6-15R versus 6-20R receptacles

Does the equipment documentation specify NEMA 6-15R or 6-20R?

NEMA 14-30P versus 14-50P plugs

Is the exact grounding plug configuration NEMA 14-30P or 14-50P?

NEMA 14-30R versus 14-50R receptacles

Is the exact grounding receptacle configuration NEMA 14-30R or 14-50R?

NEMA 10-30P versus 14-30P plugs

Is the documented 30 A-class plug the legacy non-grounding 10-30P form or grounding four-wire 14-30P form?

NEMA 10-30R versus 14-30R receptacles

Is the documented 30 A-class receptacle the legacy non-grounding 10-30R form or grounding four-wire 14-30R form?

NEMA 10-50P versus 14-50P plugs

Is the documented 50 A-class plug the legacy non-grounding 10-50P form or grounding four-wire 14-50P form?

NEMA 10-50R versus 14-50R receptacles

Is the documented 50 A-class receptacle the legacy non-grounding 10-50R form or grounding four-wire 14-50R form?

NEMA TT-30P versus 14-30P plugs

Is the documented 30 A-class plug the 125 V TT-30P RV form or the distinct 14-30P form?

NEMA TT-30R versus 14-30R receptacles

Is the documented 30 A-class receptacle the 125 V TT-30R RV form or the distinct 14-30R form?

NEMA L14-20P versus L14-30P locking plugs

Does the exact equipment require the L14-20P or L14-30P locking configuration?

NEMA L14-20R versus L14-30R locking connectors

Does the exact equipment require the L14-20R or L14-30R locking configuration?

SFF-TA-1002 1C versus 2C connectors

Is the documented SFF-TA-1002 variation 1C/56-contact or 2C/84-contact? Contact count distinguishes these forms but does not establish device protocol or host support.

SFF-TA-1002 4C versus 4C+ connectors

Is the documented variation 4C/140-contact or 4C+/168-contact? The family label alone is not enough to establish the exact connector or implementation.

PCIe x1 versus x4 card-edge connectors

Is the slot/form the 36-position x1 or 64-position x4 mechanical variant? Mechanical width does not establish PCIe generation or active lanes.

PCIe x8 versus x16 card-edge connectors

Is the card-edge form x8/98-position or x16/164-position? Mechanical form does not establish generation, lane wiring or platform support.

Mini PCI Express/mSATA versus M.2

Is the host using the older 52-position Mini PCIe/mSATA connector family or an M.2 keyed card-edge form? Similar internal-card roles do not make them physically or electrically interchangeable.

IEC 60320 C1 versus C2

Is the part the C1 cord connector or C2 appliance inlet? Use the exact component identity; this comparison is not wiring or installation guidance.

IEC 60320 C9 versus C10

Is the part the C9 cord connector or C10 appliance inlet? Pair identity does not establish the appliance rating or approved cord set.

IEC 60320 C15 versus C15A connectors

Is the cord connector C15 or the distinct C15A very-hot-condition form? Similar naming is not permission to substitute or modify a mains cord.

IEC 60320 C16 versus C16A inlets

Is the appliance inlet C16 or the distinct C16A very-hot-condition form? Similar naming is not an installation or substitution verdict.

IEC 60320 C19 versus C21 connectors

Is the cord connector C19 or C21? Both occur in the higher-current IEC 60320 family, but exact configuration and equipment requirements remain separate.

IEC 60320 C20 versus C22 inlets

Is the appliance inlet C20 or C22? Exact configuration, equipment rating and approved cord set must be resolved from equipment documentation.

IEC 60320 C23 versus C24

Is the part the C23 Class II connector or C24 inlet? This page supports naming/recognition only, not mains wiring or installation.

3-pin versus 4-pin Mini-XLR

Does the compact Mini-XLR/Tini-QG form have three or four conductors? Conductor count does not establish the device wiring or signal role.

4-pin versus 5-pin Mini-XLR

Does the compact Mini-XLR/Tini-QG form have four or five conductors? Do not infer a pin assignment from count alone.

3-pin Mini-XLR versus full-size 3-pin XLR

Are you looking at the compact Mini-XLR/Tini-QG form or a full-size XLR connector? Matching three-pole counts do not make the shells interchangeable.

LEMO 3T versus 4A 75-ohm triax

Is the broadcast triax interface the LEMO 3T or 4A series? Both cited forms are 75-ohm triax, but series identity and exact mating components remain distinct.

LEMO broadcast 75-ohm versus 00 NIM-CAMAC 50-ohm triax

Is the documented interface a 75-ohm broadcast triax form or the 50-ohm LEMO 00 NIM-CAMAC form? Impedance and series identity are not interchangeable.

V107 / Three standards / One common scale

Similar names. Not interchangeable cards.

DIMENSIONAL ENVELOPES

This illustration compares only the published outer width and height. All three rectangles use one scale, unlike the earlier independently fitted silhouette drawings. Each face is left blank because exact perimeter/key/contact geometry has not been reproduced.

Three original proportional card-envelope rectangles: CFexpress Type A 20 by 28 mm is smaller. CFexpress Type B and XQD are both 29.6 by 38.5 mm and share a connector family. No contacts, keys or host compatibility are shown.
Nominal width and height are compared at one internal drawing scale; thickness is listed separately. This SVG must never be printed or used as a physical fit template.
Text equivalent: dimensions and identification checks
Card standardNominal width × height × depthIdentity check
CFexpress Type A20 × 28 × 2.8 mmSmaller width-and-height envelope than Type B. The printed Type A designation—not a contact sketch—is the identifying check.
CFexpress Type B29.6 × 38.5 × 3.8 mmLarger than Type A. Same outer dimensions and connector family as XQD; the Type B label and camera/reader support remain decisive.
XQD29.6 × 38.5 × 3.8 mmMatches Type B in stated physical dimensions. An XQD designation and exact camera/reader documentation are necessary.

Shared dimensions do not prove compatibility. Type B and XQD are two standards with a shared form factor and connector; check the exact camera, reader, firmware and supported-media list. No actual corner relief, socket key, contacts, tolerances or wiring are depicted.

Review the first-party dimensions and image-rights scope

Every SVG here was authored specifically for this field guide. No third-party graphics, logos, photographs, measurement templates, pinouts or manufacturer CAD were copied. Independent approvals are still open.